Following the Voice of the Spirit
Hey, what's up, guys? Jeromiah here from Born to Win Ministries. Today, we're diving deep into a topic that's essential for every believer: following the voice of the Holy Spirit. Grab your Bible and something to write with, because this isn't a quick devotional; it's a journey into the heart of what it means to be a child of God.
We'll start with a powerful scripture from Romans 8:14, which says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (NLT). The New King James Version puts it this way: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." This isn't an optional suggestion; it's a foundational truth. You can't truly claim to be a "son of God" without being led by the Spirit of God. We simply don't have time to be misled, deceived, or stalled on our journey. Our purpose is to move forward, and the Holy Spirit is our guide.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Before we can follow the Holy Spirit, we must first understand who He is. He's not just a feeling, a supernatural force, or a "good vibe." The Holy Spirit is the voice of God to mankind, a distinct person within the triune Godhead. Many people mistakenly believe the Holy Spirit's presence began in the book of Acts, but a look at Genesis 1:1-2 reveals He's been here from the very beginning:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."
The Holy Spirit was actively involved in creation. He’s a person who helped to create everything we see, touch, and taste.
It's a common misconception, often taught in children's ministry, that the Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) is like water, ice, and steam—different forms of the same substance. This is a theological error known as modalism. While God is a triune Godhead—three in one—the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are distinct individuals with unique personalities and roles. They work together in perfect harmony.
Think of it like Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. They are three separate chipmunks with different parts to play, even though they're all part of the same group. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is a person who longs to be treated as a person—not as an "it." He is our Comforter, our Guide, and our Counselor.
Guided into All Truth
One of the Holy Spirit’s primary roles is to lead us into truth. As John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” This is crucial because it’s easy to be deceived or led down a confusing path. The Holy Spirit will lead you to the true meaning, true calling, and true appointment for your life from God.
I learned this firsthand. During my time in community college, I was advised by a career counselor to become an accountant. The quiz results showed I was good with numbers and preferred not to talk to people, so accounting seemed like a perfect fit. At that point, I struggled with social anxiety and agoraphobia, so this advice aligned with my fears.
However, I had known since I was a child that I was called to preach the Gospel and teach God's Word. The facts of my natural personality and fears were in direct conflict with the truth of my calling. When you allow God to lead you, the truth of your calling is greater than the facts that try to hold you back. After rededicating my life to the Lord, I shut down a successful business to prepare for ministry. My focus wasn't on building a ministry, but on letting God build my heart. He transformed my fears and gave me the confidence to step into the calling He had for me.
The Outcomes of Obedience vs. Disobedience
When we obey the Holy Spirit, we open the door to three powerful outcomes.
Obedience Leads to: Miracles, Provision, and Breakthroughs
Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath: In 1 Kings 17, God told Elijah to go to a place where a widow would sustain him during a famine. When he arrived, the widow was preparing her last meal for herself and her son. Elijah, led by the Spirit, asked her to feed him first, promising her that her flour and oil would not run out. She obeyed, and as a result, she and her household ate for many days. Her obedience unlocked a miraculous provision. The seed she had—her last bit of food—was planted, and it produced a harvest that sustained them all.
Peter and the Gentiles: In Acts 10, Peter had a vision that challenged his Jewish traditions about what was "clean" and "unclean." This vision prepared him to obey the Holy Spirit and go to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Despite his fears, Peter went, and as he spoke, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his entire household. This was a breakthrough that opened the door for the Gospel to be preached to everyone, not just the Jews.
Disobedience Leads to: Loss, Delay, and Missed Destiny
As Isaiah 1:19 states, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." The inverse is also true: if you are unwilling and disobedient, you will not eat the good of the land.
Jonah: God told Jonah to preach in Nineveh, but he fled to Tarshish instead. His disobedience led to a storm that put the lives of everyone on the ship at risk. The sailors had to throw their cargo overboard, causing loss, before they threw Jonah overboard. Although Jonah eventually went to Nineveh, his disobedience led to a delay and unnecessary chaos.
Moses: In Numbers 20, God instructed Moses to speak to a rock to bring forth water. Instead, Moses struck it in anger. The water still came forth, but his disobedience resulted in him being barred from entering the Promised Land. He suffered the loss of his ultimate destiny—to lead his people into the land God had promised them. This is a profound example of how "delayed obedience is still disobedience."
The opportunity of a lifetime resides within the lifetime of that opportunity. Just because God opens a door doesn't mean it will stay open forever. The time to obey is now.
My Personal Testimony of Obedience
I'll leave you with a final testimony about my own life and the power of obedience. Back in 2006, I saw a study Bible at a bookstore that I really wanted, but at $80, it was well beyond my budget. I mentioned it to a friend, who is now my wife, and for my birthday, she surprised me with it. That Bible became a priceless gift, not just because of the cost but because it was an offering of the Word of God sown into my life.
Years later, after rededicating my life to God in 2015, I was led to shut down my successful business and "prepare for ministry." This didn't mean going out and preaching right away; it meant letting God coach me on how to study His Word.
One day, I was reading a sermon in the back of my study Bible by a man named Dr. Jerry Savelle, whom I'd never heard of. As I finished, the Holy Spirit told me, "Look up Jerry Savelle, see what he's up to these days." I found his ministry and his church in Crowley, Texas, and felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to visit.
My wife and I traveled to Crowley for our anniversary. During the service, I received a word of knowledge: "You're going to be moving here in three weeks." This was completely unexpected. I had always said I would live and die in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but my wife and I both knew this was a word from God. We went home, told our families, and three weeks later, we moved to Crowley—without a job lined up.
Was it easy? No. We stayed in hotels and had to trust God's provision. One morning, the Holy Spirit told me to put in an application at a specific office supply store just three minutes from our hotel. Two hours later, He told me to call the store. The manager said, "I like that you're a go-getter. Why don't you come in and have a conversation?" I got the job that day.
Because of our obedience, we secured a job, a place to live, and a church home. We've been in Crowley for 10 years, and our ministry is based here. I work full-time with a ministry I love, ministering to people worldwide. This whole journey is something that couldn't have been written by the world's greatest authors, and it was all possible because we were led by the Spirit of God.
The truth of my life at one point was that I didn’t care for people, but when the Holy Spirit got a hold of me, He helped me to reach others, to minister to them, and to love them with the love of God. It's His love that allows us to love others the way He wants us to.
A Final Question for You
Hearing everything we’ve covered today, will you hear His voice? Will you listen to what the Holy Spirit has for you? What do you have to lose by following His voice? He has a mighty plan in mind for you, one that only you can walk out perfectly.
I encourage you to listen to His voice. He has a plan for you, one that will produce a harvest and lead to breakthroughs, miracles, and provision.
7 Confessions of a Spirit-Led Believer
I am a son of God, and I am led by the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit is my Guide; He leads me into all truth and shows me things to come.
I obey the voice of the Holy Spirit, which gives way for miracles, provision, and breakthroughs in my life.
I will not be led astray by the facts of my circumstances, for the truth of God’s Word is greater than any fact.
I am not a victim of loss or delay, but I am an overcomer led by the Holy Spirit.
God has a plan for me, and I trust that as I follow His voice, my destiny will be fulfilled.
I will not be afraid to step out in faith, for the Holy Spirit is my Helper and my Comforter.
Scripture References:
Romans 8:14
Genesis 1:1-2
John 16:13
1 Kings 17
Acts 10
Isaiah 1:19
Jonah 1
Acts 27
Numbers 20
1 Samuel 15:22
Matthew 6:33
1 Peter 5:7
Recommended Reading:
How You Can be Led by the Spirit of God by Kenneth E. Hagin.
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