Our teacher, the Holy Spirit
Three days ago, I posted on this on Facebook:
Not all ‘Christians’ give godly advice. You must seek the truth for yourself. Do not solely depend on man. Do your due diligence and read the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you in all His truth.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26
1 John 2:27 says, “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”
I posted this to communicate how important it is for us to study the Word of God, and to let our Father, through His Spirit, teach us how to walk and grow in our faith. When I first became a Christian, I was starving for God's Word. I went to as many local bible studies as I could, and watched numerous sermons on TV or Youtube. God had given me a few people who could give me some guidance, but I've always felt as though God did not want me to completely rely on them for my spiritual nutrition. He wanted me to rely solely on Him. God wanted me to seek Him, and I knew that He would teach me what He wanted me to learn. God is the best teacher! However, I would have to consume and study God's Word, and depend on the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The first year that I had given my life to Christ, I asked daily in prayer, for the Lord to give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Today, I want to share how the Holy Spirit has been so instrumental in my relationship with God, and helping me grow in Christ. For the last seven and a half years, the Holy Spirit has been my teacher, mentor, leader, and friend. I must write again, that I am not here to debate about the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, but that I'm here to share what God has taught me. As you read above, in John 14:26, the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Through God's spirit, He teaches us how to live according to God's ways. He tells us what we should do, and not do. If you are reading God's Word, the Holy Spirit will also bring to remembrance God's Word. What I mean by this is that the Holy Spirit will use scripture to help, comfort, encourage, and speak to you. For example: if I am afraid, the Holy Spirit will tell me that God has given me a spirit of love power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Some of you may not have experienced this because you do not have enough of the Word in you. You have not been reading the Bible, or you have not memorized any Bible verses. This is why reading God's Word is so vital and essential as a believer.
1 John 2:27 also tells us that we don't need anyone to teach us, but that we have an anointing from the Holy One that teaches us. God has blessed us with men and women of God, some given to teach and shepherd us, but that is not enough. We must get to know God ourselves, on a deep and intimate level. I don't know how else to stress this concept. As humans, we are bound to mess up and make mistakes. Scripture tells us that all sinned and all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). None of us are perfect, and we are not God. Only He is perfect and incorruptible. Jesus says in Mark 10:18 Why do you call me good? No one is good-except God alone. Even Jesus gives glory to the Father. We cannot live our lives believing everything everyone else says, because not everyone gives godly counsel or advice. Yes, some may have good intentions, but God is the Creator (revelations 4:11) and Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way (John 14:6). Psalm 143:3 says Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. It is in Christ alone that we have salvation, only his death and resurrection gives us eternal life.
I am not telling you to stop listening to sermons by others, or to stop putting your trust in pastors or other godly people. I am telling you to do your due diligence. Seek God for yourself, so that you will know if what someone is saying is not the truth, or full truth. The Holy Spirit will tell you if something someone says is not true. It will strike a chord, or something will sound out of place. God does not want us misled. And do the same with reading my posts. I do not know it all, and I also make mistakes. You must align what I write with the Word of God. If you need more clarity, ask God to show you. He desires to teach you His ways. Some people will say something out of genuine error, while others will teach false doctrine. Just look at the pharisees, they knew the Word of God by heart; yet, they didn't even realize that Jesus was truly the Son of God. The Pharisees used God's Word to condemn, judge, and criticize. Jesus did not. Even the devil knows the Word of God so you must study and learn God's Word.
Jesus says to the Pharisees in John 10:4-5 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice. When we truly know Christ, we will not follow a stranger. Though we may get off track, we will find our way back to Jesus. Study God's Word, memorize it, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, and pray for discernment.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the readers and for this message. I thank You for the Holy Spirit who guides and teaches us in all truth. I pray that You will lead the readers by your Holy Spirit, as they seek You and Your Word. Give them wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Fill those who thirst for You, for the Bible says those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). Give them discernment so they are not led astray by false teaching. Help them to see errors and recognize false doctrine. We thank You for those who You've given to teach us. May You continue to lead us to godly men and women whose teaching is sound and Biblical. Remind us that You are the best and greatest teacher. We depend on You to show us how to live in a way that is pleasing to you. For those who are not reading Your Word, give them a hunger and thirst to do so, for man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Help us to grow into a deeper, and more intimate relationship with You. In Jesus name, amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
