Led by an Inner Witness

In the past two posts I looked at being led by circumstances and being led by misgivings. Both are wrong ways to be led. I could write an entire series! But I will save us both some trouble and just give you a list of titles of wrong ways to be led:

  Money Led

  Pressure Led

  Fear Led

  Reasoning Led

  Feeling Led

  Belly Led (cravings)

  Wish Led

  Need Led

  Opportunity Led

None of these will result in finding and following through with God's will for your life.

Mark 2:8 explains how Jesus was led. Let's look at some different translations:

Jesus, aware in His spirit - New American Standard

Jesus, perceiving in his spirit - English Standard

Jesus perceived in his spirit - King James

Jesus understood in His spirit - Holman Christian Standard

Jesus knew in his spirit - International Standard and NIV

Jesus realized in his spirit - NET Bible

Jesus knew inwardly - God's Word

It was through the perception of his spirit-man that He heard his Father. And this is how we are to know God and what He is saying to us as well.

Some may try and argue that "His Spirit" refers to His divine nature, not his humanity.  The problem with that argument is that it would be cheating. He had an inward witness in his spirit-man, from His Father, that revealed knowledge. This is how He was led, in the same manner that Father God leads all His children.

All children of God are to be led this same way. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14

Compare with 1 John 2:20

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.  - King James Version

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know (the truth). - NIV

And 1 John 2:27

As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

This type of anointing remains as a permanent gift for the children of God, but there's a bit of maintenance involved on our part.  We need to keep our conscience clear. Hypocrisy and lying are the two main devices that cause the conscience to become seared over and result in deafness toward God,¹ but greed, sensuality, jealousy, and other sins will dull our hearing as well.

We should train ourselves to listen to Him. God does not speak doubt. He does not speak misgivings. If we are hearing those, then we are hearing voices of the cares of this world, of the deceitfulness of riches, or of other lusts.² These can choke God's voice, even if we did hear it, and cause it to be unproductive.  This is what happened to the runaway bride. After hearing God's voice, she began entertaining other voices that did not like God's plan for her.

We are promised that His sheep hear His voice,³ but only those who listen and respond will end up following His leading. 

¹ See 1 Timothy 4:2

² See Mark 4:19

³ See John 10:27