Reflection by Busayo Awodein on Chapter 23&24 of the book How to be Led by the Spirit- Kenneth Hagin
SPECTACULAR GUIDANCE (CHAPTER 23)
This chapter is about God’s leading. There are different examples in the Bible about how God led His children in those days. For instance, He led them through visions, angelic appearance (e.g. Mary and Joseph), through prophets and through Jesus Himself appearing, like when He appeared to Saul who later became Paul.
In this day and age, God leads us in the same way, after all, we are the same church and we have the same Holy Spirit. But note that these cases cited above are exceptional cases and not everyday situations. Therefore, it is not something we should seek after. This is because, it is not written anywhere in the Bible that we should seek after visions or angels, or even prophets for guidance. We only have the right to claim what the Bible promises. And what does the Bible promise?
John 16:13(NLT)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak of his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
John 16:13 (The Passion Translation)
But when the truth-giving Spirit comes, he will unveil the reality of every truth within you. He won’t speak on his own, but only what he hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you what is to come.
John 16: 13 (The Message Translation)
But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but he will take from me and deliver it to you.
This means we have all the guidance we need already if we have the Holy Spirit. He gives us ‘expo’, or ‘orijo’, you know, like when you know what is in the exam question sheets before the day of the exam. That’s exactly what he does, of things to come. All we need is to be in close fellowship with him.
A couple of days ago, it rained heavily and when it subsided a little, I left work to pick my kids from school. I got to a crossroad where normally I turn left, except there’s traffic, then I just drive straight on. Note that both roads lead to where I was going. I heard a voice in my heart, “take Ogba” (the straight road). But I argued with that still small voice that, after all, the road to my left was free, so no qualms. Well, the road was very free, until I got to a certain area that was flooded. And I couldn’t turn around because cars were behind me. The flood was so bad that water rushed inside the car at some point and the level of water was almost as high as the seat. It was a scary moment in my life especially because my phone battery was on red, and the car could stop anytime. I literally cried to God for mercy and help, and thank God for his mercy. I ended up taking another route that led me to the same Ogba I should have taken initially, which was free of flood. I had spectacular guidance, but I disobeyed and I paid for it.
The more we study the word of God and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the more our ears are opened to hear him tell us of things to come.
The SPIRIT BADE ME GO (CHAPTER 24)
Acts 13:1-2 (NKJV)
Now in the church that was at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers…as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”.
Vrs 2 (Msg)
…as they were worshipping God, they were also fasting as they waited for guidance, the Holy Spirit spoke…
Earlier we talked about how we can get spectacular guidance from the Holy Spirit. In the verse above, it would be of interest to notice under what conditions the Holy Spirit spoke.
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted.
Every day we make decisions, and we ask the Holy Spirit for help (That’s actually what we should do on a daily basis). However, there are some important decisions we need to make that the answers may not readily come. In such instances, we need to “minister unto the Lord” so the Holy Spirit can give us express instructions on what to do. We set ourselves apart and worship while waiting.
In chapter 8, Kenneth Hagin talked about a certain millionaire in Texas who had only 5th-grade education. When he was asked about his secret to becoming rich, he said, when someone comes along with an idea wanting him to invest in something, he enters his closet in his bedroom where he goes to pray, and he waits long enough till he hears what the Holy Spirit says; and sometimes he waits for up to 3 days coming just to have a meal perhaps, and then goes back. As a result, he never lost a dime.
To succeed in life, work, businesses, we need to follow this example. That is why some people have personal retreats where they go to a quiet place to shut out everything to minister unto the Lord so as to hear expressly from Him. You’ll be amazed at the results afterward.
We are helped of God, as He gives us the grace to yield to His Spirit.