Divine Direction
(Growing Spiritually Towards the Whole Measure of the Fullness of Christ)
Introduction:
To understand and experience the guidance of the Holy Spirit we must first keep in mind that man is a spirit being that has a soul and lives in a human body. It is through the human spirit that the Holy Spirit communicates best with man. The human spirit is the center, the “headquarters” of His dwelling. It is through the spirit-man that God’s voice can be heard giving directions.
Of course, God can communicate with us in many ways, but it is through the spirit-man that God places His indelible impressions. Know that God can and will intervene in the daily affairs of our lives and He is no stranger to the affairs of our lives. Yes, He wants to make Himself real in your life and interact with you. He wants to direct you, to guide you in the things concerning your life. God wants your life to be meaningful and significant as He leads and guides you.
- Born Again (Quickening the Human Spirit)
Once you are born again, your spirit-man is quickened and thus is activated by the presence of the Holy Spirit in you. So you become spiritually alert, quickened to receive impulses, promptings and divine inspirations. Therefore, God begins to communicate with your spirit-man and not with your mind reasoning. This means that God will use your own spirit-man to guide you. Always remember, “The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.” (Jn. 3:5-8; 1 Cor. 15:45; Prov. 20:27)
- The Gift of the Holy Spirit (The Baptism in the Holy Spirit)
The baptism in the Holy Spirit also known as the Gift of the Holy Spirit is the initiation, the door opener to other spiritual manifestations of God. Not only is it the moment when the endowment of power to carry out the assignments to which we are called, but it is also the moment of introduction to a deep supernatural life. This is why the apostles gave more importance and priority to the Holy Spirit baptism in the lives of new disciples as recorded extensively in the Book of Acts. The reason was to bring them to the supernatural realities of the Comforter. Always remember, we must be guided by the Holy Spirit, therefore, we must first be baptized in Him. (Jn. 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 2:38b; 8:14-17; 19:1-7)
- Praying in the Holy Spirit
Once you are born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit, there is a need to communicate with God without ceasing. Praying in the Spirit is the biblical way to really pray “for we know not what we should pray for as we ought”. “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth”. Praying in the Spirit is also a way to build up your spirit-man or, as the apostle Paul said, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself”. When you pray in the Holy Spirit, you build up (edify or charge) your most holy faith.
So, when we “pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” we edify, build up or charge our spirit-men, and become susceptible to the voice of the Spirit and His guidance. Always remember, praying in the Holy Spirit is the most important Christian practice in the life of the Body of Christ. (Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor. 14:14; 14:4; Jude 20; Eph. 6:18)
- Divine Direction Through the Written Word
- Meditating on the Word.
Following the death of the leader of the Exodus, Moses, God anointed Joshua to lead the children of Israel and instructed him at the start of his ministry on the importance of meditation on the Word. God said, “Meditate on it day and night… Then you will be prosperous and successful.” We would not be “prosperous and successful” if we didn’t deal wisely with the issues of life through meditation on God’s Word. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2-3)
- Practicing the Word.
Practicing the Word is a biblical requirement. James encourages us to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.” He urges the believers to live according to the Word. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4: 6). If we follow Paul’s advice and “do not beanxious about anything” then we can believe God for the fulfillment of the promise in the next verse, which says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7). Practice the Word of God daily.
- Giving the Word First Place.
We are faced with so many different voices surrounding us, which makes it difficult to hear the voice of the Word of God. We quite often listen to the opinions and advice of our family members and friends. However, a good way to train your spirit-man is to learn to listen to what God’s Word has to say..
Proverbs 4:20-22 gives us three things we should do with the Word of God, (1) hear it; (2) read it and (3) memorise it. “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”
- Divine Direction Through the Gifts of Revelation.
The new birth quickens one’s spirit-man. With the baptism in the Holy Spirit you are introduced to supernatural realities. Consistently praying in the Spirit will make the spiritual gifts work in your Christian life. The gifts of word of knowledge, word of wisdom and the discernment of spirits are the three gifts of revelation through which the Holy Spirit can bring to our spirit-man divine guidance, facts about people, places, situations, etc. Always remember, adopting the habit of praying in the Spirit, praying in tongues, will make you receive divine guidance. (Jn. 5:6; 1:47-49; Acts 8:26-29; 9:10-18; 27:9-11, 21-25)