Podcast Summary

Overview

Episode Title: "Being Led By The Spirit Made Easy" Part 17
Host/Speaker: Pastor Craig Field, Promise of Life Church
Date: July 17, 2024
Theme: This episode continues the church’s long-running series exploring what it means to be led by the Holy Spirit in daily life. Pastor Craig addresses why this crucial topic is frequently neglected in the church, shares practical and personal stories about recognizing the Spirit’s leading, and offers vibrant, down-to-earth teaching on developing spiritual sensitivity.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Being Led by the Spirit (00:50–09:00)

• Key Verse: Romans 8:14 — “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
  • Being led by the Spirit is a “fundamental right” as a child of God.
• Neglect of Teaching: Pastor Craig highlights that many pastors and believers are ignorant of this topic because “the devil fights this so hard” to keep the church powerless and confused.
• Quote: “If a pastor doesn’t spend time praying and doesn’t spend time learning, how’s he going to teach anything if he’s not praying? He doesn’t know how to be led by the Spirit if he doesn’t understand it.” (04:30)
• Observation: Despite being vital, it’s “the least taught subject in the body of Christ”—only rivaled by deliverance.

2. Repetition and Meditating on the Subject (07:15–12:00)

• Series Continuation: Even after 41 previous broadcasts, God instructed Pastor Craig to teach more because “they haven’t even close to got it yet.”
• Repetition for Safety: Cites Paul in Philippians saying repetition is for the church’s “safety.”
• Encouragement: Pastor Craig urges listeners not to get tired of this teaching, emphasizing that growing in being led by the Spirit requires time and meditation.

3. Daily Practice of Spiritual Leadings (12:30–22:00)

• How the Spirit Leads:
  • Sometimes through an authoritative voice.
  • Other times, a “bearing of witness,” or an inner knowing.
  • Can be strong or light, a sense of excitement or a “dead battery” sense (no unction).
  • Through scripture, dreams, imagination, or circumstantial promptings.
• Key Quote: “He wants you to be led more than you want to be led, which is why He’s laboring with us to teach us this.” (15:35)
• Illustration: The Spirit’s leading can affect everyday aspects—even avoiding traffic, accidents, or getting unexpected blessings.

4. Personal Stories Highlighting Spirit’s Leading (22:00–48:00)

A. Following (or Resisting) Promptings

• Road Rage Incident (22:55–29:00):
  • Pastor Craig recounts witnessing road rage and wanting to intervene, but the Holy Spirit twice tells him “do nothing.”
  • “Even when you’re trying to do something noble… you better check. This is called being led by the Spirit.” (27:45)
  • Practical lesson: Don’t act from emotion or even good intentions—check your spirit.

B. Little Leadings Leading to Blessing

• Credit Card Phone Call (29:45–33:15):
  • Felt prompted to call about an old credit card. Resulted in a $1,500 bonus (“not a major life changing thing, but… you are so kind, Lord”).
  • “A little tiny leading. Nothing big… But God was interested in my success and he saw something was available.” (32:00)

C. Understanding Different Types of Leadings

• Motorcycle Accident (33:20–36:35):

  • Received a voice: “There’s going to be an accident today.” He assumed it didn’t apply to him and had an accident.
  • Key lesson: Don’t assume; press in for interpretation!
  • “People learn from other people’s mistakes… My most common feedback is thank you for your honesty.” (35:25)

• Maui Wave Incident (36:40–39:45):

  • No voice, no leading, just a “tiny twinge” when seeing a danger sign at the beach. Disregarded it, ended up injured.
  • Lesson: Sometimes, it’s not supernatural; it’s common sense.

• Hawaii Vacation Wildfires (39:50–44:10):

  • Strong inward witness to change travel plans, despite inconvenience. Avoided catastrophic wildfires by obeying.

• Guatemala Scooter Story (44:15–56:25):

  • Weekly drove through a perilous area unknowingly. Only found out later it was infamous for cartel violence. No spiritual warning because they had no knowledge. God protected by His grace, providing a testimony of divine protection.
  • “If there’s no leading, the angel of the Lord protects us. Still amazes me to this day.” (56:10)

5. Practical Teaching: Praying with the Anointing (56:25–end)

• Dealing with Victory in Prayer (56:25–1:05:00):

  • Cautions not to prematurely stop praying when feeling a “note of victory”—often that just means you’re done for now, not for good.
  • “The note of victory tells you if it’s done for that day, not that it’s done permanently.” (1:01:22)
  • Checks for “unction” or “anointing” in prayer sessions to know if the assignment continues.

• Getting into the Spirit in Prayer (1:05:00–1:19:00):

  • Describes process: Mind wanders, must discipline it to press into anointing.
  • “Any monkey can pray… But you gotta get in the spirit.” (1:12:54)
  • Analogies: Moving from dry sand to water; walking into deeper levels of God’s presence as described in Ezekiel (ankle, knee, waist deep, etc.).
  • “The anointing is God removing you from your soul. It’s God doing it.” (1:10:20)
  • Practical advice: Learn what the anointing feels like internally (not external manifestations).

• Discerning When to Pray or Prophesy (1:19:00–1:29:00):

  • Shares accounts of ministry situations where there was— or was not—an anointing to pray for healing.
  • Lesson: Without the anointing/unction, don’t force prayer or prophecy; Spirit must lead.

• Quote: “Hyper does not mean spiritual. Screaming does not mean spiritual. Emotional crying does not mean spiritual. If it’s spiritual, it comes out of there.” (1:29:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pastors & Prayer:
  • “The average was one minute per week [pastor’s prayer time]… Which means many of them were zero… If a pastor doesn’t spend time praying and learning, how’s he going to teach anything?” (03:40)
• On Leadings:
  • “He wants you to be led more than you want to be led.” (15:35)
  • “You gotta learn to get out of your emotions and look to your spirit.” (28:20)
• On Anointing:
  • “The anointing is God painting himself on you.” (1:09:45)
  • “If you don’t understand the anointing, the devil hates the anointing.” (1:08:45)
• On Prayer:
  • “The note of victory tells you if it’s done for that day, not that it’s done permanently.” (1:01:22)
  • “If there’s no anointing to pray—stop praying.” (about 1:19:00)
• On Honesty:
  • “Thank you for your honesty… Because I’ve missed it so much. And sometimes I think preachers never miss it—now I realize you miss it all the time.” (35:45, reporting attendee feedback)

Key Timestamps for Reference

• 00:50–04:30 — Why Being Led by the Spirit is so vital (Romans 8)
• 12:30–15:30 — Various ways the Spirit leads
• 22:55–29:00 — Road rage story and checking your spirit before acting
• 29:45–33:15 — Credit card leading/blessing
• 33:20–36:35 — Motorcycle accident and learning from mistakes
• 36:40–39:45 — Maui beach story: heeding tiny warnings & common sense
• 44:15–56:25 — Guatemala scooter story: divine protection vs. divine leading
• 56:25–1:05:00 — Practical teaching on prayer, note of victory, and anointing
• 1:05:00–1:19:00 — Analogy of pressing into the anointing in prayer
• 1:19:00–1:29:00 — Discerning when the Spirit gives permission to pray/prophesy

Conclusion

Pastor Craig reiterates that being led by the Spirit is not merely a supernatural, rare occurrence, but a right and expectation for every believer. It is often learned and confirmed through experience (including mistakes), repetition, and attentiveness to both the Word and the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. Learning to sense and honor the anointing—especially in prayer—is the difference between spiritual success and frustration. "[T]here is a very high option for us, and we’re so used to scratching in the dirt like chickens, but there is an ability to soar up in the clouds. I’m trying to get you there.” (38:30)

Takeaway:
This teaching demystifies spiritual leading, urging believers to develop a practical daily relationship with the Spirit—listening, checking, and responding with patience and humility. The Spirit’s leadership is for every day, in the small and big things, and is proven through disciplined, Spirit-empowered prayer and sensitivity.