Leading from the Lord
Lead = guide, direct, show the way, teach
The Bible tells us that God leads us by His Word. Psalms 119:105 says “Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path:. The Psalmist in verse 133 asked
the Lord to “order my steps in Your word, and let not any iniquity have dominion
overt me”. In Proverbs 4:20-23 explain that the word of God is life to those that find
it and health to their flesh. God provides seed for the sower, remember that the
seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). In Psalms 68:11 it says “The Lord gave the
word: great was the company of those that published it” (proclaim it). Just like
Jesus said “He only speak what He hear His Father speak”, we as followers of
Jesus should speak what Jesus speaks. Jesus shows us that sheep only follow
their own shepherd, then He tells us that He is the good shepherd (John 10:1-5).
We are instructed to study the word to show ourselves approved of God, a
workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word. It is very
important for us to read and study the word, because we have to know the word to
pick up on what God is saying to us. We have to be a doer of the word and not just
a hearer only.
God leads us by His commandments: The commandments are our guide to live a
godly life. Psalms 119:33-35 says “teach me, O Lord the way of Your statutes, and
I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law, yea, I
shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of Your
commandments, for therein do I delight. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and
not to covetousness”. The Psalmist in verse says “I will run the way of Your
commandments, when You shall enlarge my heart.” Some people think that
because the ten commandments are in the Old Testament that they don’t apply
any more but Jesus shows us that the ten commandments can be summarized in
two (Matthews 22;37-40).
God leads us by His Spirit: Jesus tells His disciples that He will send the Spirit of
truth, when He departs. Verse 13 of John 16 says “However, when He, the Spirit of
truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself, but
whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to
come.” You see just as Jesus only speaks what the Father speaks, the Holy Spirit
speaks what He hears also. The book of Romans tells us “for as many as are led
by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”. In the book of Galatians it says
“this I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the list of the flesh. “If you
are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
There are great benefits to following the leading of God. In Psalms 16:11 it says
“You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right
hand there are pleasures for evermore”. In 23:2-3 it says “He makes me to lie
down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Notice the key
word is “lead” some are waiting for Him to pull them, but you have a part in it. You
must follow the word of God. Psalms 37:23-24 says “the steps of a good man are
ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be
utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand”. In Proverbs 3:5-7 it
says “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Be not wise in
your own eyes, fear the Lord and depart from evil”. Isaiah 58;11 says “the Lord
shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your
bones and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose
waters fail not”. The book of Revelation 7:17 says “for the Lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of
waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”.
We can pray for God’s direction (Psalms 25:1-10, 27:11, 31:3). Remember James
1:5 tells us “if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men
liberally, and upbraids not, and it shall be given him”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 25, 2006