HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE LEADING OF THE HOLYSPIRIT �(LEADINGS AND PERCEPTIONS)��PASTOR P. COSTON PWAVODI��

THEME OF THE YEAR: LEADING OF THE SPIRIT �(Rom. 8:14; GAL. 5:16)

How do I recognize the leading of the HolySpirit?

• Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; Vs 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Vs 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

• Ephesians 1:13 in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

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• Paul could not have been praying for God to give the believer the Spirit of wisdom, because he had explained earlier in Verse 13, that by faith in the gospel, the believer has been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

• The word "spirit" (Verse 17) was translated from the Greek word "pneumatikos", which implies things of and pertaining to the Spirit. In this context, wisdom and revelation.

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• Therefore, what he prayed for was the understanding and the wisdom of the Spirit, received and indwelling the believer (by faith in the gospel of Christ). That is, Paul prayed for them (believers) to have insight into the promised Spirit, received at Salvation.

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In essence, Verse 17 can be better understood as:

• Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you wisdom of the spirit, which is revelation in the knowledge of him:

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• The word give there means in Greek “didomi” which means to cause to come forth from that which already belonged.

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Hence, he explained further in Verse 18.

• Vs 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

• The word "know" was translated from the Greek word "eido" which implies to recollect, realice and appreciate.

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• This is to have a mental appraisal of what is already known. This deals with a progressive insight of/into what is already known in our spirit.

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WISDOM + UNDERSTANDING + ENLIGHTINING = KNOWING / INSIGHT

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• The word "enlightened" was translated from the Greek word "photizo", it implies to shed rays, to shine, to illuminate, to make to see, to bring something to light there must be darkness for there to be "photizo".

• Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

• The word "see" was translated from the same Greek word photizo. Hence, it simply means to put light where there is darkness.

• Hence, Paul in Ephesians 1:17, could not have been referring to the Spirit indwelling the believer, because there is light in our Spirit already.

• Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

• By faith in the gospel, the light of the glorious gospel of Christ has shone in our hearts

• 2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: Vs 4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Vs 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. Vs 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

• Hence, the Spirit of the believer has been lit once and forever, In Christ! We were called out of darkness into his marvelous light.
•  1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

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• The Spirit of the believer, which is the Spirit of God, KNOWS the things of God.

• 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

• Therefore, the prayer in Ephesians 1:17-18 was for "the mind" of man to come into the reality of the indwelling of the Spirit, that is, his nature. That enlightenment is for the mind and not His Spirit.
• 2 Peter 1v1-4 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Vs 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,Vs 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, Vs 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

• Vs 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

How does this happen?

• Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you wisdom of the spirit, which is revelation in the knowledge of him: By revelation!

• Therefore, this revelation that Paul prayed for (in Ephesians 1:17-18), will be the Spirit of the believer (which is the Spirit of God, that knows the things of God), revealing to his mind the things of God. This revelation (epignosis") happens in the mind, and it is from the Spirit indwelling the believer to his mind.

• In other words, when information comes from the spirit to the mind, it is revelation. Hence, revelation is the Spirit communicating the will, the mind, the plans and purposes of God to the mind.

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• SPIRIT MIND = REVELATION

REVELATION

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• Thus, the Spirit of the believer does not learn, by virtue of the New Birth, it knows!

• 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

• Therefore, we can say that the Spirit of the believer received the things of God at salvation and also knows the things of God.

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INFORMATION

(Spirit communicating the will, the mind, the plans and purposes of God to the mind.)

• The phrase "we might know” was translated from the Greek word, which implies to be aware; intuition; where you have an untaught knowledge, that is, something you are just aware of. Notice he did not use the phrase "might understand", otherwise that would mean there is rationality to it.

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• However, the Spirit of the man born again functions by knowledge (intuition), he does not learn, neither is he educated; he knows.

• Thus, the object of Paul's prayer was for our thinking. The mind therefore plays a vital role in recognizing and walking in God's leading and guidance.

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• God's leading, guidance and direction is in our / His Spirit, hence, where we receive His leading or the leading of the Spirit is in the mind.

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•  Romans 8v5-7. Vs 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Vs 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Vs 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

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• So we can say that the leading of the Spirit is from within the believer to the mind.

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• Thus, the leading of the Spirit is the Spirit of the believer revealing to the mind of the believer God's plans and purposes already known to him.

THE PROBLEM OF THE BELIEVER IS THIS

• Therefore, the issue really, is in recognizing or the reception of God's leading and guidance resident in our Spirit. Clearly, this reception is to be done in the mind.

• That is why, it is a misnomer for the believer to pray to God, asking him for direction when he wants to make or take decisions in life, or to seek to hear or know the voice of God. We do not pray for God to lead us; he does already, by His Spirit indwelling us. The Spirit of God dwells in you.

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• Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Vs 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Vs 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

• 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

• 1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Va 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? Va 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

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•  2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

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•  1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

• 1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

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• We hear and know his voice. Our responsibility is to follow it.

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• John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Vs 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Vs 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

• By faith in the gospel, we have received eternal life - We are his sheep.

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

• We do not heed, neither do we follow the voice of a stranger.

• John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Thus, every time the believer is praying or fasting for God to lead him, it is simply unbelief, which is a product of lack of knowledge or sometimes sin / unrighteousness consciousness.

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• Therefore, the work lies in the mind, because that is where we are to receive His leading and guidance and walk.

• Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

• We have a responsibility to recognize what He has done, and walk in the light of the same.

• Therefore, the believer's reception of His leading and guidance is vital. Thus, in recognizing the leading of the spirit, the reception of the believer will be as a result of the state of his mind.
• This implies that an untrained mind will find it difficult to follow God's leading (known to or resident in His Spirit) successfully.

• Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

• The word "conformed" was translated from the Greek word "suschematiso"; it implies to "act like what you are not". It refers to an abuse or to be fashioned like another.

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• The word "transformed” was translated from the Greek word "metarmorphoo". It implies a change, that is, a transformation from within to without. The word shows developmental stages in growth.

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• The word "renewing" was translated from the Greek word "anakainos” it implies to re-educate, to remould and renovate.

• The word "mind” was translated from the Greek word "nous"; which implies reasoning mindset, intellect; understanding.

• The phrase "renewing the mind” implies a rebirth of thinking.

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 WHAT YOU THE BELIEVER SHOULD DO TO YOUR MIND

• Therefore, you as the believer need to remould the information (imaginations, thoughts, knowledge and understanding) contained in your mind before you got saved and also the information that will come to his mind from the systems of this world, after he has been saved. When, he does not, he will be conformed to the systems of this world. Hence you have a responsibility to retrain and re-educate the mind.

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 HOW DO YOU REMOULD, REBIRTH AND RE-EDUCATE YOUR MIND

• Again, this must be done with the written Word the revelation of what Christ has done for us, in us and is doing through us.

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• The phrase "may prove" was translated from the Greek word "dokimazo"; which implies to approve, to discern; to recognize, to test run, scrutinize whether a thing is genuine or not.

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• The following are instances where it was used:

• Luke 12:54-56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Vs 57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

• Jesus used the word to rebuke the Pharisees whom he called hypocrites for refusing to discern or recognize his person.

• Luke 14:16-19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

• The contextual usage of "dokimazo" here implies to test-run the newly bought oxen. This is not to test for a defect, but to see the functionalities already present.

• Philippians 1:9-10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

• The word "dokimazo" here implies to prove, to anlayse, the things that you accept/like.

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• Galatians 6:3-4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

• Its usage here was to for a man to exercise himself. Thus, when things are "proved", it also implies they are put to work or exercised.

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• 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

• The phrase "all things" was translated from the Greek word "pas".

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• In other words, it ("all things") can be better understood as "all these things", that is, referring to things specific.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. Vs 20 Despise not prophesyings.

• In this context, Paul was referring to prophesying, the things of the spirit. Hence, the phrase "prove all things" refers to exercising yourself in or experimenting the things of the spirit.

• So, the word "prove" in the above text was instructing each believer to practice the things of the spirit and hold on to the benefits which are good.

• 1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? Vs 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: Vs 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.... Vs 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

• Back to Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"

• The statement, "...that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" does not imply there is a good, then an acceptable and a perfect will of God, and also there is an evil/bad, unacceptable and imperfect will of God.
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• The word "and" used in between the words "good", "acceptable and "perfect" was translated from the Greek word "kai", which can either be conjunctive or explanatory, depending on the context used by the writer. But in Romans it was used for explanatory purpose about the will of God. 

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• That the WILL OF GOD is (good, acceptable and perfect.)

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• That is to say "...that you may prove the will of God, which is good, acceptable, and perfect"

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• So we can say that the result of renewing the mind, is to recognize and discern the will of God.

• This implies that there are sets of actions taken in the recognition process which will lead to the believer accepting and agreeing with the will of God which is good, acceptable and perfect.

Where is this will of God? The will of God is in the Spirit of the believer

• 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

• We can now conclude that when the believer renews his mind, he will recognize and discern the will of God (which is good, acceptable and perfect) resident in or known to his Spirit. Hence, renewing the mind is "the how" to receive, recognize and consequently walk in God's leading and guidance resident in the Spirit of the believer.

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• Therefore, when the Spirit of the believer communicates/ reveals the will of God to the mind, the reason why a man will not perceive or recognize or discern it is because his mind is not sufficiently renewed in God's word.

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• In other words, a man whose mind is adequately renewed in the written word, will easily perceive, recognize and discern God's leading (resident in him), and consequently walk in the same.

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• In recognizing, discerning and accepting what the will of God (in our spirit) is, the believer will also discern, distinguish clearly and refute what it is not, when these facts are exposed to the inward witness aligned with the written word.

• This implies that whatever information predominant in the believers mind will affect his recognition, because that is where we recognize and receive God's leading and guidance resident in our Spirit.

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• Two fundamental Questions as we go
• 1. What is the information is your MIND as a BELIEVER
• 2. How do I train my mind to recognize God’s will (good, acceptable and perfect) that is in me?
• We will answer these questions in the next teaching.