Are we supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit in our decisions?

I just wrote this in a comment on Facebook. I thought I’d share it here.

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There is an interesting example of someone who was led by the Holy Spirit, and we are supposed to walk like he did.

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit when he walked on this earth, having emptied himself (Philippians 2). He said:

“BY MYSELF I CAN DO NOTHING; I judge only AS I HEAR, and my judgment is just, for I SEEK NOT TO PLEASE MYSELF BUT HIM who sent me” (John 5:30).

“I tell you the truth, THE SON CAN DO NOTHING BY HIMSELF; he can do only what he sees his Father doing…” (John 5:19).

We are supposed to walk like Jesus did:

“But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live IN HIM must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5).

In a paper that I wrote while attending seminary A Call to Intimacy: The Holy Spirit in John’s Gospel & Epistles, I say this:

Prophets in the Old Testament prophesied that Jesus would operate by the empowering of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 2:2; Isa. 11:1-5 ; 42:1,7; 61:1-3). The New Testament also witnesses to the fact that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (Matt. 4:1, Mark. 1:12, Luke. 4:1), EMPOWERED to preach, cast out demons, and heal the sick BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (Matt. 12:28; Luke 4:14, 18, 19; 11:20), and resurrected by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11; 1 Pet. 3:18,19).

Jesus often went to lonely places to spend time with his father, so he would know what to do. His cry at Gethsemane was “Not my will, but yours be done.”

After he died, he sent the counselor, the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth so we could walk like Jesus did:

“But THE COUNSELOR, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS…” (John 14:26).

“But when he, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, comes, he will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH…” (John 16:13).

“But YOU HAVE AN ANOINTING from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth…. But as HIS ANOINTING TEACHES YOU ABOUT ALL THINGS and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit –just as it has taught you, REMAIN IN HIM” (1 John 2:20,27).

Being led by the Holy Spirit is the normal Christian life.
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Related:

Hearing God’s Voice: Brief Repeat Phrases

Jesus’ Heart-Cry: “Let Us Be ONE”