Spirit Led
By David Feddes 

13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.


Spirit led

  • Signs
  • Voices
  • Visions
  • Angels
  • Prophecies

Signs
Wind, fire, speaking in tongues (Acts 2:1-4)
Tongues sometimes validate outpourings.
Healings and miracles confirm apostles.

Voices
An angel told Philip, “Go south to the desert road.” (Acts 8:26)
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” (Acts 8:29)
The Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2)
The Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

Visions
Jesus appeared to Saul in blazing light and spoke in an audible voice. (Acts 9:3-6)
Jesus spoke to Ananias in a vision and told him to go pray for Saul so that his sight could be restored and he could receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:10-16)
Cornelius had a vision of an angel. (Acts 10:3-6)
Peter had a vision of a sheet filled with unclean animals. God used this vision to lead Peter to bring the gospel to non-Jesus. (Acts 10:9-20)
Paul had a vision calling him to Macedonia. (Acts 16:6-10)
Saul had a vision in the temple in which the Lord told him to leave Jerusalem and preach to Gentiles. (Acts 23:17-18)

Angels
Freed apostles from jail and told them to preach (Acts 5:18-20)
Led Peter out of jail (Acts 12:7-10)
Guided Philip to Ethiopian (Acts 8:26, 29)
Guided Cornelius to call for Peter (Acts 10:3-6)
Spoke to Paul aboard ship in a terrible storm (Acts 27:23-24)

Prophecies
Prophets in Antioch (Acts 13:1)
Agabus predicted famine, prompting offering in advance (Acts 11:28-30)
Christians in Tyre predicted trouble for Paul in Jerusalem. (Acts 21:4)
Daughters of Philip prophesied. (Acts 21:8-9) 
Agabus predicted Paul's arrest. (Acts 21:10-11)

Spirit led

  • Signs
  • Voices
  • Visions
  • Angels
  • Prophecies

Spirit led: FAQ

  • Should I always find out God’s detailed, individual will before I make a decision?
  • If someone claims miraculous leading today, are they mentally unstable?
  • Should I expect the Spirit to lead me by all the same methods he used in Acts?


What is Acts?

  • History of church’s foundational period, a unique time that ended after apostles died and New Testament was finished.
  • Portrait of lively church and mission in the new covenant age of the Spirit, which continues until Jesus returns.


Where Spirit leads

  • Led to know, trust, and love Jesus
  • Led to relate to God as your Father
  • Led to understand and relish God’s truth
  • Led to reject sin and pursue holiness
  • Led to long for God and heaven on earth
  • Led to heartfelt prayer connection
  • Led to God’s unique purposes for you


How Spirit leads

  • Applies Scriptures to our lives
  • Speaks amid prayer and worship
  • Directs through leadership body
  • Arranges events for his purposes
  • Speaks to and through our spirit
  • Grows wise, mature mind of Christ
  • Guides “miraculously” as needed

 
Applies Scriptures
Peter's Pentecost sermon quoted Joel and Psalms. (Acts 2:16-21; 25-35)
New Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. (Acts 2:42) The fullness of the apostles' teaching is what we now have in our New Testament.
Stephen's sermon expounded on OT history. (Acts 7:1-50)
Philip explained Isaiah passage to the Ethiopian official. (Acts 8:32-25)
James quoted a passage from Amos at the Jerusalem Council to prove inclusion of Gentiles. (Acts 15:15-18).
Bereans examined Scriptures to verify Paul's preaching. (Acts 17:11)
Paul reasoned from the Scriptures. (Acts 17:2)
Apollos proved from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 18:28)

Speaks amid prayer and worship
Before Pentecost, disciples were praying for the Spirit's outpouring. (Acts 1:14, 2:1)
Disciples in Antioch were worshiping and fasting when the Spirit spoke. (Acts 13:2)
Cornelius prayed to God regularly before hearing an angel. (Acts 10:2-3)
Peter was praying before receiving a vision. (Acts 10:9)
The Spirit helps us in prayer. (Romans 8:26).
Christians pray in the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20)

Directs through leadership body
The Holy Spirit used various leaders in Acts to guide Christians: apostles, elders, deacons, prophets, and teachers.
Deacons: "Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom." (Acts 6:3)
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders to lead in each church. (Acts 14:23)
Christians counted on “the apostles and elders” for guidance from the Spirit. (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23; 16:4)
The Jerusalem Council of apostles and elders issued a decision to include Gentiles without burdening them: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” (Acts 15:28)

Arranges events for his purposes
Persecution scattered Christians to witness in new places: On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. (Acts 8:1-5) Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some, however, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. (11:19-20)
Painful division between Paul and Barnabas resulted in more mission endeavors. (Acts 15:39-41)
Holy Spirit led into witnessing opportunities through jail (Acts 16:25-34), bad rulers (Acts 22=26 ), and even shipwrecks (Acts 27-28).

Speaks to and through our spirit
The Holy Spirit prompts thoughts, feelings, and instincts in our spirit.
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God… you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (Romans 8:14-16)
The Spirit enlightens the eyes of our heart. (Ephesians 1:18)
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord. (Proverbs 20:27)

Grows wise, mature mind of Christ 
We have received the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us… we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2)
The mind of the Spirit is life and peace… He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit. (Romans 8) 
Often the Spirit wants us to use our minds and follow a sensible plan. Paul usually traveled to cities based on plans he made. Once in a while, God sent a vision to redirect Paul somewhere Paul hadn't planned to go.
Paul made many decisions based on good sense: “I think it is necessary.” (Philippinas 2:25) “We thought it best.” (1 Thessalonians 3:1) “If it seems advisable.” (1 Corinthians 16:4)

Guides “miraculously” as needed
Miraculous guidance is sometimes given, but it is not promised or ordinary.
Although the Spirit usually guides in "ordinary" ways, but the Spirit will intervene in more striking, "miraculous" ways when the Spirit decides that such guidance is needed. 


Miraculous

  • Signs
  • Voices
  • Visions
  • Angels
  • Prophecies

How Spirit leads

  • Applies Scriptures to our lives
  • Speaks amid prayer and worship
  • Directs through leadership body
  • Arranges events for his purposes
  • Speaks to and through our spirit
  • Grows wise, mature mind of Christ
  • Guides “miraculously” as needed

Last modified: Monday, July 24, 2023, 2:44 PM