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John Murray- “The Guidance of the Holy Spirit”- From The Collected Writings of John Murray, I: 186ff
Rev. Charles R. Biggs
The question must be asked, “How does the Holy Spirit guide and direct the people of God?” Professor Murray answers this question with an answer in line with the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chap. 1, “The Word of God in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only infallible rule of practice, as it is also the only infallible rule of faith” (186).

Because we are in a different situation from those who lived during the apostolic times, we must only be guided by the Spirit from the “perfect and sufficient” rule of faith, which are the Holy Scriptures. It is dishonoring to God and his Spirit to expect a direct revelation of God other than that which he has provided in his Word illuminated by the Spirit. We must never abstract the operation, the revealing of God by the Spirit, from the infallible and sufficient rule of practice in the Word even if we deny that God is directly speaking to us, we must also forbid to follow “feelings,” “impressions,” or “convictions,” even the “peace” that some believers say that they have after making certain decisions.

Professor Murray confidently asserts for our encouragement under God’s care that “the Word of God is relevant to every situation in which we are placed, and in one way or another, bears upon every detail and circumstance of our life” (187). Rather than seeking the Lord to give us direct revelation, we should be content with God’s provision in his word to guide us as to what is his will for our lives, what he commands us and expects of us concerning him, and to know how great the love of Christ is to us. All this is found in God’s word, which when illuminated by the Spirit, directs us in the way God has ordained for us to be directed.

A warning is in order for those who do not follow the instruction of the only rule of faith and practice; to those who would follow a whim, a feeling, or an impression when it may be just an “undigested portion of beef” which Dickens’s character Scrooge experienced when he saw a ghost. Professor Murray writes, “The moment we desire or expect or think that a state of our consciousness is the effect of a direct intimation of us of the Holy Spirit’s will, or consists in such an intimation and is therefore in the category of special direction from him, then we have given way to the notion of special, direct, detached communication from the Holy Spirit. And this, in respect of its nature, belongs to the same category as belief in special revelation” (188). We must be content to interpret the Scripture to that portion of our life that needs God’s illumination, lest we are deceived by the wicked one.

Ultimately, rather than seeking direct revelation from God we must pray as Paul prayed for the Colossians: “…and desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God’ (Col. I:9, 10). It is tragic how many in the history of the Church have been misled by flights of fancy into interpretations that were not guided by Scripture, but by a supposition that they were mystically receiving revelation directly from God.

We must pray that we are not deceived by seek the Lord in his Word, his revelation, guided by his Spirit so that we might rightly know Him and his will for our lives. We must not seek a “fresh word” but an inscripturated word which God has given to us in the canon, graciously illumined for us by the Holy Spirit who knows all things, even the deep things of God. As the Apostle Paul taught Pastor Timothy:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for the instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work” (II Tim. 3: 16, 17).
CRB

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From The Highways "How are Believers Guided into 'All Truth'?

Jesus said, ‘When he, the Spirit of truth. has come, he will guide you into all truth’ (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He is truth essentially in himself, and he is the one who leads the church into all truth.

All spiritual, divine, supernatural truth is revealed in Scripture. To come to know and to rightly understand this truth in Scripture is the duty of all, according to the means which each enjoys and the duties which are required from them. To make this possible the Holy Spirit is promised to them.

Of ourselves, without his special assistance and guidance we cannot arrive at a true knowledge or a right understanding of the truth revealed in Scripture.

There are three errors to avoid. Some pretend to be guided by the Spirit and neglect the written Word. Some despise the teaching of the Spirit and trust to their own understanding of the Word. Others reject both the Spirit and the Word and go after another rule and guide.

To none of these is the promise of the Spirit given. They are left to their foolish, corrupt imaginations.

Scripture is the believer’s rule and the Holy Spirit is his guide.

Do we continue in prayer, and abound in prayer, as we ought, for that Spirit who alone can lead us into all truth? For that unction which teaches us all things with assurance and experience? There is no duty in this world more acceptable to God than fervent prayers for a right understanding of his mind and will in his Word. On this, everything else depends.



I realize that because of sin and our slothfulness that it is very difficult for people to find biblical truth. But it remains hard for me to understand why much of the church can not seem to be lead into it. I look at the Pentecostals, the liberals, the RC's and even some believers in the reformed ranks and It becomes hard for me to understand why there are so many people who profess Christ but are not being led by the Spirit to read their bibles and to know God.

What's harder for me to understand is how so many seminary's are in error. It really is frustrating to see people graduating from seminary and being so unbiblical and full of error.

I continue to try to understand how it is that church leaders continue in error for their whole lives without ever having a second thought about their erroneous biblical interpretations?

Y.B.I.C,

Dave.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16