24th Apr 26 | 05:42
Studies by Book
Led by the Holy Spirit
📖 Acts 15:28-29
Acts 15 - Series 2/Episode 17 - Thu, 23rd Apr 2026 - Led by the Holy Spirit - Acts 15:22-35 - THE ANNOUNCEMENT - Romans 08:14
Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: (29) 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. Farewell.
The Jerusalem Council gave the specific and necessary things that were expected from the Gentile believers. We have covered this in detail under the title 'The Jerusalem Council'. They are episodes 69-72 of Series 1 of Acts 15.
They made it known that these instructions were being given by the Holy Spirit and by themselves as the elders of the church. It is the role and work of the Holy Spirit to guide the church into all truth. John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
The role of the Holy Spirit is to keep us aligned to the will of God and to enable us to walk in His ways. The Holy Spirit takes from the heart of God and makes it known to us. I Corinthians 2:9-12 But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (10) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
God is working out all things according to His own counsel and will. Ephesians 1:9-11 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, (10) that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him. (11) In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
The ways of God are far beyond our understanding. Yet, God in His infinite wisdom reveals those things to us to keep us aligned to His ways. The decision and announcement of the decision to churches by the Jerusalem Council has significance for us in the 21st century.
Did the leaders of the Jerusalem Council visualise and consider what the impact of their decision process would be in the long term? I think not. They were simply being led by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who was putting the pieces of the puzzle in place and ensuring the fulfilment of the purposes of God. I Peter 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-things which angels desire to look into.
It is therefore necessary for us to listen to the Holy Spirit and be in tune with the heart of God. We see that this is the repeated message to the churches. Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' (Revelation 2:11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22). It is not just about having ears to hear but ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is speaking to the churches.
When we do hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to us, we must be careful not to harden our hearts. Hebrews 3:7-8 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, (8) DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION, IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
Praise God that the leaders of the Jerusalem Council heard the voice of the Holy Spirit. They remained in the Spirit and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit. I John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.