I LOVE IT when students truly reflect on preaching.  This is a question I got from one of our students who was reflecting on our pastor’s sermon this Sunday.

“Hey,
I thought of a question from last night about the sermon. How do you know when the Holy Spirit is leading? Okay He prompts you, how do you know the prompts are not from yourself or from Satan? I hope I said it right. :-)”

Ah!  Awesome question.  I love the humility, the faith, and the desire to know biblical answers.  Here was my answer.

“I think the best way to know if the Holy Spirit is leading you…is in 2 ways.
1.  The Holy Spirit’s main role and goal is to bring glory to Jesus (1 Cor 12:3, John 15:26-27).  So if what you believe the Holy Spirit is leading you to do, it must be ultimately bringing honor and glory to Jesus.
2.  The Holy Spirit was the member of the Trinity who superintended (overshadowed) the writing of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21).  So what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do must coincide with and never contradict Scripture.

I hope this helps.  I’m so glad you’re thinking about this stuff!

Only by His grace,
Chip”