How can you know if you are being led by the Holy Spirit?

Question:

As man has five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing) I want to know if the Spirit who is in us also has the same senses, since we as people were created according to the image and likeness of God. Sometimes, when I sit in the presence of God (maybe it just seems that way to me) I sense certain things like the smell of burning wood, or fresh roses. Other times I feel as if I hear an interior voice, a voice that knows my thoughts and tells me what to do. Could this be God’s manifestation? I would like to hear your opinion on these matters, has this ever happened to you?

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, is the one who comes to indwell genuine Christians when they enter the New Covenant with Jesus Christ and are born again. Nowhere in Scripture do we find the questions that you asked and the Bible never mentions any of these as the manifestation the Holy Spirit in a person’s life. Man’s five senses allow him to perceive the physical environment around him. The Holy Spirit fully understands all things about God. We learn the ways of the Lord through the Holy Spirit and not by our five senses.

You need to examine the spirit that seems to be leading you during these experiences because just like there is the Holy Spirit, there is also spirit of the Antichrist along with many other evil spirits. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to give us knowledge of God, motivating us to live according to those Scriptures. The Holy Spirit teaches us, actually leads us, to live a lifestyle of righteousness as the Bible teaches. The Holy Spirit also motivates us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with great boldness.

The role of the Holy Spirit is not to provoke us with sights, sounds, smells etc. instead, the Holy Spirit shows us our need for salvation, leads us to Christ where we can attain this salvation, and ultimately, eternal life.

8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16)

How have I experienced and continue to experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit? During my first year of college, while majoring in History, the Holy Spirit caused me to listen to my professor when he told us to get a Bible and read It as part of a historical assignment. At that time, no one was interested in the Bible and It was a forbidden Book during those days. The Holy Spirit challenged me to go and visit the University library and search for a Bible. Next I went to the National library because there was no Bible at the University one. I had to go to a church because there were no Bibles at the National library either. I could not buy one from the church so I had to turn to the Black Market and spend my entire university stipend for an entire month in order to have my own copy of the Bible so that I could ready It. As I began reading the Bible, the Holy Spirit began to show me the need for salvation. I saw my sin for what it was, realized God’s righteousness, and knew that I would not be able to stand before God when He judged me because I had not placed my faith in Christ and entered into the New Covenant.

I chose to believe in Jesus Christ with all of my heart, entering into the New Covenant. At that moment, the Holy Spirit came to indwell me. From that time on, the Holy Spirit has been motivating me to search the Scriptures continuously, pray, and live according the Scriptures day by day. If and when I make a mistake, the Holy Spirit is the One who rebukes me (shows me where I am wrong) by reminding me of the teachings that I have learned in God’s Word.

One thing is clear and each person must be aware of: the Holy Spirit does not work apart from the truth of Scriptures and will not contradict Them, ever.

I had an experience with the Holy Spirit yesterday. I was invited to speak to a professional sport’s team and as I traveled to get to them, I prayed and asked the Lord to show me how to speak to them, how to share the Gospel with them. When I arrived, the Lord gave me a totally different plan than the one that I had made at home as I prepared to leave. This new message was exactly what the audience needed to hear at that moment.

Translation by: Erik Brewer