General and Specific Guidance

General and Specific Guidance
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Ninety-five percent of our guidance is general. This is guidance we receive from reading God's Word. Conversely, specific guidance, which occurs approximately five percent of the time, may be an audible voice, a prophecy, a word of knowledge or a number of other things.

One of the problems in the body of Christ is quite often people want their guidance to be specific. They want God to speak to them audibly. They want "a word" or a prophecy from another believer. While there is nothing wrong with receiving a prophecy, a word of knowledge, or a word of wisdom concerning a decision you are facing, you do need to be certain the word or prophecy given to you bears witness with your spirit. Remember, we are not led by prophecy or words of wisdom and knowledge; we are led by the Spirit of the Lord living within us. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit leads in line with the Word.

According to Proverb 20:5, "Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out." We don't necessarily need to depend upon man for counsel. This is not to say you should not go to anyone for counsel. If you need counsel and it is available from someone who is in the Word, get it. The point of this verse is not to depend upon others for counsel because we can go directly to the Word of God.

Another scripture which adheres to the same idea is Psalm 119:24, "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors." Here "testimonies" is a synonym for "the Word." Thus, God's Word can become your counselor.

I hear many people say, "I don't know whether or not the Holy Spirit is leading me because every time I pray about this certain thing, all I get is a scripture coming to my mind." What did they expect? They received the guidance they requested, but they didn't recognize it because they expected the five percent guidance. They expected the Lord to take their arms and pull them down the road He wants them to take. They haven't learned that counsel is in the heart of man; consequently, there is more to being led by the Spirit than overt signs from God.

Personally, I know I am being led by the Spirit when I am facing a situation and a scripture comes to my mind. There are no blinking lights, no voice from heaven, just a scripture. There have been times when the devil has asked me, "Was that really God or was it just you?" My answer to that insinuation is, "It had to be God because I'm not smart enough to have thought of it!"

One of the seven ministries of the Holy Spirit is giving guidance or counsel to believers. Most of our counsel comes from the Word. For this reason it is imperative for us to be aware of which scriptures are directed toward believers and which are not. Unfortunately, some Christians are confused by John 16:8-11 which speaks of one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit. In verse 7, Jesus says to believers, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send Him to you." This was a promise to believers, but in verses 8-11 Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit ministers to believers but also has a ministry to the world.

John 16:8-11:

8 And when He is come He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin because they believe not on me.

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of the world is judged.

Jesus says the Holy Spirit will reprove or censure the world of three things: sin, righteousness, and judgment. Notice, the only sin that brings reproof is the sin of rejecting Jesus. This leads to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit does not reprove the church for sin because those who believe on Jesus cannot commit the only sin that brings reproof.

Nevertheless, many believers believe when they feel badly about something they have done it's because they are under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We know according to John 16:8-11 this is not so. Furthermore, 1 John 3:19-20 tells us the source of this condemnation.

1 John 3:19-20:

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Do you see what generates condemnation? Your heart. You are answerable before God for your heart, not because of any condemnation from the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to lead the believer into truth. Although your heart may convict you when you miss it, the Holy Spirit will say, "Here's the way back." The main thing we need to realize is when we feel condemned in our hearts, it is not the Holy Spirit guiding us.

Why then do we feel convicted? Our hearts condemn us according to what we have been taught. If we feel convicted it is because we have done something that does not line up with what we have been taught, regardless of what the Word has to say on the subject. Ironically, Christians are running around feeling condemned about some particular thing God is not concerned about.

When I was growing up many churches had "clothes line" preaching. They preached about skirt length, about hair length, against television and movies, or whatever was the personal conviction of the preacher. The result was very little Word came forth from the pulpit to lead the people into truth. Yet, those who heard such messages truly were convicted every time they got around a TV set. They also believed this conviction was from God. While this may seem relatively harmless, it's really deceiving because when someone is convicted and believes the conviction comes from God, they also believe they are closer to God than a person who is not similarly convicted. They set themselves up as being more spiritual than the next fellow. After all, their conviction proves they hear God and are led by the Spirit. No! A condemning heart is not a sign of being led by the Spirit.

Logically speaking, their reasoning is faulty because if the Holy Spirit did condemn believers for their wrong doings, all believers (having the same Holy Spirit) would be condemned about the same things. The fact we have erroneous beliefs which allow our own hearts to condemn us is one more reason why the Word is adamant on the subject of renewing our minds to the Word. We need to read and study the Word so our convictions line up with the will of God.

First John 3:21 continues, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God." If your heart condemns you for something you have been taught, get into the Word and see what God has to say. Condemnation will depart and you will have confidence toward God.

In John 16:12-15 Jesus addresses believers.

John 16:12-15:

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come,

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

These verses stress the fact that the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Church is to guide believers into all truth. He speaks to us and shows us thing to come. He speaks to us through the Word and He speaks to us through our spirits.

Being led by the Spirit is a growing process. Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Verse 16 continues, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."

These verses refer to two different designations given to believers. In verse fourteen the Greek word used for son is "huios," which more exactly means "a mature son." You know you have reached maturity in the Word of God when the Holy Spirit starts to lead you in line with the Word. When you face a difficult situation for example, you don't need to run around looking for your Bible because an appropriate scripture immediately comes to your mind.

Believer's are referred to as children in verse sixteen. A child of God is different from a son of God because child designates the new believer who is still immature in the Word. When the Holy Spirit came to live in you at the moment of the new birth, your spirit was recreated and the first thing the Holy Spirit began doing in you was bearing witness with your spirit that you truly were a born-again child of God. This is to be distinguished from being led by the Spirit, which requires knowledge of the Word. As a new believer continues to grow in the Word of God, the Holy Spirit starts to lead him and guide him and eventually the child of God develops into a son of God.

In Romans 8:22-25 we are introduced to another way to be led by the Spirit. In these verses, Paul is teaching that the whole world is under the curse and is groaning while awaiting the return of Jesus.

Romans 8:22-26:

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The infirmities referred to in verse 26 are our bodies. Because we are limited to our physical bodies, there are things surrounding us we don't know anything about. Sometimes we run into circumstances for which we cannot find specific guidance in the Word of God. For example, should I take a job with company A or company B? In this case, we could sit back and wait for God to do something about it someday, but instead Romans 8:26 says, "the Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings." Thus, one way the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us is through intercessory prayer and groanings in our spirits.

There are times when we groan of our own accord because of what we see around us. For example, if you turn on the TV and hear about the negative economic conditions, you may want to groan in the natural and be angry at the devil. However, a better thing to do is turn it over to the Lord and let the Spirit groan on the inside of you. When the Holy Spirit does this, He is punching you and saying, "Everything is going to be alright. I know how it's going to end. I was there when God created you, and I'll be here when He takes you home."

Have you had times when it seemed as though the whole world was pressing in on you? It is during these times you can go before the Lord in intercessory prayer. When you finish praying, you will feel as though a ton of weight was lifted from your shoulders. You will be free in the Spirit knowing the Holy Spirit has helped you and guided you into all truth.

A further bonus for me, and I'm sure for others, is after a time of intercession the Word means more to me than it ever has before. I find things in the Word I had not noticed before. In order to gain these insights I had to break through from the inside of me with the Holy Spirit making groans which I couldn't even articulate. Whether it comes out in groans or in tongues, the point is when we don't know how to pray the Holy Spirit does.

Romans 8:27 assures us when we intercede we can have confidence what we pray is in line with God's will. "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Romans 8:28-31:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom He did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

According to verse 29, God knew you would be here before the foundation of the earth. Moreover, He also knew you would accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Because of this He predestinated you to become conformed to the image of His Son. When He predestinated you, He called you and elected you from eternity past to sit with Him in Heavenly places. The summation of this is God knows your past, He knows your present, and He also knows your future.

Humans are bound by time. We can look back on yesterday; we can see today, but we don't know what is coming tomorrow. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit who lives in us knows. He was there when we were first known. He was there when we were predestinated. He was there when we were elected, chosen, and justified, and He will be there when we are glorified!

Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us. This itself is powerful and yet, according to Romans 8:34 there is even more. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." What an alliance--Jesus and the Holy Spirit! Each plays a distinct role in intercession. When we pray according to the Word of God, Jesus Christ is our intercessor who makes our petitions known before the Father.

However, when we don't know how to pray, Jesus steps aside and the Holy Spirit takes His place as our intercessor. Thus, there is no way we can fail! If we know how to pray we can get through to the Father and if we don't know how to pray we can get through to the Father.

As we continue in Romans 8, verse 35 asks the question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

Verse 36 then instructs us about the way Satan perceives believers, "As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Let me make it clear, God does not kill us, nor does He account us as sheep for the slaughter.

Verse 37 refutes Satan's image of us and encourages believers when it says, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

Romans 8:38-39:

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Even if you died today you would not be separated from God's love. Paul said, "... Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6).
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."(2 Corinthians 5:8)

Notice, included in the list of things that cannot separate us from God's love is "things to come." We don't know what is coming so the Holy Spirit is sent to lead us and guide us into all truth. There is no need to fear things to come because absolutely nothing can separate us from Him!

Bob Yandian

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