9.9 It is our privilege to be led by the Spirit as sons of God

Paul says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. The leading of the Holy Spirit is the privilege and the mark of our sonship. It is a distinctive experience in our New Covenant.

(Romans 8:14-16)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…

Why this privilege? This is because after the cross, the Holy Spirit is able to indwell man. He lives in us to communicate with us. He bears witness that we are children of God. He leads us every day through the inner witness in our hearts. It is so intimate.

But the problem is that many people grew up without the revelation of this New Covenant truth. As a result, many tend to follow the Old Testament ways of being led by God. In the Old Testament, the leading of God is always from the outside. This is because God had not indwelt man.

For example, God led Israel through the external pillar of cloud and fire in the desert. On another occasion, God led Gideon through putting fleece before God. God would also speak through the priest who wore two precious stones - the Urim and the Thummim.

Christians are frequently led by circumstances. Or they may be led by opened or closed doors. What if there are two opened doors? Or what is the door wasn’t opened by God? We can never be certain. This is why God wants us to be led by the Spirit.

When was the cut off point when the believers started being led by the Holy Spirit? It was after the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit had been poured out. Just days earlier, the apostles had to draw lots when they were deciding on Judas’ replacement.

But after Pentecost, Peter started being led by the Spirit. He was led from within. He also received visions from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit spoke to him. The book of Acts came alive dramatically after the Day of Pentecost.

Today, we are still living in the book of Acts. We can also experience our Pentecost experience through the infilling / baptism in the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will experience being led by the Holy Spirit. Our Christian life would be an exciting adventure – just as the early disciples. You have that privilege in the New Covenant because you are a child of God.