Read: Acts 27:9-26
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: – Romans 8:16
Paul just had a knowing and a perception. Was it a natural perception or a spiritual perception? It was definitely not a natural perception because in the natural there was no sign of danger.
The south wind was blowing softly, which was a good sign. There was no indication of trouble. Paul had what many Christians have when the Holy Spirit speaks to their
spirit – a perception and a knowing. As if to distinguish between the different ways in which the Holy Spirit speaks, the Lord spoke to Paul in a different way on this same journey.
The bad things he had perceived happened and the people on the ship had given up hope of surviving. However, God spoke to Paul in an unusual or spectacular way. You can see
from this passage that the Holy Spirit spoke in two different ways on two different occasions. The first time was by the inner witness and the second time was by an angel.
Another Scripture, which says the same thing, is Romans 8:16. The Spirit bearing witness is the same as the Spirit speaking or witnessing to your heart that you are a child of God. This is the commonest way that you will detect the voice of the Spirit. When you want to take a decision, watch out for that quiet assurance in your heart! If you want to marry somebody, watch out for that relaxed knowing that “this is it!” If you need to change your job or enter a partnership, check up on whether you have that quiet assurance of peace in your heart.