All of our natural lives, we have had to work for approval or acceptance. When you were good, you were rewarded. The Old Covenant showed us how impossible it was to observe the Law perfectly to be good enough for God. However, as New Covenant believers, what was impossible for us to accomplish, God did for us through Jesus Christ. Jesus did all the work for us; all we need to do is believe that what Jesus did was enough.

As I said, grace and faith are two sides of the same coin; as I have explained, grace, now, let’s look at how faith (belief) is attached to thatgrace. God’s grace or gifts are like unopened boxes; faith is how we open the boxes.

For example, if you had a winning lottery ticket for some great prize, wouldn’t you claim it? As long as you keep the lottery ticket in your pocket, you don’t have the prize money. You must surrender the ticket to receive the prize. Grace works in the same way; you may know that you have grace, but as long as you don’t act upon that grace, it is simply an idea or concept.

You see, faith is action! Knowing what is true is not the same as acting as if it were true. Now, here is the challenge: Faith requires action before what you believe for comes to pass.

Of course, the greatest gift of God is our salvation. Jesus offers us the gift of heaven, the washing away of our sins, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and the promises found in the Bible. This means that guilt, shame, and condemnation are no longer part of our lives. We are made clean and free through the Cross of Calvary.

The following Bible verses reveal that true faith, and grace are wrapped up in one.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Romans 4:16, “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.”

Grace is what the Lord has provided through Jesus Christ; our task is to take what has been promised and apply the truths of those promises to our lives; it is believing and living God’s promises in everyday life. So, the logical question is, what has God promised?

Bible Promises

The Bible contains thousands of promises. According to one account, there are over 3500 promises in the Bible. The promises are to all Believers who will believe that these promises are “yes and amen.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” The promises of God are “yes,” which means that they are true, and “amen,” which comes from a Hebrew word, which means that the promises are trustworthy!

Often, our minds are challenged to believe the promises of the Bible because we tend to look at our natural circumstances instead of looking to our supernatural God! We want proof before we act, but the Lord says, “Act, and I will give you proof.”

Another possible obstacle to believing the Bible’s promises is that we consider ourselves unworthy to receive such great promises. Let me remind you that Jesus thought you were worthy and died for you. If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for you!

You are precious in His Sight. Yes, it is true that you are imperfect, but then all of us are imperfect; that is why it must be of grace and not of our efforts to be good. Before I am misunderstood let me say that we should try to be good according to the standards of the Bible. We are all works in progress, and the work of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is to renew our minds and transform us into the image of Christ. Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The Bible is filled with examples of imperfect men and women walking by faith, not sight. Hebrews chapter 11 names the following as examples of faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rehab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and countless unnamed men and women. These examples are given to us to encourage us to know God’s promises and then to hear from His Holy Spirit when to believe as one who has already received the promise.

Look at what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (the witnesses mentioned in chapter 11), let us lay aside every weight (anything that would hold us back such as fear, shame, guilt), and the sin (sin is, in essence, disbelief in what God has said, lack of faith) which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus (here is our focus), the author (Romans 12:3 says that He has given all a measure of faith) and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus did not look at His circumstances but looked to the Father. Jesus knew He had to endure some terrible hardships, but He also knew that He had the victory even before He started. The Bible says you are more than a conqueror and that you can do all things through Jesus Christ, who strengthens you. Trust Jesus and walk by faith and not by sight.

Faith works, but faith must be God’s way!

Here are some faith principles to consider as you grow your faith in the Lord.

1. Get Serious – What I mean is that you consider prayer as a primary means of communication with God and not just a religious act. James 4:2b says, “Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” The prayer of faith is not something you “toss up” to heaven and hope for the best. Listen to James 5:16b, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Can you see that there is nothing casual about this statement? It takes a passionate yet confident attitude that the Lord hears us and this can only happen when we are confident that we are right with God. Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  Remember, it is not faith in faith, but faith in the person of the One who made the promise, our Lord God.
   
2. Get Right Motives – As humans, we tend to think that the world revolves around us and that it is all about us. However, James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” In other words, we have a personal agenda or our own wants. Instead, we should be thinking of bringing glory to Him, the One who saved us. When the Lord fulfills prayer, we need to testify and praise Him to all around us so that they may see that the Lord is real and at work in our lives.
   
   What are the right motives? Personal revelation through His Word. You can never go wrong when you pray the Word of God, the Bible’s scriptures, as the Holy Spirit leads you. It is so true what someone once said, “Faith is impossible unless the will of God is known.” Make sure what you are praying for is scriptural.
   
3. Get on Solid Ground – The greatest enemy of faith is doubt. The enemy of your soul, the Devil, comes to steal, kill, and destroy your faith in God. The Devil does his evil work by planting lies in your mind about the love, forgiveness, and acceptance you have in the Lord. The Devil wants to put a “wedge” between you and the Lord. In John 10:10, Jesus promised us an abundant life—a more abundant life! However, at the same time, he warns us about the Devil, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”We must resist doubts when they come by focusing on God’s goodness and the fact that nothing is impossible with Him. A final warning from James 1:6-8, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
   
4. Walk out your faith! Act as if you have already received what you have prayed for. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Faith always starts with a decision to believe what God has said regardless of the circumstances or the doubters around us trying to undermine our faith. If the Lord has spoken to you, believe and receive the promise.

In conclusion, faith is a decision! It is not a feeling, emotion, religious rite, or ritual. Faith is believing God’s promises and then acting like they have been accomplished. So, get serious with God, make sure your motives are pure, don’t let doubt corrupt your thinking, and believe what you have asked for is done and give the glory to God!

Our second responsibility is known as the Great Commission, which Jesus gave to His followers and is found at the end of each of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Notice that I said every Believer, not just prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. So often, we assume that the work of the Gospel is for what is known as the “five-fold ministry,” described in Ephesians 4:11, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” While it is true that the Lord gave these ministry gifts for the benefit of the church, it is not true that they are the only ones responsible for the message of the Gospel. Every Believer is responsible and empowered to share the Gospel or “Good News.” 

Too often, as Christians, we think, “Let the pastor do it,” when, in fact, the Lord is calling you to rise up and be His ministers of truth, light, and life. Jesus told his followers in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Those who heard the message at that time knew Jesus in the flesh and had faith in Him and His words because of their relationship with Him. Today, we have a relationship with the resurrected Jesus by His Spirit, and we know that He is alive and has a plan for our lives. It is no different today than it was when Jesus walked the earth; the issue is faith! Will you believe?

Faith is central to our salvation, our relationship with the Lord, and our God-given destiny. So, what do we mean when we talk about faith? Is faith natural or supernatural? Let’s take a look at the difference between the two.

Natural Faith – Dictionary

1. Allegiance to duty or a person: loyalty, fidelity to one’s promises, sincerity of intentions.
2. Belief and trust in and loyalty to God, belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion, and firm belief in something for which there is no proof of complete trust.
3. Something that is believed with strong conviction, a system of religious beliefs. 

The kind of faith described here is based upon understanding, sometimes called intellectual assent. You agree that something is true, but are you willing to trust your life to that truth? For example, it is easier to fight for a principle than it is to live by that principle. I remember someone saying that most people are “legends in their own minds!” In other words, they picture themselves as strong and courageous in their imagination, but when it comes to action, they fail to live up to the truth. In the second part of Daniel 11:32 it says, “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” You see, a strong Christian is one who knows the truth and does the truth. That’s faith in action

Spiritual Faith – Bible

Hebrews 11:1 States that “faith is the substance (guarantee) of things hoped for and the evidence (convincing proof) of things not seen (invisible).” There is a sense of certainty when we speak of faith in this sense. It is seeing the invisible.

1. Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse”
2. Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
3. Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
4. Hebrews 11:27, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

Spiritual faith means that we believe what God has said in His Word, the Bible, and confirmed by His Holy Spirit. It is a knowing in our hearts that God is true and will never leave or forsake us or break His promises. 

The Apostle Paul gives us an illustration of this kind of spiritual faith when he describes the faith of Abraham in Romans 4:19-22, “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.” From these verses, we see that Abraham did not look at the natural facts of his old age but could see the invisible workings of an all-powerful God.

The key to true spiritual faith is 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” It’s a simple statement, but so profound. It means that we don’t need evidence first to believe; we believe, and then the evidence of our faith appears. 

Christian faith relies upon the Word of God—Jesus; the power of God—the Holy Spirit; and the love of God—the Father. This is our faith position.

• Not faith in faith, but faith in Him. 
• Our faith is relational. Oswald Chambers said, “We blunder when we tell people they must believe certain things about Jesus Christ; a man cannot believe until he knows him, then belief is spontaneous and natural.”

You see, we don’t need more understanding; we need more trust and reliance upon Him! Hear what the scriptures says in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

The human mind cannot understand God’s mind. No matter how brilliant a mind is, it cannot come close to God’s mind. The good news is that everything the Lord feels we need to know He graciously gives us. Deuteronomy 29:29 says the following, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Remember that God is not influenced by how we think He should work; His plan is always better than yours.

Faith is our position as Christians, having done all we stand!

Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 6:34 that we will experience troubles in this life, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” However, at the same time, Jesus makes it clear that He has overcome the world’s troubles. John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We can trust the Lord because He always keeps His promises and that becomes apparent when we learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” 

In other words, troubles, trials, and tribulations will fall on us, but we are called to stand in faith; when we do, we are not responsible for the results—God is, and He will give us the victory! The Lord does not create life’s problems, but He will use them to perfect our faith. Because faith is not simply an idea it is an action. The evidence of faith is found in the action or deed.

Your faith must be tested.

“If your faith has not been tested, how can you trust in your faith? Are we “legends in our own minds,” or do we truly “walk by faith and not by sight?” 

I believe the following accurately explains how God takes everyday situations to develop our faith:

1. If you ask for Patience, God will allow Trials to develop your endurance
2. If you ask for Strength, God will allow Difficulties to make you strong
3. If you ask for Wisdom, God will provide Problems for you to solve
4. If you ask for Prosperity, God provides you Wisdom and Strength to work
5. If you ask for Courage, God will allow Perils to overcome
6. If you ask for Love, God will provide Troubled People to help
7. If you ask for Favor, God will give you Opportunities

You may not get everything you Want, but you will get everything you Need because our God is a faithful God.

You may ask, “What do I do when doubt or fear enter my mind?” Let’s go to the Bible. You may recall the time that Jesus healed a demon-possessed child in Mark 9. Listen to what Jesus said and the response of the child’s father. Mark 9:23-24, “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Faith is the doorway to seeing God work, and there will be times when we can release faith in a situation. However, if we are honest, there may also be times when doubts enter our hearts. That is when we must be open with the Lord, confess our unbelief, and ask Him to help us overcome that unbelief. Doubt, fear, and unbelief are the enemies of genuine faith in the Lord because they prevent us from action, and action is the evidence of faith.

If we want to strengthen our faith in God we must be in the Word of God, the Bible. Because faith comes from hearing the Word of God. We must also be careful who we associate with. Friends, co-workers, and sometimes even family can be a negative influence if they are not strong Believers in Jesus Christ. Of course, it is impossible to avoid every negative person because we are in the world, but the Bible says we are not of the world. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” So, to the greatest extent possible, we must try to surround ourselves with people with righteous attitudes and behavior. 

Finally, remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” If you let the Lord guide your actions, you will walk in His blessings.

Holy Spirit Guidance Through Messengers 

At times, God the Holy Spirit uses messengers to convey guidance and direction to our path. God’s purposes and plans are not always clear to us. His strategies are often beyond our ability to comprehend. Therefore, God uses the Holy Spirit to send messages to us through His messengers. Some of the messengers He uses are angels, prophets, and other Believers.

Angels

Angelology, the study of angels, is beyond the scope of this message. However, we will look at angels as it applies to receiving guidance from the Lord.

Strong’s Dictionary defines it as to mean to bring tidings or communications; a messenger, especially an “angel”; by implication, a pastor; a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. What is important to understand is that Angels are not human beings who have passed away. Angels are created beings by the Lord. 

The world has portrayed angels in very strange and fanciful ways. Nevertheless, angels are real beings, created by God with great power and authority. We are never to worship angels, as is the practice of some. 

God has used angels in many ways throughout biblical history. He continues to use them today. God has used angels to safeguard us, defend us, direct us, and, at times, protect us from evil that may befall us.

God has created the angels to minister to Himself, as well as to minister to those of us who have inherited salvation through Jesus Christ. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:14). 

Here are a few examples of angels that have been sent to minister to believers:

1. An angel releases Peter from prison. “But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out…” (Acts 5:19).
2. An angel directs Phillip to the Ethiopian eunuch. “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza…’” (Acts 8:26).
3. An angel directs Cornelius to get Peter. “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, ‘Cornelius!…’” (Acts 10:3).
4. Peter is released from prison again by an angel. “Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands” (Acts 12:7).
5. Paul, about to be shipwrecked, is assured by an angel. “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve” (Acts 27:23).

From these few examples, among many in Scripture, we see that God frequently uses angels or messengers to accomplish His purposes.

Prophets 

In the simplest terms, the role of the prophet is to hear from God and speak for God. The prophet was also required to speak what was on God’s heart to the government, community and the Church. 

In the Old Testament, prophets were the ones who anointed kings. Accounts of Old Testament prophets such as Eli, Samuel, Nathan, Elijah and Elisha are well known. Many of the Old Testament books were written by minor and major prophets. The New Testament references many Old Testament prophets. However, New Testament prophets seem less common than in Old Testament times. Only three individuals are recognized as prophets in New Testament times:

1. Jesus: “So the multitudes said, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee’” (Matt 21:11).
2. John the Baptist: “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).
3. The prophet Agabus: “And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea” (Acts 21:10).

Why are there fewer references to the office of the prophet in the New Testament? Perhaps the reason is because the Holy Spirit operates differently today than in Old Testament times.

As stated previously, in Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit was “on” or “with” a person. Today, the Holy Spirit lives “within” the believer! God’s Spirit now speaks directly to the spirit of a believer. This new and living way has been opened to us by Jesus Christ and His completed work at the cross of Calvary (Heb 10:20).

The Prophetic Today

While the role of the office of the prophet may be limited today, the role of the prophetic has not been limited in any way. There are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, as described in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Three of those gifts have to do with the prophetic. In verse 10, the gift of prophecy is listed. The gift of tongues, when combined with the interpretation of tongues, is considered to be prophecy also. “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification” (1Cor 14:5 emphasis added). There are two other spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and they are the gifts of “word of knowledge” and “word of wisdom.” Since both of these are revealed by the Lord, they can also be thought of as prophetic because they are also spoken.

The prophetic (what God is saying) is such an important part of the life of the Church today. Therefore, it is essential that those who are called to move in the prophetic learn how to be good stewards of the gift of the prophetic in general. 

The prophetic has both a Holy Spirit component and a human component. The Holy Spirit is never wrong or inaccurate. However, the human part or component is subject to error. 

Let us examine the three parts of the gift of the prophetic word:

1. Revelation. The prophetic begins when God speaks revelation, and a person receives that revelation. The revelation is spiritually discerned – heard or seen.
2. Interpretation. The second phase of the prophetic is the interpretation of what is spiritually seen or heard. This requires a human interpretation of the revelation – our understanding of what is heard or seen. It is obvious that human error may occur at this point. This is because our interpretation is often subject to human limitations of our understanding.
3. Application. The final step is the application – what we are to do in response to what is heard or seen. This is the action that one takes based on the interpretation of the revelation. Since this is limited to a human understanding of what should be done in response to the word, the application can also be subject to error.

Since two of the steps of prophecy – the interpretation and the application – are subject to human error, you might wonder: Is prophecy safe? The answer is yes – when you apply a very important principle: Prophecy should confirm what you already know to be true. In other words, a valid prophetic word today will act as a confirmation of what God has already revealed to you. Prophecy should build you up in your faith concerning what has already been revealed. 

Of course, a valid prophetic word will also never disagree with what has already been revealed in the Bible, the written Word of God. 

A Lesson in Application

A clear example of the three steps or parts in a prophetic word – revelation, interpretation, and application – is found in. A prophet by the name of Agabus comes to meet with the Apostle Paul. Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Agabus brings forth a prophetic word by demonstration in verse 11: “When he [Agabus] had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, “So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”’ Apparently, Agabus had a vision of what was going to happen to Paul, and Agabus acted out what he saw: Paul being bound and handed over to the Gentiles. 

Agabus had a genuine revelation from the Holy Spirit. Agabus interprets the revelation correctly, describing with actions what will happen to Paul. In verse 12, we read that those who are present try to discourage Paul from going to Jerusalem. Their application of the prophecy is to discourage Paul from going to Jerusalem, but Paul, with confidence and assurance, states, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v.13).

The revelation was correct. The interpretation was correct. But the application by those who heard the word was not correct. Paul’s companions did not want Paul to be arrested and turned over to the opposition leaders. However, Paul knew that his capture and arrest were part of his destiny because the Holy Spirit had already revealed what was ahead for him. Paul says, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:22-24).

The Agabus’ prophecy confirmed what the Holy Spirit had revealed to Paul prior to his encounter with Agabus. When the emotions of the prophecy’s application caused others to possibly miss God’s plan, Paul was steadfast in his decision to go to Jerusalem. Paul already knew what God had told him to do because it was revealed to him first. Agabus simply confirmed it.

As the Apostle Peter was approaching the end of his life, he wrote about the importance of prophets and prophecy and the danger of false prophets. Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:19-21, ”And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Two important points to make with these verses: First, note the phrase “prophetic word confirmed.” The prophetic always confirms what is known or should be known. Second, note that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, is the true source of all genuine prophecy. Jesus says so in the following verses in the Gospel of John: John 14:17, John 15:26, John 16:13.

Believers Prophecy

As a final point, let me say that there are those who are in the office of prophets, and then there are Believers who will get a word of prophecy for a person or a situation. These Christians don’t operate in the office of the prophet but will manifest the gift of prophecy as revealed in 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

God loves you so much that He will get His message to you through angels, prophets, and other believers. 

Clear Direction

There are times when God may use several ways to communicate with us to assure us that it is the Holy Spirit directing our paths. Remember that Satan is a lying spirit who wants to deceive us and lead us away from God. I have heard the following illustration: 

“A certain harbor can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have been wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted on three huge poles in the harbor. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot can see two or three lights, he knows he has gotten off course and is in danger.

“God has also provided three beacons to guide us. The same rules of navigation apply… the three lights must be lined up before it is safe for us to proceed. The three harbor lights of guidance are:

1. The Word of God (objective standard);
2. The Holy Spirit (subjective witness);
3. Circumstances (divine providence).

“Together, they assure us that the directions we have received are from God and will lead us safely along His way.”

Of course, it is also important to note that circumstances are not always a reliable indicator of God’s will. They can, at times, cause us to doubt. God may require us to move in faith, even when natural circumstances seem to oppose His direction. If this seems to be the case, then we must have an even clearer and stronger sense of the accuracy of both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s leading in spite of the circumstances. Just look at the obstacles Abraham and Moses faced in the Old Testament, then there is the Apostle Paul in the New Testament and all he had to endure.

Confidence Before God

Now, let’s begin to examine the six ways that God speaks to and guides us.

1. Holy Spirit Guidance Through Conviction

Holy Spirit conviction means that our conscience is being provoked into judging the rightness or wrongness of an action. The dictionary defines conscience as having “an internal sense of what is right and wrong that governs somebody’s thoughts and actions, urging him or her to do right rather than wrong”.

As Christians, we understand the “internal sense” to go beyond just our conscience. We have within us the work of the Holy Spirit. “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God” (1John 3:20,21).

The Need for Conviction

In John 16:8-11, God reveals the primary work of the Holy Spirit. (The Holy Spirit is not limited to the three actions described in this passage, as we learn when reading beyond verse 11.) The three primary works of the Holy Spirit are to reveal sin, righteousness, and judgment. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8).

Then John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, goes on to explain in greater detail these three primary functions: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged” (vs.9-11). The greatest sin is to not believe in Jesus and what He did for us. Jesus is the righteousness for those who put their trust in Him, and they will also go to the Father. Judgment because the world systems are under the influence of the Devil.

The Holy Spirit always convicts of sin because He is holy (Rom 1:4)! God never tempts us with evil. He does not perpetrate evil or sin as a means of fulfilling His purpose (Jas 1:13). While it is true that God can take that which was meant for evil by others and turn it into good (Rom 8:28), He Himself does not perpetrate evil or sin. As Believers and leaders of Christ, this means that we must not perpetrate evil motivations or actions but instead live above reproach in every area of life (1 Tim 3:1-13).

When Jesus says in John 16:9 that the Holy Spirit convicts “of sin, because they do not believe in Me”, we need to make one thing very clear: It is not just belief in the Person of Jesus, but also belief in what Jesus has said and done for us at the Cross. There are many who would say they believe in Jesus, and yet they do not obey Him (Matt 21:28-32; Jas 1:21-25, 2:14-26). Well, if one does not obey Jesus, one really does not believe that Jesus is God! 

It is possible to “harden your heart” to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and become insensitive to sin. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30). Those who fall to the place where they become insensitive to the Holy Spirit are no longer convicted of their sin (Eph 4:17-24; 1Tim 4:2). 

Scriptural examples of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit:

1. Peter makes an arrogant statement that he is willing to die for Jesus (Matt 26:31-35). Jesus prophesies that Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows that day. The prophecy comes to pass. After the third denial of Christ by Peter, the Scripture states, “Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So, he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt 26:74,75).
   
2. Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection, but Thomas is not present. Because Thomas has not seen with his own eyes, he does not believe that Jesus has appeared to the other disciples. Later, Jesus appears to Thomas. Under conviction, Thomas proclaims, “…My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
   
3. Peter preaches the Gospel message, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, to the Jews in Jerusalem. This produces such conviction that about 3,000 come to know the Lord Jesus. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:37).
   
4. Saul (Paul) of Tarsus is on his way to Damascus to continue his persecution of Christians. During that trip, he has an encounter with the risen Jesus Christ that turns his world upside down. “And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads’. So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’” (Acts 9:5,6).

2. Holy Spirit Guidance Through the Bible

The Bible is truly the Word of God, and all of it is given by the inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). It is like no other book. It is a spiritual book designed by God to be a source of life, inspiration, instruction, encouragement, correction, direction, and guidance for His children. Someone once described the Bible as a personal love letter from God to us. God and His heart for mankind are both revealed throughout the Scriptures. For those who do not know God, through Jesus Christ, it is an invitation to know Him. For those who walk with Jesus, the Word of God is our strength and assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Rhema And Logos

It is interesting to note that the Bible refers to itself as the Word. The word “Word” in the New Testament is derived from two Greek words: logos and rhema. Logos is the written word or an expression of thought, while rhema is the spoken word or a word uttered in speech or writing. Both words are used throughout the New Testament.

The word rhema is significant because it applies to a single scripture or scriptural principle that the Holy Spirit brings to the mind in our time of need. It is as if the Scripture passage is “speaking” to us to answer a question or provide direction or guidance.

Hence, Scripture itself tells us that it is alive and sharper than any two-edged sword, able to discern thoughts of the mind and motives of the heart. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12).

God speaks to us so clearly through the Bible. God speaks in general principles for life (logos) as well as to specific circumstances in life (rhema).

It is important to remember that we must read the logos (written) word daily. It is from this daily reading that God will give us His rhema (spoken) word.

The Bible as Light

The Word of God is light. Illumination of the Word, as we have discussed earlier, is by the Holy Spirit. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105). Illumination means that the truth of Scripture becomes personal and real to us. “…that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Pet 1:20,21).

The Bible As A Mirror Into Your Soul

The Bible reveals the truth about us. We may be able to deceive others. We may even be able to deceive ourselves. Yet there is power in the Word of God to reveal the truth about our lives. The Word of God is compared to a mirror, which reflects back to us where our lives need to be changed (Jas 1:23-25).

This illumination is a work of the Holy Spirit—not to discourage or condemn us but to bring us into the light that transforms. God cannot bless what He does not approve of; He is a Holy God! His desire for us, when He reveals painful truths about our lives, is to bring us into paths of righteousness so that we might receive the full blessing of God. 

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Cor 3:18). 

Of course, just knowing the truth is not the same as knowing and doing the truth. We are called to be doers of the Word. By doing the Word of God, we build a solid foundation for our lives. “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (Jas 1:23-25).

As the Bible says in Matthew 6:33, our priority must be to seek the kingdom of God through Jesus and His righteousness. Then, the spirit of God will provide all that we need for our spirit, soul, and body. 

Keep on seeking Him!