The Holy Spirit Is To Be Our Teacher

One of the Holy Spirit’s most important functions for the Christian is enable us to understand what we need to know to serve God.  I Corinthians 2:12 states, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”   This is critical because, as I Corinthians 2:14 tells us, “…the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”   Normal human language simply does not have words to explain spiritual things.   Attempts to dumb it down so the unsaved can understand simply lose the meaning because the people lack the necessary vocabulary. 

Fortunately God understood this, and in John 14:26, Jesus said “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”   The Holy Spirit will cause Christians to remember everything Jesus taught and teach them to understand them. 

No matter how good or bad a teacher may be, how much a student learns will be limited by how much effort the student puts into learning.  If we are to learn what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach, we must put some effort into learning.  II Timothy 2:15 commands, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  If we do not want to be embarrassed when we stand before God, we will have to study God’s word to make sure we properly understand it.  II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 

By studying all of the scriptures we can have all the information we need in order to please God completely.  We do not need any other books or teachers to teach us.  I John 2:27 states, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”  The Holy Spirit is able to make us understand everything the scriptures teach. 

II Peter 1:19-21 addresses the same things.  “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.   But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 

The scriptures were given by God.  Unfortunately the process of copying and translating them into various languages has introduced various errors.  As a result, we cannot base our interpretation of a passage solely on that passage, but must compare it with other scriptures, as I Corinthians 2:13 teaches, “…comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”  Many false doctrines have developed because people did not take the time to compare the scriptures to be sure they were understanding them properly. 

With this in mind, in I Timothy 4:13-15, Paul instructed Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”  By spending his time reading and studying the word, not ignoring the Holy Spirit’s direction while meditating on what the scriptures taught, everyone would see the benefits . 

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:13-15)

If we will spend the time studying and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us, we learn everything possible about the Lord and what he expects and wants from us, as well as how much he loves us.  In I Corinthians 1:4-7 Paul told the Corinthians, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Because of the Holy Spirit’s working and teaching they were in no inferior to any other Christians. 

A Christian who has taken the trouble to study the scriptures and let the Holy Spirit teach him is just as spiritual and qualified as the best known and most respected preacher or college professor, even though he has never graduated from high school or attended Bible College, and frequently more so, because he got his teaching from the Holy Spirit rather than from men.   Learn to trust the Holy Spirit rather than  the commentaries.