How to Hear and Follow the Holy Spirit, Learning to Surrender to God’s Lead

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How to Hear and Follow the Holy Spirit

Learning to Surrender to God’s Leading

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/hear-and-follow-the-holy-spirit/

듣기 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeJjDN7Y9I

Did you ever lose your peace about something?

Many of us lose our peace and just push right through.

We’re not sensitive to it.

But sometimes it’s the Holy Spirit /unsettling us.

For example, how many people get married

/when the Spirit of God is trying to block them from marrying an unbeliever?

That’s a moral command: “Do not be yoked /together /with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NIV).

“No, I’m going to convert him,” I’ve heard [people] [say].

But the unbelieving spouse might convert the believer.

“Oh, I’m going to marry a Christian,” someone else says. That’s a good start. Now which one?

God has a plan for every one of us, like who we should marry. How do we know [that plan]?

We’ve got to hear /from the Holy Spirit [what God wants to do with our lives].

Some of us have potential /to do [who knows what for the Lord].

But we have to be sensitive /to what the Spirit of Jesus is calling us to do or not to do.

Paul and his companions wanted to go west and preach in Asia, but the Spirit of Jesus said no (see Acts 16:6–7).

They lost their peace.

How sensitive must they have been /to know that something was wrong?

Were they going /by emotions?

No. The Spirit was indicating /to them [that they needed to be careful].

How did Paul know that the Spirit was saying not to go to Asia?

He could have argued, “No, I want to preach the gospel. I have zeal.” A lot of people live by zeal.

They’re not Spirit-led; they’re zealous. But zealous people can really make a mess of things.

God has to lead us.

And sometimes God says no.

Notice how Paul was able to hear God’s voice: he was surrendered.

He was willing to go where God told him to.

We can’t ask [God] [to lead us] /if we already know [what we want to do].

We have to get weak.

We have to be limp.

We have to say, “Where He leads me, I will follow.”

Otherwise there comes a conflict within.

We’ve got to come /to a place of surrender and say, “Lord, lead me.”

In a meeting years ago, when our church met in another theater, my wife, Carol, was leading the choir.

As she finished a song, the Lord’s anointed presence settled in, and everyone began praising God.

The whole building filled with worship.

Carol felt led not to move to another song but just to worship.

I was sitting on the platform, a little drowsy, but I snapped to.

I thought, “God, what do I do?”

There’s a plan for everything, and I wanted to find it.

I walked up /to the wooden pulpit, put the mic down, and prayed,

“God, [whatever I tell them to do] they’re going to do ().

But I’m not supposed to lead out of habit.”

I became weak in myself—and God’s strength is made perfect /when we’re weak (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).

I said, “God, I’ll do [whatever You tell me to do].”

* “God, they’re going to do (whatever I tell them to do).

How to Hear and Follow the Holy Spirit

Learning to Surrender to God’s Leading

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/hear-and-follow-the-holy-spirit/

듣기 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeJjDN7Y9I

Did you ever lose your peace about something?

Many of us lose our peace and just push right through.

We’re not sensitive to it.

But sometimes it’s the Holy Spirit /unsettling us.

For example, how many people get married

/when the Spirit of God is trying to block them from marrying an unbeliever?

That’s a moral command: “Do not be yoked /together /with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NIV).

“No, I’m going to convert him,” I’ve heard [people] [say].

But the unbelieving spouse might convert the believer.

“Oh, I’m going to marry a Christian,” someone else says. That’s a good start. Now which one?

God has a plan for every one of us, like who we should marry. How do we know [that plan]?

We’ve got to hear /from the Holy Spirit [what God wants to do with our lives].

Some of us have potential /to do [who knows what for the Lord].

But we have to be sensitive /to what the Spirit of Jesus is calling us to do or not to do.

Paul and his companions wanted to go west and preach in Asia, but the Spirit of Jesus said no (see Acts 16:6–7). They lost their peace.

How sensitive must they have been /to know that something was wrong?

Were they going /by emotions?

No. The Spirit was indicating /to them [that they needed to be careful].

How did Paul know that the Spirit was saying not to go to Asia?

He could have argued, “No, I want to preach the gospel. I have zeal.” A lot of people live by zeal.

They’re not Spirit-led; they’re zealous. But zealous people can really make a mess of things.

God has to lead us.

And sometimes God says no.

Notice how Paul was able to hear God’s voice: he was surrendered.

He was willing to go where God told him to.

We can’t ask [God] [to lead us] /if we already know [what we want to do].

We have to get weak.

We have to be limp.

We have to say, “Where He leads me, I will follow.”

Otherwise there comes a conflict within.

We’ve got to come /to a place of surrender and say, “Lord, lead me.”

In a meeting years ago, when our church met in another theater, my wife, Carol, was leading the choir.

As she finished a song, the Lord’s anointed presence settled in, and everyone began praising God.

The whole building filled with worship.

Carol felt led not to move to another song but just to worship.

I was sitting on the platform, a little drowsy, but I snapped to.

I thought, “God, what do I do?”

There’s a plan for everything, and I wanted to find it.

I walked up /to the wooden pulpit, put the mic down, and prayed,

“God, [whatever I tell them to do] they’re going to do ().

But I’m not supposed to lead out of habit.”

I became weak in myself—and God’s strength is made perfect /when we’re weak (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).

I said, “God, I’ll do [whatever You tell me to do].”

And God took [me] up /on it.

I opened my eyes and saw [a woman] [sitting near the front with her hands raised].

The Holy Spirit spoke to me: “Go hand [her] [the microphone].” (4 형식)

At first I thought, “I’m not doing that. That’s crazy.”

But within five seconds, I knew () God was saying, “You just asked [Me] [to show you what to do].”

My heart started pounding.

I stepped /off the platform and walked /over to her.

Everyone was praising God—standing, sitting, crying, being quiet.

This woman was standing /with her eyes closed,

and I said to the Lord, “Lord, can I just touch her arm /so I won’t frighten her?”

Suddenly she opened her eyes and grabbed the microphone from me.

She began [to prophesy].

This was a true word from the Lord, all biblical.

It wasn’t fanaticism.

This woman spoke [what God wanted that congregation to hear].

It was so powerful that I just dropped /onto the pew /as she prophesied to the people.

And all heaven broke loose.

People ran /to the front and threw themselves on the altar /praying, crying, calling on God.

The Holy Spirit moved /in all kinds of situations /because of the word this lady gave.

Two days later, the lady’s husband, one of our pastors, came into my office.

“Hey, brother Jim,” he said. “That was some afternoon service on Sunday.”

Then he told [me] [what he and his wife talked about while they were driving home].

“Honey,” he told her, “God really used you.

But how did you get the microphone /from Pastor Cymbala?”

“Well, I was standing there,” she said. “And God was moving.

Carol wasn’t stirring; she was just praising God.

And I felt [God] [give me this word of encouragement for the church].

But my voice is so quiet. I wasn’t sure, was [this] [God or not]?”

Many times when God is leading us, we feel unsure and have to ask [the Lord] /for confirmation.

So this woman had prayed /before I handed [her] [the mic],

“God, if this is You and You want me to do this, make [Pastor Cymbala] [come off the platform and hand me the microphone.]”

That’s why she grabbed the mic /so quickly. She was expecting it.

Oh, God wants to lead us.

We don’t have to be a pastor or an apostle.

God wants [to lead us to be used by Him].

Let’s be sensitive to God’s voice.

Let’s be expectant.

Jesus will lead us.

Prayer

God, thank You that You saved us.

You purchased us not with silver and gold but with precious blood, and You want to use us.

Help [us] [to be sensitive to Your leading for our good and Your glory].

If this encouraged you, you can receive Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post by email here.

For More Encouragement

Listen to the full message of this blog post by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “God Leads Us”

Be encouraged with other messages from Pastor Cymbala:

“The Spontaneity of the Spirit,” “Fellowship with the Holy Spirit” and “God’s Plan for Your Life”

Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page

And God took [me] up /on it.

I opened my eyes and saw [a woman] [sitting near the front with her hands raised]. (5 형식)

The Holy Spirit spoke to me: “Go hand [her] [the microphone].” (4 형식)

At first I thought, “I’m not doing that. That’s crazy.”

But within five seconds, I knew () God was saying, “You just asked [Me] [to show you what to do].” (5 형식)

My heart started pounding.

I stepped /off the platform and walked /over to her.

Everyone was praising God—standing, sitting, crying, being quiet.

This woman was standing /with her eyes closed,

and I said to the Lord, “Lord, can I just touch her arm /so I won’t frighten her?”

Suddenly she opened her eyes and grabbed the microphone from me.

She began [to prophesy].

This was a true word from the Lord, all biblical.

It wasn’t fanaticism.

This woman spoke [what God wanted that congregation to hear].

It was so powerful that I just dropped /onto the pew /as she prophesied to the people.

And all heaven broke loose.

People ran /to the front and threw themselves on the altar /praying, crying, calling on God.

The Holy Spirit moved /in all kinds of situations /because of the word this lady gave.

Two days later, the lady’s husband, one of our pastors, came into my office.

“Hey, brother Jim,” he said. “That was some afternoon service on Sunday.”

Then he told [me] [what he and his wife talked about while they were driving home].

“Honey,” he told her, “God really used you.

But how did you get the microphone /from Pastor Cymbala?”

“Well, I was standing there,” she said. “And God was moving.

Carol wasn’t stirring; she was just praising God.

And I felt [God] [give me this word of encouragement for the church].

But my voice is so quiet. I wasn’t sure, was [this] [God or not]?”

Many times when God is leading us, we feel unsure and have to ask [the Lord] /for confirmation.

So this woman had prayed /before I handed [her] [the mic],

“God, if this is You and You want me to do this, make [Pastor Cymbala] [come off the platform and hand me the microphone.]”

That’s why she grabbed the mic /so quickly. She was expecting it.

Oh, God wants to lead us.

We don’t have to be a pastor or an apostle.

God wants [to lead us to be used by Him].

Let’s be sensitive to God’s voice.

Let’s be expectant.

Jesus will lead us.

Prayer

God, thank You that You saved us.

You purchased us not with silver and gold but with precious blood, and You want to use us.

Help [us] [to be sensitive to Your leading for our good and Your glory].

If this encouraged you, you can receive Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post by email here.

For More Encouragement

Listen to the full message of this blog post by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “God Leads Us”

Be encouraged with other messages from Pastor Cymbala:

“The Spontaneity of the Spirit,” “Fellowship with the Holy Spirit” and “God’s Plan for Your Life”

Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page