Wednesday: The Holy Spirit as Teacher
The Holy Spirit is instrumental not only in giving us the Written Word of God but also in helping us understand it properly. Human beings are darkened in their understanding of truth; they are, by nature, alienated from God (Eph. 4:18). That’s why the same Spirit, who revealed and inspired the Word of God, is the One who enables us to understand it. The problem is not that the Bible is an obscure book. The problem is our sin-tainted attitude toward God, who reveals Himself in the Bible.
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The Holy Spirit is a Teacher who desires to lead us into a deeper understanding of Scripture and to a joyful appreciation of the Bible. He brings the truth of God’s Word to our attention and gives us fresh insights into those truths so that our lives can be characterized by faithfulness and a loving obedience to God’s will. This can happen, though, only if we approach the Bible with a humble and teachable heart.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:13-14. What does the apostle Paul write about our need to interpret spiritual things spiritually?
In our understanding of the Bible, we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, the spiritual significance of the biblical words is not discerned, only its linguistic meaning. Furthermore, as sinful human beings we often are opposed to God’s truth, not because we do not understand it but because we would prefer not to follow it. Without the Holy Spirit there is no affection for God’s message. There is no hope, no trust, and no love in response. What the Spirit brings to life is in harmony with the truth already proclaimed in the Bible.
| “Many contradictory opinions in regard to what the Bible teaches do not arise from any obscurity in the book itself, but from blindness and prejudice on the part of interpreters. Men ignore the plain statements of the Bible to follow their own perverted reason. – Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Jan. 27, 1885. How has your pride been a stumbling stone that has hindered you from implementing the truth of Scripture in your life? In what areas do your own desires keep you from accepting God’s truth in your life? How can you learn to surrender everything to God? |
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I will hide the Scripture which says: today if you hear my voice do not hardened Your heart.
I've learned to always ask the Holy Spirit for guidance before, during and after opening God's Word.
Without the Holy Spirit's constant and consistent teaching and influence it's too easy to mix or place personal ideas, opinions and understanding in place of plain truths revealed in the bible. The sad thing is that we can be oblivious to what we're actually doing.
We are born in a world of sin, that is a fact. It might be a privilege to get to know God's Word. But how about those who do not know it? Sure sin has invated every cell. But true love may still hang on to that first original purpose we were created for. Love is what keeps us truly connected to the Divine. The Bible is a message of love, where Jesus is at the center, because He is the purest example of God's love.
Every day the Holy Spirit e-mails us his wisdom through the word. What he places before you to day is not just random old words. If you decide to take his e-mail seriously everyday, you will personally know that God is communicating with you. And everything he reveals to you, he offers you the juice to live up to it. All of his bidding are enablelings.
Well said. This is very factual. May we accept Him in every area of our lives.
Amen
It has been true in my life, that I can read and read and read my Bible hours a day, but still not understand truth and apply it. In 2015 I returned to my original habit of always asking the Holy Spirit to guide and read to me as I read, and now find my life less confused and more holy. This is a very good study for our time and every time.
A portion of a famous hymn reads,"Prone to wonder, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love..." The spiritual life is not a bed of rose, but when there is an avenue or something to keep the glimpse of hope, it is awesome. When I just accepted the faith, I struggled with understanding and explaining many Bible teachings, but one thing I kept doing was asking the Lord to show me what is right, I studied, I take notes, I ask questions, I got involved in church work and I relate to others as well as volunteer my service in projects. I had a prayer life going.
The word of God urges man to get on the move in heart and in action like Daniel (empowered to make a difference). That is why I can testify this way. I still have room for growth. I still face challenges, but I cannot give up on the word of God. It is my fuel to press on. (Ephesians 6:12-18). I can sing "...Hear is my heart Lord o take and seal, seal it for thy courts above."
We often hear people asking for a better understanding of the Bible and/or the Gospel, who then go on to try and understand the detail just in case there is a hidden message there. The problem is not knowing and being able to explain more detail, but putting into practice the "big picture" principles that the Bible clearly states. The sin of the Pharisees was not that they did not know scripture, but they were hypercritical about put it into practice. I have seen Seventh-day Adventists argue for half a lifetime about the nature of Christ while behaving in a most un-Christ-like was to people who disagree with them.
Our prayer for the blessing of the Holy Spirit could well be couched in terms of practicing Christianity rather than a more detailed understanding of Scriptural detail.
Alienated by nature, that makes me feel, like I have no control over my relation w/God. That's when I need to call on the HS to help me understand that. As I don't think/feel as I'm alienated from God, but Eph. says I am. What is some others thought on this?
Evie, I am not sure what is meant by nature. Many of us will feel alienated if we make choices that are not those we find are unacceptable. Temptations come in many different sizes and shapes. Eph6 and Romans7 are chapters that deal with struggles and weaknesses that the Apostle Paul was acquainted with, and answers for needed help. Repentance and forgiveness are a major part of our relationship with God.
As a Christian who is new to the SDA, I have been studying the bible with a dedicated pastor. I now truly understand that I have to seek, invite and welcome the Holy Spirit for better and deeper understanding of the word of God. The word of God is truth and love. It is only when the spirit teaches that we neither add nor remove.
This is copied from Nanci, Without the Holy Spirit's constant and consistent teaching and influence it's too easy to mix or place personal ideas, opinions and understanding in place of plain truths revealed in the bible. The sad thing is that we can be oblivious to what we're actually doing. Evie's comment: {personal ideas,opinions,} are healthy I think, to the point of discussion, not to take away from the Bible truth, just for discussion. The Bible will always rule over our opinions. I love a lively discussion in SS class. Makes me think.
These topics are so helpful to study. They remind me of when I first started studying the scriptures and much of the material available was proof texts. Proof texts often don't explain or give meaning to the scriptures and it is the meaning I am interested in. Proof texts are helpful to know what the ideas are that are in the Bible. So I am excited to study these topics!!
In this lesson, I had not ever thought of, "Without the Holy Spirit, there is no affection for God’s message. There is no hope, no trust, and no love in response."
And I think it is very true and a lack of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a partial reason for why we often lack the very things described here: love, hope and trust.
It seems to me, without the Holy Spirit and the word of God, and without affection for God's message, there is no life in the person. Life is a combination of the life of the soul, which is made up of mind and emotions; the life of the spirit; life in the present; and life in the future. All these are dependent on our connection or lack of connection with the WORD of God.
New International Version
"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." John 1:4.
And in Galatians 5:22, we read of the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit exists and grows in our lives out of the operation of the Spirit. So if we are in connection with the Spirit, love, joy, peace, etc. will be in our lives and will flow outwards towards others. It is the living water that flows out of the WORD, New Living Translation "Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
When we wake up in the morning, it is a good thing to invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts and lives, and ask for God to direct our paths. It is also good to spend at least a few minutes in prayer and Bible study and ask God to direct our minds and lives through His word. Then it is possible for the Holy Spirit to direct us from within.