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)

Finding God's will for our lives

Finding God's will for our lives

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?"

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

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Jan 23, 2010
 Coming full circle....
by: Sparrow

I finally came to understand as I contended with the life-long struggle of my own gay orientation, that the essence of the "truth" that sets us free is comprised in His great commandment to "Love one another as I have loved you."

I've come to realize that, whether gay or straight, if we employ that glorious commandment as our own litmus test against which we measure the motives of our own heart -- loving others as He loves us -- then we are free indeed... in conscience, mind, and heart.
Sep 28, 2012
 Guidance by the Holy Spirit
by: Terry

This is probably one of the more difficult concepts to grasp in our current Christian walk. The Holy Spirit can guide us through life circumstances, as has been stated - and this requires reflection to "see" or discern God's guiding hand in this manner. The Spirit can also guide through dreams, through others who are impressed to share what God is giving them about us, and importantly through the 'peace that passes all understanding'.

I personally recall a time when I had decided that I was going to eliminate faults (sins) one at a time by willpower. I was getting a little frustrated that when I thought I had eliminated uncharitable thoughts about others - one would pop up out of the blue! One night I had the same dream three times in a row and woke up each time wondering what it meant. I dreamed that I was laying on a flat table in a room - something like an operatinge room table. I was alive, but not awake. As I looked at my body, I saw a small green plant sprouting from my chest. I love plants, and was very pleased to see the small plant. A great hand, with a robed sleve, then descended from above and pulled the plant from my chest. As the roots emerged, I was shocked and horrified at the volume of the roots and at the putridness of the soil clinging to them. It seemed that my whole body must have been filled with the decaying and putrid soil and roots. I woke up in a start.

I dreamed this three times in one night, and after reflection I realized God was telling me that only God could cleanse me from sin. It is good to strive for goodness in our lives, but only God, by the atonement of Jesus on the cross, can cleanse me from sin.

I received such assurance from this teaching by God's Spirit. I no longer get discouraged at my short-comings, but trust in the Lord to complete a redemptive work in me.

One of the most important factors in learning to 'listen' to the Spirit of God is to learn to know when you have received that 'perfect peace' in a matter. When God leads a person to take an action (or refrain from one), God will give peace in that decision. If you feel unsettled in your spirit on a matter, keep seeking until you find that 'perfect peace'.
Apr 27, 2018
 Help
by: Anonymous

I'm a gay christian, I want to believe that God created me gay and is alright with it and my sexuality is not a result of a fallen world.

But, after hearing all the lies and accusations, it can be quite difficult to believe.

my question is, what are some verses that I could meditate on so that all this struggle would end and have peace in me.

Rick's comment: Hi there - Two things will be helpful.

First, learn to listen to and focus on what the Bible says in context instead of the anti-gay blather from folks who love to take verses out of context to condemn.

Second, on the NavBar of this website, click on the Buttons under, What The Bible Says In Context.

Read those pages and take notes. Then, read those pages again, as many times as you have to, until you understand in the depths of your soul, what the Bible says in context.

Getting settled on the gay issue isn't really about meditation. It's about reading and study and understanding context, so that you have real and factual knowledge of what the Bible says and doesn't say.

I've made the issues about as simple as it's possible to make them on my website. Now, with the help of the Holy Spirit - pray and ask Him to help you - you can learn what you need to know to find peace on this particular issue.

God bless you on the adventure of learning and the journey toward the peace of God in your heart.

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