HOLY SPIRIT: TEACHER

“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 have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:26-27 ESV)

            The Holy Spirit enables you to do greater things and helps you live a victorious life. The Holy Spirit also teaches.

            What does this mean? Does this mean you no longer need schooling? Does this suggest you put aside other forms of training? Is there a conflict between faith and reason? Does the pursuit of education deny the power of God and the simplicity of faith?

            Note the synonyms of the word “teach.”

·         Teach – the imparting of knowledge.

·         Instruct – systematized teaching.

·         Educate – formal systematic teaching.

·         Train – development of a skill.

·         School – development of a discipline.

            The teaching dimension of the Holy Spirit is not a substitute for other ways of gaining knowledge and insight. He is an additional means of growth and development. The Holy Spirit does not replace education.

            Three attributes come from formal instruction:

            A person develops the ability to reason. Education may not provide answers but cultivates the skills to find them.

            A person develops social skills. School demands interaction with others, involving cooperation with people of diverse personalities.

            A person develops career skills. Learning involves on-the-job experience, gaining ability from the trial and errors of others in similar pursuits.

            Some attempt to fulfill a divine calling solely on the pretense that the Holy Spirit will teach them. In those cases vocational ministry becomes their educator and the Holy Spirit becomes their Comforter. There is no ministry without preparation, both structured and hands-on.

            Jesus discloses what the Holy Spirit teaches: “Will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” He teaches and reminds. He imparts knowledge and brings back from memory things previously learned.

            A follower of Jesus is forever a student and life is the classroom. No one will ever have enough “gray hairs” to indicate they have nothing more to learn.

            Jesus declares the motivation of His teaching is peace of mind. The Lord does not want you troubled or fearful.

            Three lessons are included in the teaching package of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit teaches the meaning of “Christian”

            The book of Acts states the name Christian was first used in the town of Antioch. The term eventually became institutionalized and causes many to misunderstand the importance of an intimate relationship with God.

            The title “Christ” expresses Jesus as the Anointed One, meaning ministering in the fullness of the Spirit’s power. The Holy Spirit teaches how to be people passionately abiding in the fullness of God.

            Regularly ask yourself: “Am I passionate for a cause or for the Christ? Those looking at me (and you are looked at all the time), are they seeing a promoter of Christ or a promoter of a cause? Do I accurately represent Jesus? Is my life revealing genuine Christlike transformation? Through divine power and passion do I reflect the Prince of peace?” The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit elevates a passion for the Lord Jesus.

            I often encounter people impassioned for causes – fighting corruption and injustice, supplying humanitarian aid, alleviating suffering, combating contagious diseases, addressing human trafficking and enslavement, protecting defenseless victims from abuse and death, vigorously defending private and home education against public. Without minimizing innumerable causes, I only wish many of these same people would be more passionate about Jesus, and better represent Him in their approach to social ills and personal concerns.

            People are more turned off by religious zeal than by the passionate pursuit of God, by those attending church allowing slow results and pent-up frustrations to create reprehensible feelings and repulsive actions. Anyone seeking truth quickly loses interest in God when witnessing tunnel vision pursuits and poor behavior. Christ-centered enthusiasm must have precedence in order for others to experience life-change.

            The Pentecostal Movement is not identified as much for mission as for passion to fulfill the mission. The mission of the church is making disciples and those full of the Holy Spirit are known for passionately revealing Jesus to a sin-sick world. If the mission fails, the reason will not be a lack of strategy but a lack of passion.

            The Holy Spirit has come to teach the meaning of living passionately for Jesus.

The Holy Spirit teaches the Kingdom of God

            Everyone builds a kingdom. The question is whose kingdom is being built? Unfortunately some build their own. They ultimately will be disappointed. The Holy Spirit has come to teach how to establish and abide in the Kingdom of God.

            What is in the final design of God’s realm? “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17 ESV)

            Many live with the “cares of this world.” The Holy Spirit teaches you to “not be anxious for tomorrow….” (Matthew 6:34)

            Jesus said, “…do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it…. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:29, 32)

            Jesus also said, “…do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.” (Luke 12:4)

            Many occupied with living for the moment need to be taught the power of God’s sovereignty. God reigns in righteousness, peace and joy. They are inner related.

            Righteousness – a right standing before God being given, not earned. Decisions are no longer based on what is commonly practiced by others or what is socially acceptable. They are based on truth, what is right and what is good. In Kingdom righteousness people do not live restrained by the law of the land. They are motivated in Christ toward ethical behavior.

            Peace – the result of being right with God. Everyone hopes and seeks for an end to human conflict and suffering. Kingdom peace is not dependent on circumstances or situations. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, not as the world gives.” When in a right standing with God what is there to fear?

            Joy – the result of having peace with God. Kingdom joy helps you see beyond circumstances and into the face of Jesus. Distressful conditions easily act as barriers, an obstacle or a wall distracting you from seeing Christ. When they succeed you are robbed of joy. If you look above inevitable traumatic situations, you will see His face and joy will return. Just ask Stephen! (Acts 7:54-60)

            The Holy Spirit has come to teach you the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit teaches how to communicate God’s story

            Luke records, “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12 ESV)

            Peter writes, “…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

            Paul writes, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6 ESV)

            Paul also writes, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God….” (Ephesians 4:29-30 ESV)

            The book of Acts gives witness of the actions of the early church:

            Peter seizes the opportunity caused by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and three thousand people become believers. A simple fisherman newly empowered by the Holy Spirit communicates the Good News. (Acts 2:37-41)

            Peter seizes the opportunity caused when a lame man is healed and the church grew by at least another two thousand. When defending his actions the testimony was, “they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

            Stephen seizes an opportunity and the narrative states, “These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.” (Acts 6:9-10)

            Paul seizes the opportunity when presenting his case to King Agrippa and is told, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28)

            The Holy Spirit teaches how to effectively use any circumstance to communicate God’s story. A believer should study Scripture and pray continuously to gain a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit who teaches how to seize the opportunity and maximize the moment.

            I have some clearly thought out convictions about abstinence from alcoholic beverages. This is often debated in various religious circles. Years ago a young college couple brought the issue up in conversation. Their primary argument was from the book of Proverbs, which indicates drunkenness and gluttony are equally wrong.  Church people constantly overeat so drinking should not be considered any more wrong than eating too much.

            Sensing a quickening in my soul I seized the opportunity and responded, “The difference is the outcome. We never hear of a wife being beaten or someone being killed in a car accident by a person eating too much but hear of this happening frequently because someone drank too much.” Without condoning gluttony, they cannot be viewed equally.

Teacher

            The divine Enabler, Helper and Teacher is available to those having faith in God. He teaches how to be an anointed and passionate follower of Jesus, He teaches how to establish and abide in the Kingdom of God, and He teaches how to seize the opportunity for communicating God’s story. His teachings lead to greater peace and inward calmness, eradicating any sense of trouble and fear.

            Do you fear world events? Are you overwhelmed by life and feeling hopeless? The age of mass media develops an overwhelming environment. Excessive information sometimes causes alarm – frightening and scary. Television news can leave a person depressed. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. He teaches the promises of God and gives hope for the future. Divine peace is available only through Him.