"And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me" (Acts 20:22, 23 KJV).
The witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit can be that strong, that you can literally feel it moving you. In such situations, any "other" decision doesn't bring peace into your spirit. Yet that stirring would not leave you till you are following God's leading. To the natural men, the decision you are to take would be the most 'unwise' to do, yet that would be God's will for you at that moment. This way is also another of how God leads us by the 'inward witness', as He did people like Apostle Paul.
In Acts 16, the Bible reveals how the Holy Spirit "forbade" Paul and his missionaries on two counts, not to go preach in Asia and Bithynia respectively. They just felt this divine opposition, a hindrance in their spirits concerning those journeys. It was not a spectacular voice to them, but it was pressing enough within them to change their course. Also in Acts 17, we read of Paul being stirred up in his spirit (with a holy anger) to dispute with people who were given to idolatry.
But even more striking is how Paul handled matters that surrounded the great persecution he was yet to face in ministry. The inward witness is indeed the primary way God leads us, and must be the most binding to your decision-making life. In fact God has designed that every other means of His leading for your life must confirm that which He is witnessing in your spirit. And that is quite crucial to making right decisions in life.
In our main passage, Paul actually speaks of two main counts of leading; the Witness of the Holy Spirit in his spirit, and then the prophecies, revelations and directions other believers gave to him. He is so emphatic about the fact that the Holy Spirit already witnessed to his spirit that he must go to Jerusalem and face those persecutions. He was bound by inward - witness he received in his spirit. Other believers and prophets also picked up what was in the 'air' ahead of Paul.
In Acts 21:4, some disciples Paul stayed with for some days, also picked up the 'danger' ahead, but they said that Paul "should not" go to Jerusalem. Now that was not exactly what they received, but then because they saw how dangerous it would be for Paul, they concluded that perhaps God would not want him to face those persecutions. Because in verse 10, Agabus (who stood in the office of the Prophet) also prophesied on this same matter, but did not seek to decide what Paul should do - because God didn't say anything like that. Many Bible commentators believe that Paul missed it one this issue and faced death. But you can see clearly that Paul was moved ahead by the witness of the Holy Spirit in his spirit, which indeed is God's primary way of leading us. In other words, if you hear any prophecy or direction which is not confirming what you received in your spirit as a divine witness, it might not be the entire counsel of God for you!
Paul said in Acts 20:24 "but none of these things [people's fear for me contrary to the witness of the Holy Spirit in my spirit] move me". Friend, what will move you in life? You must not leave your decision making to prophecies you hear here and there. That is not God's ideal plan for you. That is to say if the Holy Spirit is witnessing to your spirit not to travel out of your country or marry a certain guy or go for so and so job, you must not disobey simply because of a contrary prophecy you heard. It could be very misleading, and many believers have suffered misfortunes because they treated what they heard contrary to the witness of the Holy Spirit in their spirits, as superior.
Above all hearings, you can trust the witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit. Decide today to be bound and moved by the inward - witness; it is the safest place for you!
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