THE LEADERSHIP OF GOD'S SPIRIT- -NEHEMIAH 9:20

THE LEADERSHIP OF GOD'S SPIRIT

NEHEMIAH 9:20

“Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.”

Introduction:

Obedience is a mark of Sonship in the life of the Believer, Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” That obedience is product of the leadership of the Spirit of God in the life of that individual.”

The Spirit of the Lord is responsible for our education in the Word of God and in leading the believer according to that Word. Consider the following thoughts:

I. THE SPIRIT OF GOD GUIDES US INTO ALL TRUTH

A. The Spirit of God DOES NOT SPEAK of Himself, John 16:13, “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 shew you things to come.”

1. This the Spirit of Truth that the world does not know, John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

2. This is Spirit that teaches us to recognize the spirit of error, 1 John 4:6, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

B. He reminds us of the FACTS of the life of Christ, John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

1. He leads the believer into the DEEP THINGS regarding our Savior, 1 Corinthians 2:10, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

2. He leads us in UNDERSTANDING MAN,1 Corinthians 2:11, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

a. The CONDITION of man’s heart, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

b. The Lord knows that man WALKS AFTER the EVIL IMAGINATION of his heart, Jeremiah 16:12, “And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:”

II. THE SPIRIT CONTROLS THE MOVEMENTS OF BELIEVERS

A. He Directs in the SELECTION of Christian Leaders, Acts 13:2, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

B. He Chooses the FIELDS of Operation, Acts 16:6, “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,”

C. The Spirit directs His servants, Acts 8:39, “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

1. The Spirit led in the activities of the Apostles according to His will, Acts 10:19-20, “While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20- Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

2. He leads today in our activities, Psalms 23:2-3, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3- He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

III. THE SPIRIT GIVES GUIDANCE IN THE PERSONAL LIFE OF THE BELIEVER

A. The Spirit leads into Pleasant Paths, Psalm 23:2, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

1. In Making Decisions, Psalm 25:9, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

2. He guides us with His EYE, Psalms 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

3. He guides us unto the End of Life, Psalm 48:14, “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.”

a. By Wise Counsel, Psalm 73:24, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”

b. By His Still Small Voice, Isaiah 30:21, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

C. The Spirit guides us in the Midst of Uncertainties, Isaiah 42:16, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”

1. In the way that is profitable for us, Isaiah 48:17, “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”

2. He goes before us, John 10:4, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

3. He leads us into all Truth, John 16:13, “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 shew you things to come.”

CONCLUSION

The Spirit of God has led the people of God in the way that they should go in every generation and has never led them astray, Psalms 85:13, “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.”