Reflections on Chapters 9 &10 from Kenneth Hagin's book How to be led by the Spirit by Rita Oladiran
Chapter 9: Fleeced and Chapter 10: Following the Witness
Under the new covenant we have the Holy Spirit within us, and the Bible says in Rom 8:14, "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God...".
We have earlier established that the primary way God prefers to lead us is by the inward witness... i.e., by our inward intuition or checks, nudges in our spirit man. This inner witness is not usually a voice but a sensing or prompting in our spiritual heart. Sometimes it could be a feeling of foreboding or a sharp check in your sprit-red light, or a sudden burst of joy at the thought of the issue you’re seeking answers to - green light, depending on God's answer to your particular quest such inward feelings could be a stop, wait (in which case you need to pray and seek clarity) or a green light- go.
Fleecing
When people put out fleeces to try and decipher the will of God, they are operating in the natural i.e., in the flesh. Gideon did this in the old testament because the Holy Spirit was only given mostly to these 3 offices, Priests, Kings and Prophets and even at that it was in measure. If you recall in the book of Judges, the bible often said of Samson... and the Spirit of God came mightily upon Samson... so people like Gideon even Abraham resorted to fleecing God. God allowed it then because the Spirit was not yet given. However, in the new covenant, as prophesied in the book of Joel 2 vs 28-29 and fulfilled in the coming of Christ John 15: 26, 16: 7, 13- 15 we have the gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Recall our theme scripture in Romans chapter 8 vs 14, God leads us by his Spirit because we have the privilege of sonship through Christ, God does not lead us by fleeces. When a child of God puts out fleeces he is treading on dangerous grounds, walking in the natural and can be led astray because Satan's realm is the natural.
Following the witness
It is always better to pray and wait upon the Lord to receive the right leading, instructions, and answers for our quest. To do this we must not be in a hurry. Seeking God and hearing from him requires patient expectation on our part.
Isaiah 28: 16 says...' he that believeth shall not make haste...'. we should not try to hurry God or truncate a waiting process -if that's what pattern your quest is taking, but to yield our hearts in total expectation and surrender, trusting him to give answers because he delights in leading us. In his sovereignty, God does things in his own timing, our part is to focus and trust him to lead us and not begin to allow people, circumstances, our feelings, or thoughts to swing us in different directions; else we would end up making decisions in the flesh. It is better to pray in the Spirit, after you have made your request known in your understanding, that way your mind is unfruitful (1st Cor 14:14) allowing the Spirit of God to minister to you and guide you into his will about your request...
Now, praying in the Spirit also helps us to be spirit conscious and increases our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit such that even when we're not 'looking', direction and answers can come spontaneously in our everyday lives, and we will not miss it because we have developed sensitivity by the discipline of prayer in the Spirit.