How to be led by the Spirit of God #5

Led by Spirit Overview

In this fifth installment of his series on being led by the Holy Spirit, Dr. William Holman of New Testament Church unpacks one of the most foundational yet misunderstood dimensions of the Christian life: the inner witness of the Spirit. Drawing from Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 8:14-16, and James 1:18-21, he establishes that God leads His children not through outward signs or emotional impulses, but through the spirit of the reborn believer. Dr. Holman carefully distinguishes between the spirit, soul, and body as outlined in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, showing how an unrenewed soul can block the abundant life Jesus purchased for every believer. Using the story of Elijah’s collapse under the juniper tree in 1 Kings 19, he illustrates how even a mighty man of God can be derailed when the soul takes over. The message calls believers to wash their souls with the Word of God, guard their associations, and cultivate daily fellowship with the Father so that the inner witness of the Holy Spirit can freely guide them into the paths of righteousness and increase.

Led by Spirit Outline

• 0:00:00 – Opening Worship and Announcements: The service opens with praise and worship, followed by announcements including an upcoming church picnic, water baptism, and Vacation Bible School.
• 0:18:00 – Communion and Prayer: The congregation receives communion, meditating on Philippians 2 and Christ’s humility in coming to earth to purchase life and life more abundantly for every believer.
• 0:32:00 – Introduction to the Inner Witness: Dr. Holman introduces the focus of the message: being led by the inner witness of the Spirit, building on the series foundation of Proverbs 3:5-6.
• 0:40:00 – Spirit, Soul, and Body Explained: Using 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Proverbs 20:27, Dr. Holman distinguishes between the three parts of man and explains why the spirit, not the soul or body, is the lamp God uses to lead us.
• 0:52:00 – Washing the Soul with the Word: From James 1:18-21, Dr. Holman teaches that the implanted Word of God is the key to renewing the soul, unlocking salvation, healing, and prosperity in every area of life.
• 1:03:00 – The Inner Witness in Romans 8: A deep reading of Romans 8:14-16 reveals that the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, confirming our identity as children of God and guiding us from within.
• 1:10:00 – Elijah Under the Juniper Tree: Drawing from 1 Kings 19, Dr. Holman shows how Elijah, after a tremendous victory on Mount Carmel, was overtaken by a soulish reaction of fear and despair when Jezebel threatened his life.
• 1:20:00 – Guarding Your Soul and Associations: The message closes with a practical call to guard associations, turn off worldly noise, and begin each day in fellowship with the Father so the inner witness grows strong and clear.

Scripture References

Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Proverbs 20:27, James 1:18-21, Romans 8:14-16, 3 John 2, Psalm 23:3, 2 Peter 1:16-19, John 10:27, 1 Kings 19:1-12, Philippians 2

Key Takeaways

• God leads His children through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with the believer’s reborn spirit, not through outward signs or emotional feelings.
• The spirit, soul, and body are three distinct parts of a human being, and it is the renewed spirit that serves as the lamp of the Lord for divine guidance.
• An unrenewed soul, filled with worldly influences and ungodly associations, will block the flow of God’s life and abundance that resides in the believer’s spirit.
• Washing the soul consistently with the implanted Word of God is what unlocks salvation, healing, and prosperity to flow from the spirit into every area of life.
• Even a great man of faith like Elijah can fall into despair and suicidal thinking when the soul takes over in a moment of spiritual attack, showing our daily need for renewal.
• Daily fellowship and conversation with the Father, as Adam walked with God in the garden, is the primary way to train your spirit to hear and recognize the voice of God.
• Trusting God with your heart, as commanded in Proverbs 3:5-6, means relying on the spirit and not on the reasoning of the mind, so that He can direct your path.

Led by Spirit Notes

The Inner Witness as Primary Guide

Dr. Holman teaches that among all the ways God leads His people, the inner witness of the Holy Spirit is one of the most consistent and reliable. Romans 8:16 declares that the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. This is not a feeling in the emotions or a thought in the mind but a deep, settled knowing in the born-again spirit. As believers grow in their walk with God, this inner witness becomes clearer and stronger, guiding decisions, confirming direction, and providing assurance that cannot be shaken by outward circumstances or the opinions of others.

Why Spirit Soul and Body Matter

A central pillar of this message is the distinction between spirit, soul, and body drawn from 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Many traditions treat the soul and spirit as interchangeable, but Dr. Holman argues this misunderstanding causes believers to live from the wrong place. The spirit of a born-again Christian has been made new and is the residence of the Holy Spirit. The soul, comprising the mind, will, and emotions, must be renewed through the Word. If the soul remains unrenewed it will dominate and filter out the leading of the Spirit, resulting in a Christian who knows the truth mentally but cannot access the transformed life God intends.

Elijah’s Collapse and the Soulish Reaction

One of the most gripping illustrations in this sermon comes from 1 Kings 19, where Elijah, fresh from the dramatic victory on Mount Carmel, flees in terror at Jezebel’s threat. Dr. Holman uses this account to show how a spiritual attack can cause even a seasoned believer to shift from walking in the Spirit to operating out of a frightened, self-preserving soul. Elijah becomes suicidal, convinced he is the last faithful man alive. This is not the voice of God but the voice of an unrenewed soul under demonic pressure. God’s response is not rebuke but nourishment and rest, followed by a gentle question: what are you doing here?

The Word That Washes and Unlocks

From James 1:18-21, Dr. Holman presents the implanted Word of God as the key that turns the tumblers of the soul. Just as a lock opens only when the correct key engages every tumbler, the soul is unlocked for salvation, healing, and prosperity when it is consistently washed with the Word. He urges believers to lay aside the overflow of wickedness, turn off news and negativity that pollute the soul, and receive the Word with meekness. This is not passive listening but active implantation that transforms the mind and allows the life already present in the spirit to flow outward into relationships, health, and finances.

Daily Fellowship Trains the Ear

Dr. Holman points to Adam’s unbroken communion with God in the garden as the model for hearing the inner witness clearly. Adam did not pray anxious petitions about food or shelter because walking with God was a constant, natural reality. In the same way, believers who begin each morning by simply opening up to the Father and listening will find that God begins to speak, direct, and share insights throughout the day. Christians who say they never hear God have simply not cultivated this practice. John 10:27 confirms that His sheep hear His voice, but training yourself to recognize it requires consistent, unhurried time in His presence.

Guarding the Soul From Corrupt Associations

Practical and direct, Dr. Holman warns that the company believers keep has a direct impact on the health of their soul and their ability to be led by the Spirit. He cites the principle that evil communications corrupt good manners, applying it to friendships, workplace dynamics, and even media consumption. People who continually grumble, operate in fear, or are indifferent to God’s best will drag a believer’s soul back toward the earth-curse system it was rescued from. Moving forward into the new seasons God has ordained sometimes requires walking a different path, not in pride, but in the stewardship of what God has placed inside every believer.

Frequently Asked Questions