Follow the Right Spirit

Ezekiel 1:20

Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

Several times in the first chapter of Ezekiel, Ezekiel said that he went whithersoever the spirit was to go. The spirit that Ezekiel followed was the Spirit of God. One time in chapter 2, Ezekiel went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit. You will notice the difference between Ezekiel following the Spirit of God and following his spirit was that his spirit led him to walk in bitterness, but following the Spirit of God led to seeing God in his life.

Whether or not we like it, we are following a spirit. We are either following the Spirit of God, our spirit, or a spirit of false doctrine. You are following some spirit, but only following the right Spirit is what will lead you to do right. We are warned in 1 John 4:1, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. This is the spirit of false doctrine that will lead us astray from doing right. When we follow our spirit, we will certainly not follow the Holy Spirit, which always leads us wrong. Only by following the Holy Spirit will we be guided into all truth, for only the Holy Spirit guides us into truth. Let me share some things you must do to follow the Holy Spirit.

First, you must die to self. Galatians 5:24 says, And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. You will always follow your spirit or a false spirit if you don't crucify your flesh. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:31, I die daily. Why did he die daily? He died because he had to die to self so that he could follow the Holy Spirit. You will never follow the Holy Spirit until you die to self and self’s desires.

Second, you must spend time in God’s Word. God speaks to us through His Word, and the Holy Spirit will guide you when you spend time in the Word of God. One reason you must read the Scriptures daily is so that you die to self. There is something about sitting down and reading God’s Word that forces the flesh to surrender to the Spirit of God. Your flesh does not want to read God’s Word; therefore, I find a double benefit in reading God’s Word daily: I crucify my flesh, and I receive truth to guide me each day by reading it.

Third, you must spend time in prayer if you are to follow the Spirit. Romans 8:26 says, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. You will notice the Spirit guides us as we pray. Not only must I spend time in God’s Word, but I must pray so the Spirit can guide me.

Fourth, I follow the Spirit by living a holy life. You cannot live in sin and follow the Spirit of God at the same time. The biggest reason you should get rid of sin in your life is so that you can follow the Spirit.

Fifth, I yield to the Holy Spirit several times each day. Don't just yield to the Holy Spirit in the morning when you wake up, but yield to Him throughout the day. Many times I whisper a prayer to the Holy Spirit before I do something to ask Him to guide me. If you are to follow the Holy Spirit, you must yield to Him several times throughout the day so that your spirit does not take over, and so that the Holy Spirit has the freedom to lead you.