Church Of The Harvest | Sermon Podcast | Cleveland, TN · Word Of Life Ministries - Church of the Harvest

"The Inward Witness" Flying Higher Series - Pastor Sharon Lyon

·44 min·2 clips

In a foreign country at night, the same divine knowing came to both of us simultaneously.

Pastor Sharon Lyon teaches on the Holy Spirit's quiet guidance through personal intuition, known as the inward witness. This episode is part of the "Flying Higher" series from Church of the Harvest in Cleveland, Tennessee. Lyon defines the inward witness as a non-audible, inner sense of knowing that prompts a believer's actions or brings peace. She cites Romans 8:14 to establish that being led by the Spirit is a continuous, ongoing action for believers. Lyon shares a personal story of being in India with her husband, Pastor Mike, when both simultaneously felt a warning to avoid a certain street at night. The teaching outlines four roles of the Spirit: governing mindset, illuminating Scripture, reshaping desires, and aligning hearts with God's character. Lyon lists ten attributes of God—including holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, and love—that the Spirit's guidance will never contradict. A key insight is that having the Spirit as a guide does not remove human responsibility to say "no" to selfish fleshly desires. Lyon warns that people often misuse "God told me" to excuse poor or selfish decisions, illustrating this with a story of a woman in Hawaii who mistakenly believed God wanted her to divorce her husband. She emphasizes that learning discernment requires practice, testing impressions, and allowing for mistakes, referencing Hebrews 5:14 about training one's senses through use. Lyon recounts a vivid example of "testing" at a seminar where she internally heard a prediction about evangelist Brother Hagin praying for her, which then unfolded exactly as she sensed. She stresses that God's voice is typically a whisper, not a shout, requiring a quiet spirit to hear. Another compelling story involves Lyon and her husband feeling a sudden urgency to pray for their son Joel, who was simultaneously trapped underwater in a Hawaiian blowhole. The episode explains that sensitivity to the Spirit grows through obedience in small things and can be dulled by worldly influences. Lyon confesses a time when the Spirit corrected her critical attitude by bringing a specific scripture to mind. She notes the inward witness is subjective and dangerous if untested, warning against the three traps from 1 John 2:16: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Biblical examples like Ananias, Simeon, and Anna are given as figures led by this inner witness. The tone is pastoral, instructional, and deeply personal, blending theological teaching with candid life stories. Lyon's style is conversational and encouraging, often speaking directly to the listener's spiritual growth. This episode is ideal for Christians seeking a deeper, more practical understanding of Holy Spirit guidance and personal discernment. Listeners who prefer purely exegetical teaching or are uncomfortable with charismatic perspectives might find it less appealing.

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