Why Say, “As the Spirit Leads”

It is all too common to hear pastors and “worship leaders” say “as the Spirit leads” during prayers, singing, altar calls, and even before sermons. Here are some excerpts from different churches:

Calvary Chapel: “A preacher needs to be able to spontaneously quote any number of scripture passages as the Spirit leads. The same is true for a worship leader. He/she needs to be able to bring up a song as the Spirit leads.”

Baptist altar call: “As we stand and sing I invite you to come as the Spirit leads.”

Reformed Worship (CRCNA): “Open, free, spontaneous prayers—people contributing in as the Spirit leads—are another way of involving the congregation in prayer.”

Before the outbreak of Pentecostalism all over the evangelical world, “as the Spirit leads” was rarely heard. From where did this expression come? This saying comes mainly from two texts. The first is Romans 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” As in most popular evangelical expressions, the use of this verse in worship is out of context.

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