Infallibility, as already noted, is limited to the inspiration of holy men who in turn
wrote down the words of the Bible. It never extends either to the interpretation of
the words, nor does it include the "religious impulses" man claim to "feel," and thus
convince themselves they are being "led by the Holy Spirit." Such are ever speaking of
"feeling moved" to do one thing or another. To these, you could show literally
hundreds of verses teaching various duties very clearly, and they will look at you
glassy-eyed. They believe only in determining God's will by how or what they feel led
to do, not by what the Holy Spirit has clearly and concisely said to do in the Word He
authored. Neither can they tell you "how" God spoke to them--they just feel like He
did.
I. However, God is fully capable of expressing His will for His saints--and has done
so.
A. Thus the Holy Spirit spake through Isaiah saying, "If they speak not according to
this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa 8:20).
B. Amos testified that, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his
secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Again Paul bore witness declaring
"we have the mind of Christ" (I Cor 2:16), called "the all truth" (Jn 14:26), which is
the "all scripture" (II Tim 3:16). Now men in religion need to consider carefully this
verse and the next which cleqarly state that with the Bible completed, we are
"throughly furnished unto all good works." With that in mind, clearly, what is left
for which we need to be "led by the Holy Spirit or through whims, impulses or
feelings? I answer emphatically, nothing! Now we certainly believe in being "led by
the Holy Spirit." We do not, however, believe the Spirit leads by how we feel but by
the instructions He compiled and left us and which completely furnish us with all we
need.
C. This is called "an unction (anointing) from the Holy One" (I Jn 2:20). We received
"this annointing of him" (I Jn 2:27). By this "anointing," "ye know all things" (I Jn
2:20) and "need not that any man teach you" (I Jn 2:27). Clearly John writes "this
annointing . . . . it is truth" (I Jn 2:27). But see also "thy word is truth" (Jn
17:17). The "annointing," "unction," and "Word" are one and the same--the Holy Bible.
Therefore it is not some indefinable "working" of the Holy Spirit upon the emotions,
feelings or impulses of the individual but "THE TRUTH" that enables one "to know all
things." One should then be able to see shy John added, "it hath taught you" (I Jn
2:20). (NOTE: The blessed Holy Spirit is not an "It." He is a person. He is God.
Wherefore personal pronouns are used to speak of Him. This text says "it (the
Word--Scriptures) hath taught you."
D. Thus Paul explained the necessary steps to obtain an understanding of the will of
God for any and everything in our lives. Notice:
1. He wrote to Timothy saying, "the things which thou hast learned of me . . . ."
2. The same commit thou to faithful men . . . ."
3. "Who shall be able to teach others also" (II Tim 2:2). Therefore he also wrote the
saints at Ephesus stating "God gave . . . . teachers" (Eph 4:11). Think now. If each
individual can be "led by the Spirit," apart from the Word of God and made to "know
all things" without hearing and studying the Word of God, then why did God give such
nonsensical commands like found in II Timothy 2:2 and 15. Paul again told Timothy to
"consider what I say" (in the Word of God) "and the Lord (will) give thee
understanding in all things" (II Tim 2:7). How utterly unfair it would be if God gave
those to whom John wrote a personal guidance into "all things" without study or
teaching, yet required Timothy and the saints at Ephesus to study and consider what
their teachers said in order to obtain an understanding.
4. Remember too that it is "the entrance of thy words (that) giveth light; it giveth
understanding" (Ps 119:130).
5. "The Holy Spirit teacheth us" all right, but only as we "compare scripture with
scripture" (I Cor 4:6). Because it is possible to "overthrow the faith of some" (II
Tim 2:18) and since "some concerning the faith have made shipwreck" (I Tim 1:19), we
are given certain warnings regarding error taught and preached about the "Holy
Spirit." Many "speak lies in hypocrisy" (I Tim 4:2) and thus divert the people's
attention away from "The word of truth" by their "damnable heresies" (II Peter 2:3.
They "speak great swelling words . . . .alluring through the lusts 9emotions and
feelings) of the flesh" ((I Pet 2:18; "and by good words and fair speeches . . .
deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rm 16:18). Therefore we are exhorted to "believe
not every spirit, but try (test, or examine) the spirits (NOTE: it is not from the
Holy Spirit) whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world" (I Jn 4:1).
6. Remember it is "through thy precepts (the Scriptures) that I get understanding" (Ps
119:104). When "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (PS 37:23), "in thy
word" (Ps 119:133); then and then only does a man, or can a man "walk and please God"
(I Thess 4:1).
II. Do not confuse the terms. The child of God's "total help" comes from all three
members of the One God:
A. Romans 8:28 reveals God the Father helps us in our Christian life and service by
"working all things together for good." Thus He leads and directs our daily activities
and circumstances toward a divine plan and purpose.
B. Romans 8:26-27 shows the Holy Spirit aids us in view of our lack of knowledge by
providing us the truth to govern and control our praying.
C. Romans 8:34 unveils Christ ever lives at the Father's right hand "also making
intercession" in our behalf.
As we avail ourselves of this triunity of "help," we are able "to serve God acceptably
with reverence and Godly fear" (Heb 12:28). The service and life that pleases and
honours God is not lived by religious feelings, or impulses or emotions; but rather it
is a "walk by faith," which in in-turn requires "the word of God" since "faith cometh
by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rm 10:17).
III. In summary:
A. Every single individual whom the Holy Spirit "leads," or has "led" is a born again
believer prior to the "leading," and is in the will and way of God at the time. Note
Genesis 24:27 where Abraham's servant was carefully instructed by the words as to how
to go about securing a bride for Isaac. He said, "I, being in the way, the Lord led
me."
B. The Lord has always led by His words and never by feelings, impressions, impulses
or emotions. For example, take your concordance and look up the times and means by
which God led israel and her prophets in the Old Testament; the apostles, believers
and churches in the New Testament prior to the completion of the Word's writing.
C. The Lord still leads us by His Word, which is His Mind, which now is finished and
written and by which we are "throughly furnished"--needing nothing else beside in
order to properly serve, worship and live (II Tim 3:16-17)(Heb 12:28).
D. When you "feel like" you should do certain things, check it out in the Word to make
certain it is exactly what God said to do and in the exact way God said to do it. If
it does not exactly check out, then the Lord certainly is not leading. JM
wrote down the words of the Bible. It never extends either to the interpretation of
the words, nor does it include the "religious impulses" man claim to "feel," and thus
convince themselves they are being "led by the Holy Spirit." Such are ever speaking of
"feeling moved" to do one thing or another. To these, you could show literally
hundreds of verses teaching various duties very clearly, and they will look at you
glassy-eyed. They believe only in determining God's will by how or what they feel led
to do, not by what the Holy Spirit has clearly and concisely said to do in the Word He
authored. Neither can they tell you "how" God spoke to them--they just feel like He
did.
I. However, God is fully capable of expressing His will for His saints--and has done
so.
A. Thus the Holy Spirit spake through Isaiah saying, "If they speak not according to
this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa 8:20).
B. Amos testified that, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his
secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Again Paul bore witness declaring
"we have the mind of Christ" (I Cor 2:16), called "the all truth" (Jn 14:26), which is
the "all scripture" (II Tim 3:16). Now men in religion need to consider carefully this
verse and the next which cleqarly state that with the Bible completed, we are
"throughly furnished unto all good works." With that in mind, clearly, what is left
for which we need to be "led by the Holy Spirit or through whims, impulses or
feelings? I answer emphatically, nothing! Now we certainly believe in being "led by
the Holy Spirit." We do not, however, believe the Spirit leads by how we feel but by
the instructions He compiled and left us and which completely furnish us with all we
need.
C. This is called "an unction (anointing) from the Holy One" (I Jn 2:20). We received
"this annointing of him" (I Jn 2:27). By this "anointing," "ye know all things" (I Jn
2:20) and "need not that any man teach you" (I Jn 2:27). Clearly John writes "this
annointing . . . . it is truth" (I Jn 2:27). But see also "thy word is truth" (Jn
17:17). The "annointing," "unction," and "Word" are one and the same--the Holy Bible.
Therefore it is not some indefinable "working" of the Holy Spirit upon the emotions,
feelings or impulses of the individual but "THE TRUTH" that enables one "to know all
things." One should then be able to see shy John added, "it hath taught you" (I Jn
2:20). (NOTE: The blessed Holy Spirit is not an "It." He is a person. He is God.
Wherefore personal pronouns are used to speak of Him. This text says "it (the
Word--Scriptures) hath taught you."
D. Thus Paul explained the necessary steps to obtain an understanding of the will of
God for any and everything in our lives. Notice:
1. He wrote to Timothy saying, "the things which thou hast learned of me . . . ."
2. The same commit thou to faithful men . . . ."
3. "Who shall be able to teach others also" (II Tim 2:2). Therefore he also wrote the
saints at Ephesus stating "God gave . . . . teachers" (Eph 4:11). Think now. If each
individual can be "led by the Spirit," apart from the Word of God and made to "know
all things" without hearing and studying the Word of God, then why did God give such
nonsensical commands like found in II Timothy 2:2 and 15. Paul again told Timothy to
"consider what I say" (in the Word of God) "and the Lord (will) give thee
understanding in all things" (II Tim 2:7). How utterly unfair it would be if God gave
those to whom John wrote a personal guidance into "all things" without study or
teaching, yet required Timothy and the saints at Ephesus to study and consider what
their teachers said in order to obtain an understanding.
4. Remember too that it is "the entrance of thy words (that) giveth light; it giveth
understanding" (Ps 119:130).
5. "The Holy Spirit teacheth us" all right, but only as we "compare scripture with
scripture" (I Cor 4:6). Because it is possible to "overthrow the faith of some" (II
Tim 2:18) and since "some concerning the faith have made shipwreck" (I Tim 1:19), we
are given certain warnings regarding error taught and preached about the "Holy
Spirit." Many "speak lies in hypocrisy" (I Tim 4:2) and thus divert the people's
attention away from "The word of truth" by their "damnable heresies" (II Peter 2:3.
They "speak great swelling words . . . .alluring through the lusts 9emotions and
feelings) of the flesh" ((I Pet 2:18; "and by good words and fair speeches . . .
deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rm 16:18). Therefore we are exhorted to "believe
not every spirit, but try (test, or examine) the spirits (NOTE: it is not from the
Holy Spirit) whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world" (I Jn 4:1).
6. Remember it is "through thy precepts (the Scriptures) that I get understanding" (Ps
119:104). When "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (PS 37:23), "in thy
word" (Ps 119:133); then and then only does a man, or can a man "walk and please God"
(I Thess 4:1).
II. Do not confuse the terms. The child of God's "total help" comes from all three
members of the One God:
A. Romans 8:28 reveals God the Father helps us in our Christian life and service by
"working all things together for good." Thus He leads and directs our daily activities
and circumstances toward a divine plan and purpose.
B. Romans 8:26-27 shows the Holy Spirit aids us in view of our lack of knowledge by
providing us the truth to govern and control our praying.
C. Romans 8:34 unveils Christ ever lives at the Father's right hand "also making
intercession" in our behalf.
As we avail ourselves of this triunity of "help," we are able "to serve God acceptably
with reverence and Godly fear" (Heb 12:28). The service and life that pleases and
honours God is not lived by religious feelings, or impulses or emotions; but rather it
is a "walk by faith," which in in-turn requires "the word of God" since "faith cometh
by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rm 10:17).
III. In summary:
A. Every single individual whom the Holy Spirit "leads," or has "led" is a born again
believer prior to the "leading," and is in the will and way of God at the time. Note
Genesis 24:27 where Abraham's servant was carefully instructed by the words as to how
to go about securing a bride for Isaac. He said, "I, being in the way, the Lord led
me."
B. The Lord has always led by His words and never by feelings, impressions, impulses
or emotions. For example, take your concordance and look up the times and means by
which God led israel and her prophets in the Old Testament; the apostles, believers
and churches in the New Testament prior to the completion of the Word's writing.
C. The Lord still leads us by His Word, which is His Mind, which now is finished and
written and by which we are "throughly furnished"--needing nothing else beside in
order to properly serve, worship and live (II Tim 3:16-17)(Heb 12:28).
D. When you "feel like" you should do certain things, check it out in the Word to make
certain it is exactly what God said to do and in the exact way God said to do it. If
it does not exactly check out, then the Lord certainly is not leading. JM
| Chapter 13 Table of Contents Back to Home Page Send us E-Mail Church Phone - (254) 865-6924 |
Website design by
Laura Slack
Copyright © 2007
Gateway Baptist
Church
All Rights Reserved
Laura Slack
Copyright © 2007
Gateway Baptist
Church
All Rights Reserved
| Gateway Baptist Church Independent Unaffiliated Separated Soul-Winning KJV "It Does Make A Difference What You Believe". |
| The Work of the Holy Spirit -- Part IV Led by the Holy Spirit CHAPTER 12 By John C. Morgan |