How the Holy Spirit Guides People Today
by Bryan Carlson
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding Christians in daily decisions. The Holy Spirit is the helper and counselor of all Believers, and He leads us into all truth (John 16:13). This means that the Holy Spirit is our source of wisdom and guidance in every area of our lives, including the decisions we make.
According to Romans 8:14, as Believers, we are led by the Holy Spirit, who guides us in making decisions that align with God's will. Galatians 5:8 also emphasizes the importance of being attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rather than following our own selfish desires. God guides us through His Word, as stated in Psalm 119:24 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17, providing us with a solid foundation of truth to make decisions. The Bible is the primary means by which the Holy Spirit speaks to us, and it is through reading and studying His Word that we can receive the guidance and direction we need to make wise decisions. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God to us and helps us to understand its teachings and apply them to our lives. Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13-14). We are told in Romans 12:2 to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We know the will of God by renewing our minds through the Word of God.
Seeking wise counsel is also crucial in decision-making, as advised in Proverbs 11:14, “in an abundance of counselors there is victory” and in Proverbs 15:22 which says, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” Of course, it’s important that these counselors are seeking their counsel from the Word of God. Colossians 3:16 tells us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
I personally believe the Holy Spirit guides Christians through prayer. When we pray, we open ourselves up to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and we are able to receive His direction and wisdom in our lives. “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). As we pray and seek God’s will, the Holy Spirit will guide us in the decisions we make and give us the strength to follow through with them. As I discussed in Theology Question #3, I hold an open but cautious position when it comes to the sign gifts, including prophesy and hearing the voice of the Lord. It can be very dangerous to have a theology of “thus sayeth the Lord” because nothing trumps Scripture. The Holy Spirit will never lead us in a way that contradicts Scripture. I believe that God Himself—the Holy Spirit—living in us, speaks to us. He speaks to us though the World primarily, but I believe He can and does speak directly. The reason I believe this is that I personally have experienced God guiding me through the voice of the Holy Spirit. There have several been several instances the Lord has directly spoken to guide my steps. I know that I must be extremely careful in saying the Lord told me to do something. I believe strongly that this cannot and will not contradict Scripture. I don’t believe this adds to Scripture in any way. I must never blame God if I follow a path and it doesn’t work out. But I do believe I must obey when I hear His voice in my life. In a counseling situation, however, I will not instruct others through prophetic guidance—that God told me to tell them something.
As Believers, we also have to be careful to not rely on methods of guidance mentioned in the Bible, such as laying out a "fleece," casting lots, seeing signs, having dreams and visions, and relying on feelings, to discern the will of God. Gideon’s use of laying out a "fleece" or putting out a test for God to show a sign was not presented as a model for seeking guidance from God. In fact, Gideon would have been better served to immediately obey the command of God in his life. Similarly, casting lots as a way of making decisions, or relying on dream, visions, or feeling from God is not a reliable method of seeking God's guidance today (Roy 39). Feelings can be influenced by many factors, including our own desires and biases, and are not a reliable indicator of God's leading. We have to be careful as Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
Don Roy, IBCD, ACBC Theology Exam Study Guide, 39.
