Text: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)
Every action of man is propelled by a leading and a direction.
What or Who Can Lead?
- Self: personal decision, observation, intuition, feelings, ambition, judgment, etc. (1Sam. 16:6)
- Flesh: sin nature, desires, wants, cravings, sensual pleasure (2Sam. 13)
- Situation/position: needs, performance, job (Jonah 1:5; Prov. 14:12)
- People: spouse, friends, parents, boss (Num. 16; Judges 16)
- Negative forces: Satan, witches, spell, curse, covenant
- Divine forces: God, Holy Spirit, covenant, word of God, etc. (1Kg. 17)
- Others (mention).
What power does who/whatever lead you have over you?
- He’s your lord and master (Jn. 12:26; Jn. 13:6; Jn. 20:16)
- Controls your destiny (Acts 9:16; Rom. 6:16)
- Owns you (1Cor. 6:20)
- Is your God (John 20:28;
Children of God are led by God. Children of the devil are led by the devil. Whose children are those who are led by the world? Discuss in light of (Rom. 8:14; 1Jn.2:15)
In what areas of decision making can we ask God for leading? (Prov. 3:6)
Is this statement true: “If God did not lead you to it, He cannot see you through it?”
Why would God not take honour in what He did not begin and He does not abandon what He begins. (1Sam.15:29; Col.1:16-17)
In vital and critical decisions like who to marry, what to do in life, where to settle down, profession to pursue, children, allowing God to lead can save us a lot of regrets. We can also have confidence to go back to God during trouble (Gen. 3:12). Discuss other possible advantages.
Choice
Choice in life is something very powerful and beyond humans. Man, by default cannot choose life. If God allowed Adam to choose a wife by himself, he would have chosen an animal, because there was no human in the Garden except Him. But God made his own wife for Him. What choices have you made in life that turned out to be bad? Pray about them now give them over to God?
When God allowed Man to choose between life and death in the Garden, they chose death, because they were fallen beings. Many are doing the same today. When we allow the spirit of God in us, he leads us into all truth (John 16:13) and helps us to make right choices (Mat. 11:30; Rev.3:20).
But when God leads us, we must obey Him so we do not grieve His Spirit in us. (Eph. 4:30).
Whoever we obey, his servants we are, “whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.” (Romans 6:16)
As individuals, couples, fellowship, church, etc., we must allow God to lead. But will He come down from heaven to do this? How does He do this? (Matt. 22:14). These are not spirits. Many of them are our friends, relatives, etc. But we must recognize God’s special calling on them, otherwise, we will relate with them in unbelief because of familiarity and we will be directly disobedient to God and be led astray by self or negative forces. Is there anyone in leadership that familiarity has robbed you of the blessing of God through them? Ask God for forgiveness and grace. Did he choose these ones because of their holiness or because they are better than us? (1Cor. 12:23-235; 1Cor. 14:40).
The Head
Senses are for leading and direction. All sense organs are in the head. Do you agree with these statements? Why did God locate ALL the sense organs in the head, especially the central nervous control system, the brain?
Have you ever wondered why God did not locate at least one of the sense organs on the knee or belly just in case that of the head fails?
At home, the man is the HEAD of the woman/home (1Cor.11:3): To lead, or to rule? (Gen.3:16).
The authority is vested on the man, and God will hold him highly responsible for it, especially for his immediate family. The man must be physically, spiritually and mentally available to perform this duty. He is the priest of the home, to lead in all things. He may delegate, but the bulk end on his table.
The wife is not to usurp this role, regardless of her talent or placement at home or in the church with other brethren (1Cor. 14:34; Tim. 2:11-14)
Same with the Church, Christ is the head, but he leads through the elders who are called ‘bishops’ or ‘overseers’. These are functions, not titles.
What do you think is the difference between a title and a function?
Did the Disciples or Apostles have any title? (Rom.1:1; Titus 1:1; 2Pet.1:1; James 1:1; Jude 1:1)
What is our attitude supposed to be on our leaders? (1Thes. 5:12-13).
Should we recognize public leaders? (Rom. 13:3; 1Tim.2:1).
THE WORD (Psa. 119:11)
God leads through many things, e.g. visions, prophesy, dream, his servants, etc. But sometimes, these fail because of human factor (1Sam. 16:6-7; 1Cor. 13:8-9). God’s word is the only instrument that cannot fail. (Heb. 4:12; Mat. 24:34; Psa. 138:2). Where there is no word of God, there is no leading. Leaders are those who have the NOW word of God in their mouth through revelation (not only the word of God to some people which was written down for our instruction, which is the letter and dead (2Cor. 3:6). Not prophetic wishes, positive confession or motivational words, but the NOW word of God. The word of God is NOW. He didn’t stop speaking; He is still speaking to us NOW. Where this is not present, people are merely led by good words which can lead astray.
How does the word lead?
1. The word must be made real and alive in our hearts, not just feelings (Heb. 4:12). Change through the word of God is from in to out, not out to in (Mat. 15:11)
2. It must be a Rhema, the revealed word, not the Logos, the written word. (Luke 24:31; John 5:39; John 8:32; John 14:17,26; 1John 2:27)
3. Ask the Spirit who wrote the Scriptures to teach and give you understanding s as you read (John 14:26; Acts 8:30; 1John 2:27)
4. Consistent study of the word, not just reading (2Tim. 2:15; Joshua 1:8)
5. Pursue maturity of heart, not prosperity on earth
6. Grow your spirit-man, not soul-man (motivation) (3John 1:2)
7. Desire the sincere milk of the word to grow from milk Christian to meat Christian (1Pet. 2:2; Heb. 5:12,14).
8. Let the word wash you, not just to dress you. Expose your heart, including your sacred, tribal or habits (Prov. 28:13; Heb. 10:22)
9. It must be mixed with faith in your heart; otherwise it will not profit or make any meaning to you. (Heb. 4:12)
10. Obey the Word (Mat. 5:19; Rom. 1:21-26; Rom. 2:13; Eph. 4:30)
Study the lives of these men and how they were led and delivered by God in times of trouble through the word.
1. Elijah (1Kings 17. 18)
2. Joseph, the father of Jesus (Mat. 1:18-25; Mat. 2)
Every action of man is propelled by a leading and a direction.
What or Who Can Lead?
- Self: personal decision, observation, intuition, feelings, ambition, judgment, etc. (1Sam. 16:6)
- Flesh: sin nature, desires, wants, cravings, sensual pleasure (2Sam. 13)
- Situation/position: needs, performance, job (Jonah 1:5; Prov. 14:12)
- People: spouse, friends, parents, boss (Num. 16; Judges 16)
- Negative forces: Satan, witches, spell, curse, covenant
- Divine forces: God, Holy Spirit, covenant, word of God, etc. (1Kg. 17)
- Others (mention).
What power does who/whatever lead you have over you?
- He’s your lord and master (Jn. 12:26; Jn. 13:6; Jn. 20:16)
- Controls your destiny (Acts 9:16; Rom. 6:16)
- Owns you (1Cor. 6:20)
- Is your God (John 20:28;
Children of God are led by God. Children of the devil are led by the devil. Whose children are those who are led by the world? Discuss in light of (Rom. 8:14; 1Jn.2:15)
In what areas of decision making can we ask God for leading? (Prov. 3:6)
Is this statement true: “If God did not lead you to it, He cannot see you through it?”
Why would God not take honour in what He did not begin and He does not abandon what He begins. (1Sam.15:29; Col.1:16-17)
In vital and critical decisions like who to marry, what to do in life, where to settle down, profession to pursue, children, allowing God to lead can save us a lot of regrets. We can also have confidence to go back to God during trouble (Gen. 3:12). Discuss other possible advantages.
Choice
Choice in life is something very powerful and beyond humans. Man, by default cannot choose life. If God allowed Adam to choose a wife by himself, he would have chosen an animal, because there was no human in the Garden except Him. But God made his own wife for Him. What choices have you made in life that turned out to be bad? Pray about them now give them over to God?
When God allowed Man to choose between life and death in the Garden, they chose death, because they were fallen beings. Many are doing the same today. When we allow the spirit of God in us, he leads us into all truth (John 16:13) and helps us to make right choices (Mat. 11:30; Rev.3:20).
But when God leads us, we must obey Him so we do not grieve His Spirit in us. (Eph. 4:30).
Whoever we obey, his servants we are, “whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.” (Romans 6:16)
As individuals, couples, fellowship, church, etc., we must allow God to lead. But will He come down from heaven to do this? How does He do this? (Matt. 22:14). These are not spirits. Many of them are our friends, relatives, etc. But we must recognize God’s special calling on them, otherwise, we will relate with them in unbelief because of familiarity and we will be directly disobedient to God and be led astray by self or negative forces. Is there anyone in leadership that familiarity has robbed you of the blessing of God through them? Ask God for forgiveness and grace. Did he choose these ones because of their holiness or because they are better than us? (1Cor. 12:23-235; 1Cor. 14:40).
The Head
Senses are for leading and direction. All sense organs are in the head. Do you agree with these statements? Why did God locate ALL the sense organs in the head, especially the central nervous control system, the brain?
Have you ever wondered why God did not locate at least one of the sense organs on the knee or belly just in case that of the head fails?
At home, the man is the HEAD of the woman/home (1Cor.11:3): To lead, or to rule? (Gen.3:16).
The authority is vested on the man, and God will hold him highly responsible for it, especially for his immediate family. The man must be physically, spiritually and mentally available to perform this duty. He is the priest of the home, to lead in all things. He may delegate, but the bulk end on his table.
The wife is not to usurp this role, regardless of her talent or placement at home or in the church with other brethren (1Cor. 14:34; Tim. 2:11-14)
Same with the Church, Christ is the head, but he leads through the elders who are called ‘bishops’ or ‘overseers’. These are functions, not titles.
What do you think is the difference between a title and a function?
Did the Disciples or Apostles have any title? (Rom.1:1; Titus 1:1; 2Pet.1:1; James 1:1; Jude 1:1)
What is our attitude supposed to be on our leaders? (1Thes. 5:12-13).
Should we recognize public leaders? (Rom. 13:3; 1Tim.2:1).
THE WORD (Psa. 119:11)
God leads through many things, e.g. visions, prophesy, dream, his servants, etc. But sometimes, these fail because of human factor (1Sam. 16:6-7; 1Cor. 13:8-9). God’s word is the only instrument that cannot fail. (Heb. 4:12; Mat. 24:34; Psa. 138:2). Where there is no word of God, there is no leading. Leaders are those who have the NOW word of God in their mouth through revelation (not only the word of God to some people which was written down for our instruction, which is the letter and dead (2Cor. 3:6). Not prophetic wishes, positive confession or motivational words, but the NOW word of God. The word of God is NOW. He didn’t stop speaking; He is still speaking to us NOW. Where this is not present, people are merely led by good words which can lead astray.
How does the word lead?
1. The word must be made real and alive in our hearts, not just feelings (Heb. 4:12). Change through the word of God is from in to out, not out to in (Mat. 15:11)
2. It must be a Rhema, the revealed word, not the Logos, the written word. (Luke 24:31; John 5:39; John 8:32; John 14:17,26; 1John 2:27)
3. Ask the Spirit who wrote the Scriptures to teach and give you understanding s as you read (John 14:26; Acts 8:30; 1John 2:27)
4. Consistent study of the word, not just reading (2Tim. 2:15; Joshua 1:8)
5. Pursue maturity of heart, not prosperity on earth
6. Grow your spirit-man, not soul-man (motivation) (3John 1:2)
7. Desire the sincere milk of the word to grow from milk Christian to meat Christian (1Pet. 2:2; Heb. 5:12,14).
8. Let the word wash you, not just to dress you. Expose your heart, including your sacred, tribal or habits (Prov. 28:13; Heb. 10:22)
9. It must be mixed with faith in your heart; otherwise it will not profit or make any meaning to you. (Heb. 4:12)
10. Obey the Word (Mat. 5:19; Rom. 1:21-26; Rom. 2:13; Eph. 4:30)
Study the lives of these men and how they were led and delivered by God in times of trouble through the word.
1. Elijah (1Kings 17. 18)
2. Joseph, the father of Jesus (Mat. 1:18-25; Mat. 2)