Dear Explorer,
Read John 16:12-13
I love teaching Bible to a group, but there's always the danger that what one person needs is the exact opposite of what another needs to hear. I am reminded of an old children's story about a man named Simple Simon. He put into practice everything that he was taught -- it's just that he applied the information to the wrong problem and the results were disastrous. That makes this passage very, very special. You see the Holy Spirit doesn't teach us in a "one-size-fits-all" fashion.
What a precious gift the Holy Spirit is to us. He knows exactly what we are ready and needing to hear. He can customize God's message to each one of us. That's why if you compare notes with someone after hearing a sermon -- you may have heard different things! The Holy Spirit will teach you what you need to hear, and He may teach that person sitting beside you something different.
It's pretty cool! The same thing will happen if you have a group read a passage of Scripture and then ask them to spend a few minutes in prayer asking God to speak to them concerning the passage. When you ask them what important message they heard -- there will be multiple responses. That's also why you can read a passage of Scripture on one day and you understand a specific message – then reread it later and get a different message. The Holy Spirit is our personal guide. He will illuminate what we need to hear and it's awesome!
What does the Holy Spirit tell us?
The Holy Spirit doesn't decide what to teach us. That's God's job. The Holy Spirit is not going to lead us to do anything outside of God's plan or His Word. If you think that the Holy Spirit is guiding you to do something that is forbidden by Scripture -- then it's not Him! The Holy Spirit just conveys to us what is on God's heart and mind. He will never lead you contrary to Scripture, He simply customizes it to our understanding and emotions and needs. He is our guide to truth. Like a wilderness guide, He escorts us through life so that we can understand truth and He reveals the future as we need to know it.
Understanding God's truth in every situation is so vital to living in victory. When the doctor says, "It's terminal," is that God's truth or human wisdom? How can you know? The Holy Spirit will reveal it to you as you are ready to accept it. When the boss says, "You'll never get ahead by putting your family first." Is that God's truth or human wisdom? When the teacher says, "You really aren't cut out to be a musician! Is that God's truth or human wisdom. Society wants to teach you many, many things. How do you know which ones to follow and which ones to ignore?
Aren't you glad that when you invite Jesus into your life -- He sends His Holy Spirit to teach you truth and guide you through life? Life is often tough and discouraging and at times hard to sort out. I can't imagine going through the hard places without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In His service, dale
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