Reliance on the Holy Spirit’s Guidance

A quote from, “The Art of War” provides for us good incentive to get the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus out to the people of the world. The quote is: “All warfare is based on deception.” If war is based on deception than it stands to reason that peace is based on truth.

The works of the devil are well-described in the prayers of the Psalmist:

“The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.”

“The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; he blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord.”

“The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.”

“His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression; under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.”

“...His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.”

“...He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.” [2]

“The wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.” [3]

The Lord says, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” [4]

Evil has a destructive nature to it. Good has a healing nature to it.

It is one thing to discern by the Word of the Lord what the difference is between good and evil, it is another thing to join oneself to the work of Christ in helping truth to prevail in a world full of lies. In the Bible, Jesus Christ, His prophets and His apostles teach truth-tellers how to navigate by relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

For example, when people wanted a king to lead their country. God initially tried to dissuade them from choosing a person to be their king, but when they insisted, God gave His servant Samuel divine guidance on how to go about it by His Spirit.

“Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, ‘Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.’” [5]

The next day, Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, “There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.” [6]

By the Spirit of the Lord, Samuel told Saul what was in his heart. Only the Lord could reveal these things to Samuel. Then, Samuel proceeded to tell Saul what would happen to him over the next few days. He also told Saul that preparations had been made prior to his arrival. [7]

After anointing Saul as king over Israel, he told Saul by a revelation from the Lord what would occur for him over the next few days. The details that Samuel provided for Saul are amazing. Only God could reveal them and make them happen! One event was that Saul would meet a group of musical prophets, and when he did, the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him, and he would prophesy with them and be turned into another man.” This happened just as Samuel foretold by the Spirit of the Lord. [8]

After all this, enemies attacked Israel. King Saul was able by the Spirit of the Lord to rally God’s people to fight and win the battle. [9]

Speaking truth, namely the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus, is one element of our service unto God and people. The other element of our service to God and people is relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance for logistical victories.

Paul and his company traveled about preaching the Word of God, and testifying for Jesus, but they only went where the Holy Spirit led them to go.

“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel to them.” [10]

The Holy Spirit made it clear to Paul and his company when they were to refrain from a battle, and when they were to fight. The Holy Spirit guided Paul to people who were ready to receive truth from the Lord.

The Bible tells us, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Once a mighty angel was hindered for twenty days from getting to Daniel due to the Prince of Persia. The Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians, “We wanted to come to you — I, Paul, again and again — but Satan hindered us.” [11]

May the Holy Spirit guide us. The ministry of truth-telling in a world full of lies requires reliance on the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance.

[1] Psalm 10:2-4
[2] Psalm 10:7-9
[3] Psalm 12:8
[4] Proverbs 15:4
[5] 1 Smauel 9:15-16
[6] 1 Samuel 9:17
[7] 1 Samuel 9:18-24
[8] 1 Samuel 10:1-12
[9] 1 Samuel 11:6, 11
[10] Acts 16:6-10
[11] Ephesians 6:12; Daniel 10:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:18