Did the Holy Spirit really speak to you as it says in your Coming Out story?

by Jesse, from New Zealand
(but in Nebraska, USA for 1 year)

Rick Brentlinger Answers -

That's a very good question. When I describe my Coming Out and the experience of praying for God's guidance as I studied the clobber passages, I describe the experience as the Holy Spirit speaking to me.

I do not mean that He spoke in an audible voice that I could hear with my ears. I am referring to His leading and questioning in my mind and spirit as I prayed and sought God's guidance. The leading of the Holy Spirit is like "a still small voice" as we seek to walk obedient to His will.

God promises to guide us

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go: I will guide you with my eye." -Psalm 32:8, American KJV

"Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not." -Jeremiah 33:3, American KJV

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6, American KJV

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way." -Psalms 37:23, American KJV

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him." -James 1:5, American KJV

"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." -Psalm 25:9, American KJV

"What man is he that fears the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose." -Psalm 25:12, American KJV

"You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." -Psalm 73:24, American KJV

"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." -Psalm 119:105, American KJV

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left." -Isaiah 30:21, American KJV

"Thus said the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD your God which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go." -Isaiah 48:17, American KJV

"Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." -John 8:12, American KJV

How God guides us

God guides us in many ways, by opening doors of opportunity, through circumstances, through His providence in having us in a particular place at a particular time, through the wisdom and advice of others, through the written scriptures of the Bible, through placing a burden on our heart to go in a certain direction, through bearing witness in our spirit that something is or is not His will.

The guidance of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit can sometimes seem like a premonition or an inner urge, an impulse to go somewhere or not go somewhere. God's leading can feel like a warning to shy away from something, someone or someplace or it can feel like a drawing to a particular place.

God sometimes spoke to His people in dreams or visions in the Bible, perhaps because they did not have easy access to the written scriptures like we have today. Here are some Biblical examples of God speaking to and leading His people.

Biblical examples of guidance

1. Abraham, about how he knew to leave Ur and journey to Palestine, Genesis 12:1ff.
   
   
2. Abraham's servant, about how he found a bride for Isaac, Genesis 24:27
   
   
3. Elijah, about going where God told him to go, 1 Kings 17:3-4
   
   
4. Naaman the Syrian general, whom God spoke to through his Israeli servant girl, 2 Kings 5:1-4
   
   
5. Jeremiah, about how he knew to go to the potter's house, Jeremiah 18:2
   
   
6. Joseph, stepfather of Jesus, being warned by God in a dream to leave Bethlehem because Herod would try to kill the baby Jesus, Matthew 2:13-15
   
   
7. Paul, being directed by God to go into Macedonia (modern Europe) with the gospel, Acts 16:9-10

Interesting Links

eDisciples - fascinating spiritual resources for growing Christians

How to witness for Jesus

What does repentance mean in the Bible?

Jesse's Original Question

"Did the Holy Spirit and Jesus/God really speak to you as it says in your story about yourself. Or was it just an instinct reflex that you finally realized something in those lines about homosexuality?"