I was about halfway through the three-year program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and I was beginning to think about my future. I remember how powerfully the Lord communicated this to me one night on my knees when I was in graduate school. In John 14:26, Jesus promised the disciples: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” In fact, of all the professors I had in college, none ever matched the personal instruction I have received from God through the Holy Spirit.
He will never advise us to do anything that contradicts Scripture. But He does so much more: He also helps us to understand Scripture and enables us to fellowship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit empowers us to resist sin and obey God. Galatians 5:16 instructs, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (NASB). Apart from Him, you and I cannot live a godly life.
Unlike the fellow who accompanied us on that photographic trip, the Holy Spirit is a trustworthy guide who will never lead us astray and knows the path ahead much better than we do. He is the One speaking to your heart, warning you about danger and encouraging you to submit to God’s purposes. If you are a believer, then most likely these feelings were the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who always guides you to understand and accept the Father’s will. Or maybe you walked into a restaurant and were filled with dread, as if you should leave quickly. Have you ever felt something alerting you to pay attention or pulling you in a particular direction? Perhaps you were listening to a sermon and you sensed God telling you to follow Him in obedience.
Second, when you and I choose people to guide us, we must be certain they know the path ahead better than we do. First, when we sense an internal witness encouraging us to take a certain course of action, we should listen. The event helped me to realize two valuable lessons.