by Salome Kalitas | 27 August 2019 08:46 am08
Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Among the many works the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer in Christ is guiding them into all truth. This is clearly stated in Scripture:
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” — John 16:13 (ESV)
The word “guide” is closely related to directing someone step by step toward a destination or goal. A guide does not only show the path but also corrects mistakes along the way. For example, if someone is leading you somewhere and you suggest a wrong route, the guide will correct you so you can reach the best possible path.
This is exactly how the Holy Spirit works. He is our true Guide, and the first thing every believer must have is the Holy Spirit. The Bible emphasizes:
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” — Romans 8:9 (ESV)
This means that without the Holy Spirit, there is no divine guidance in one’s life — life is directionless and lost.
At the beginning of the Christian journey, a believer knows very little — much like a newborn child who is unaware of the ways of the world. Similarly, a person newly “born again” may be spiritually weak. Yet, within that weakness is a desire to know God, a thirst that the Holy Spirit Himself places in the believer’s heart to be nurtured under His guidance.
The Holy Spirit gradually draws the believer, step by step, guiding them on the path of holiness. The believer begins to move away from worldly attachments and seeks a church where their spiritual thirst for God can be satisfied. Through this process, they start leaving sin behind and eventually join a church community, where spiritual growth is nurtured.
Even after time in a church, the believer may notice their spiritual life is not yet mature. This realization stirs a desire to pursue God more earnestly, prompting the search for deeper spiritual nourishment. Importantly:
Sometimes, believers move between churches. This should not be confused with sin or dissatisfaction, because:
Scripture emphasizes the importance of discernment:
“Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.” — Revelation 18:4 (ESV)
The Spirit’s guidance ensures that a believer is not bound to one location but is progressively led toward spiritual completeness.
A common mistake among believers is choosing a church based on numbers, popularity, or human advice rather than the Spirit’s guidance. Many leave one denomination for another without true spiritual purpose, ending up as mere religious participants, not true followers of Christ. This mirrors the spirit of the Pharisees and Sadducees who opposed Jesus in His ministry (Matthew 23), emphasizing form over spiritual truth.
The Spirit’s direction is not about denominations but about knowing the truth, obeying God, and growing in spiritual maturity.
*“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2019/08/27/steps-of-the-holy-spirit-in-guiding-believers/
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