ICS Daily Devotions
Being Led by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He is God. He is holy, righteous and just. He is highly sensitive and that is why He is described like a dove. A dove is gentler and more sensitive than the pigeon.

The first step of being led by the Holy Spirit is to allow Him to pinpoint things that are unpleasant, ungodly and sin to Him. During our contemplative prayer to God, we allow God to point a finger or shine a light into our hearts to reveal hidden sins in our lives. This is important because it is definitely the voice of God speaking to us when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable to Him. Our conscience which is part of our spirit being has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ is very sensitive towards sin. It is a good safeguard and guide for our lives.

Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

1 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

We do not sense the grieving in our mind but in our heart or spirit man. The Holy Spirit will speak to our conscience and we are extremely sensitive to Him. However, our conscience will be seared and rendered insensitive to the voice and the leading of the Holy Spirit when we continue to ignore His promptings, especially when it is a conviction of sin or the need to walk away from temptations. This is especially true for those who are living in habitual sin. It can be co-habitation, fornication, and illegal dealings. We will also sense the grieving of the Holy Spirit when we willfully rebel or walk in bitterness, unforgiveness towards friends, colleagues, relatives and loved ones rather than respond in love, grace and forgiveness. All these are part of being led by the Holy Spirt. It is not just in the supernatural.

Romans 8:12-13 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

We have to choose to walk in the Spirit when the Bible says that we are no longer debtors to the flesh. We choose to forgive, pray for our enemies and carry out acts of reconciliation with the people whom God reveals to us. When we undertake these acts of forgiveness, denying the flesh and dealing with the issues in our lives whenever the Holy Spirit leads us, then we are conscious of our spirit man and this is a safeguard in our lives.

We need to master being led by the Holy Spirit if that is how God is communicating to us because we have been too used to being dictated by our flesh and our mind.

Sermon Series : From The Closet to The Street