200 likes | 319 Views
The Spirit leads through His Perfect Words. John 8:32 “Set You Free” Rom 1:16 “Power of God” 1 Cor 15:1-4 “Saved by Gospel” James 1:21 “Saved by Word” 1 Pet 1:22,23 “Obey Word” Acts 20:32 “Gives Inheritance” 2 Tim 3:16,17 “Furnishes You Completely”.
E N D
The Spirit leads through His Perfect Words John 8:32 “Set You Free” Rom 1:16 “Power of God” 1 Cor 15:1-4 “Saved by Gospel” James 1:21 “Saved by Word” 1 Pet 1:22,23 “Obey Word” Acts 20:32 “Gives Inheritance” 2 Tim 3:16,17 “Furnishes You Completely”
“Proof Texts” They Use to Support that Spirit Leads through Hunches • Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit
“Proof Texts” They Use to Support that Spirit Leads through Hunches • Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit True! And we have the Spirit’s sword, too, to do His work Eph 6:17. Are we led by the Spirit when we are led by His words?
“Proof Texts” They Use to Support that Spirit Leads through Hunches • Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit • Romans 8:16 – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit. True! But does it say He bears witness with hunches and feelings? He witnesses with our spirit. We match our spirit with the Holy Spirit, showing the fruit of Spirit.
“Proof Texts” They Use to Support that Spirit Leads through Hunches • Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit • Romans 8:16 – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit. • John 14:26; 16:12-14 - True! And these are words to the Apostles, not to you or me directly. The direct application is for them. The indirect application, that we are guided by the apostles teachings (written down as the Bible) is for us.
“Proof Texts” They Use to Support that Spirit Leads through Hunches • Romans 8:14 – You are led by the Spirit • Romans 8:16 – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit. • John 14:26; 16:12-14 - These are words to the Apostles, not us. • 2 Corinthians 2:12-13; Acts 14:27; 1 Corinthians 16:8-9; Colossians 4:3 - So True! There are open doors today. But is God going to lead us without the Word (the Bible) to help us as our “all sufficient” guide.
“Proof Texts” They Use to Support that Spirit Leads through Hunches These proof texts do not prove their point.
How to Make Good Decisions The church is considering a new building, perhaps. One brother guesses that they should move the congregation to a safer neighborhood across town. Another brother feels they should stay and get a $250k loan and expand their existing building. A third brother has a hunch that they should stay put, not build or expand and spend the money on evangelism in foreign countries. How can the church come to a right decision?
How to Make Good Decisions The church is considering a new building, perhaps. One brother guessesthat they should move the congregation to a safer neighborhood across town. Another brother feelsthey should stay and get a $250k loan and expand their existing building. A third brother has a hunch that they should stay put, not build or expand and spend the money on evangelism in foreign countries. How can the church come to a right decision?
To Make Good Decisions • Start with Scripture – Ask, what does the scripture say about church’s spending priorities, what church can afford, what is pleasing to God for church to do, etc.?
How to Make Good Decisions • Start with Scripture • Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8. This action does not “zap” us with wisdom, but it helps bring our will in harmony with His will.
To Make Good Decisions • Start with Scripture • Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8. • Seek Wise Counselors Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 15:22
To Make Good Decisions • Start with Scripture • Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8. • Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22. • Consider Circumstances and Opportunities. But remember these are NOT mandates from God.
To Make Good Decisions • Start with Scripture • Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8. • Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22. • Consider Circumstances and Opportunities. • Desire Good – Example of I Tim 3:1. On a personal level, each member will develop a desire to do what it takes to become what would be most pleasing to God in his circumstances.
To Make Good Decisions • Start with Scripture • Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8. • Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22. • Consider Circumstances and Opportunities. • Desire Good – Example of I Tim 3:1. • Ask, “Do I/We Have the Ability.” No one has same abilities 1 Cor 12; Rom 12. And what person can do is diff from what church can do.
Make Good Decisions • Start with Scripture • Pray for Wisdom – James 1:5-8. • Seek Wise Counselors – Proverbs 15:22. • Consider Circumstances and Opportunities. • Desire Good – Example of I Tim 3:1. • Ask, “Do I Have the Ability.” • Even in this, God gives you the Freedom to Choose – Do all for God’s glory 1 Cor 10:31 (and 1 Cor 7:39 – she can choose, but with 1 restriction).
Let’s Be Satisfied with the Leading of the Spirit Through the Word
QnA: The Spirit Within Us • Must the Indwelling of the Spirit be Miraculous in you? • Must we feel the Spirit in order to have the Spirit? • Can the Spirit be within each believer or is that “fragmenting God”? • Is the Spirit the same as the Word of God?
Let’s Be Satisfied with the Leading of the Spirit Through the Word Anything more is an addition to the Scripture, which is His Word.