God the Holy Spirit, Mentor's Guide, MG14

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G O D T H E H O L Y S P I R I T

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Spiritual Guidance (continued)

family (like the prodigal son) we cannot, then, claim the excuse that we do not hear him saying anything.

(d) Hearing the voice of God is not a private function. It takes place in community. We hear the voice of God best when we listen along with others. (e) Our pastors and spiritual leaders have a unique role to play in this process. (f) Heb. 13.17 (ESV) - Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (g) Consulting our pastoral leadership for their insights and counsel is a natural starting point for decisions where God’s will is not clear. (h) Our brothers and sisters in Christ are also a rich resource for speaking the mind of Christ to us. (i) 1 Cor. 12.7 (ESV) - To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (j) 1 Cor. 14.26 (ESV) - What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (k) Prov. 27.17 (ESV) - Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (l) Prov. 11.14 (ESV) - Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (m) Listening to the voice of the Spirit necessarily means that we must listen to the counsel of the church community and its leaders.