How do we know when we are being led by the Holy Spirit?

We know that we are being led by the Spirit when we listen to the Spirit and do what he says. He speaks to us in his words that he inspired that are recorded in Scripture. The Spirit never leads anyone to say or do anything that is contrary to his revealed word. The Spirit never contradicts himself or changes his mind from what he has already revealed to us in his word. We are following the Spirit’s guidance when we humbly surrender and obey his word. The Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). This means that the Spirit gives us assurance that we are saved because in our spirit we know that we have listened to and followed the will of the Spirit (8:5, 13-14). The Spirit and our spirit both witness that we are children of God. The Spirit has revealed his will and we have done that will.

Jesus said that the Father “will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13). We receive the Spirit when we are baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38). God gives the Holy Spirit to those that obey him (Acts 5:32). Everyone who belongs to Christ has the Spirit (Romans 8:9).

After baptism we are commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). The command is in opposition to “being filled with wine,” which is drunkenness, a work of “the flesh” (Galatians 5:21). A person “filled with the Spirit” lives by the power of the Spirit by following the will of the Spirit. They are “filled with the fullness of God” (3:19) and “the fruit of righteousness” (Philippians 1:9). The command is written to the entire church, not just a select few. The command is passive which means that God fills us, we don’t fill ourselves. God fills us with his Spirit when we listen to and obey his word. Obedience to the command is evidenced (or demonstrated) by the five participles (helping verbs) that follow that command in Ephesians 5:19-21: “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ”. Paul writes that the evidences of being “filled with the Spirit” are worshiping God and serving others. He immediately writes that this service to one another is seen in the roles and relationships of wives and husbands, children and parents and slaves and masters. All these roles and relationships are lived in the Lord and governed by him (5:22-6:9). “Being filled with the Spirit” is not an ecstatic experience. It is a life of worship to God and love and service to others. It is seen in our roles and relationships, particularly marriage, family and work.