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<b>LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT</b>

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us.”

“<i>For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary</i> t<i>hings</i>: <i>that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well”. (Acts 15:28-29 NKJV) </i>

<strong><i> L</i>isten for God’s Guidance. As long as you keep listening to people whose opinions don’t line up with God’s will, you’ll be frustrated and get nowhere. When important decisions must be made that affect the future, you must be able to hear from God. You must also welcome feedback. Why? Because if you’re not teachable, you’re not usable. Now, the majority opinion can be valuable in run-of-the-mill matters, but when a God-given vision is at issue you must listen for God’s guidance first and foremost. You say, “Isn’t there wisdom in having a plurality of leadership?” Yes, even the best leaders have blind spots and need people with 20/20 vision in those areas. “Certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcise according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved”. (V. 1). What was the result? Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question” (V. 2). How did the apostle handle it? They said: “God, who knows the heart, acknowledge (the Gentiles) by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (VV 8-9). So after prayer and deliberation the apostles wrote a letter to the church, saying, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things” (V.28). And what was the result? When they heard it, they rejoice.</strong>