BEING TAUGHT BY JESUS
Have you been taught by Jesus in your secret closet of
prayer? Have you sought Him for things you can't get from books or
teachers? Have you sat quietly in His presence, waiting to hear His
voice? The Bible says all truth is in Christ. And He alone can impart it
to you, through His blessed Holy Spirit.
A question may now arise in your mind: "Isn't it dangerous to open my mind to a still, small voice? Isn't that why so many Christians get into trouble? The enemy comes in and mimics God's voice, telling them to do or believe some ridiculous thing—and they end up deceived. Isn't the Bible the only voice we're supposed to heed? And isn't the Holy Spirit to be our only teacher?"
Here is what I believe on this matter:
A question may now arise in your mind: "Isn't it dangerous to open my mind to a still, small voice? Isn't that why so many Christians get into trouble? The enemy comes in and mimics God's voice, telling them to do or believe some ridiculous thing—and they end up deceived. Isn't the Bible the only voice we're supposed to heed? And isn't the Holy Spirit to be our only teacher?"
Here is what I believe on this matter:
- Like the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is a distinct, living, powerful, intelligent, divine person in Himself. He is not a person of flesh, but of spirit, a personality in His own right. And He rules the Church. He brings divine order, comforts the hurting, strengthens the weak, and teaches us the riches of Christ.
- Scripture calls the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Son: "God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts" (Galatians 4:6). He is also known as the Spirit of Christ: "What manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them" (1 Peter 1:11). "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). It is clear that the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ are one and the same. Christ is God, and the same Spirit emanates from both. The Holy Spirit is the essence of both Father and Son, and is sent by both.
- There is a way we can be protected from deception during deep, searching prayer. Our protection is in waiting. The voice of the flesh is always in a hurry. It wants instant gratification, so it has no patience. It is always focused on self rather than the Lord, always seeking to rush us out of God's presence.