"8Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there
be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4: 8)
The Bible is very clear: The Holy Spirit guides us, and we do not need to add our recriminations or premonitions to His guidance.
"And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for
ever;
"Even the Spirit
of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14: 16-17)
As Comforter, literally παράκλητος, ο
paraklétos, or an
advocate, comforter, helper. The Holy Spirit is with us, reminding us of who we are, our right standing, and the righteousness that God is leading us to walk in.
Through the Holy Spirit, Christ abides in us, and He is our wisdom (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
He is the Spirit of truth within us, so that we do not have to solicit advice at length and at random from other people.
"But the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall
teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you." (John 14: 26)
The Holy Spirit is not a lawyer in the sense that He reminds us of what we must do. Better than that, He puts God's laws on our hearts and minds, and as the peace of God rules in our hearts, we are directed by the Spirit to be obedient to His will!
The Holy Spirit glorifies the One who sent Him, the One who died for us, who justifies and intercedes on our behalf:
"But when the Comforter
is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of
truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
"And
ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. " (John 15: 26-27)
Because of the Holy Spirit, our very presence can then bear witness of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Also, the Holy Spirit convicts us of righteousness:
"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;" (John 16: 10)
We require this constant reminder, as our flesh can easily divert us to trying to earn the status and blessings which God freely gives to us through the Finished Work of Christ Jesus.
The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, and into all knowledge:
"Howbeit when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not
speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and
he will shew you things to come.
"He shall glorify me:
for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
"All
things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of
mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16: 13-15)
"Guide you in all truth" — We do not seek the Truth, for the Truth within us guides us to where we should go and what we must do and say.
We have this most excellent testimony within us. As we read God's Word, we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, of the One who lives and thrives in us. Our faith — which is really Christ's faith (Galatians 2: 20), becomes more prominent, pushing away the doubts and fears in our lives. We no longer take heed on our own, we no longer feel compelled to look over our shoulders. We rest in who we are in Christ, and Christ in us leads us and prompts us through His love.
There is no reason to fear, there is no reason to practice self-restraining caution out of fear of doing something wrong.:
"This I say
then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
"For the flesh
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are
contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
"But if ye be led
of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
It could not be any simpler. A life of faith, seeing the invisible Holy Spirit moving and thriving about us, and behold we not only uphold the law, but we live out the love, joy, peace, and all other fruits borne by the Holy Spirit within us.