Being Taught by the Holy Spirit...Craig Denison Ministries

 Being Taught by the Holy Spirit

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As believers, we’ve been given the Holy Spirit as a Helper, Teacher, Friend, and seal for the promised inheritance of eternal life with God. His presence, guidance, and wisdom in our lives are our greatest gifts while here on earth. Through him we have access to direct connection with our heavenly Father. Through him we receive spiritual gifts to empower us. And through him we are able to bear the incredible fruit of abundant life. Open your heart and mind to all that the Holy Spirit would give you, show you, and lead you to this week.

Scripture:“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” 1 John 2:20

Devotional:    

We have in the Holy Spirit the same Teacher who faithfully breathed the perfect and practical words of Scripture to imperfect men across thousands of years. And Jesus said in John 14:26, “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.” Not only did the Holy Spirit teach the disciples, but he also longs to teach us. He longs to reveal to us the depths of God so that we might learn what it is to be a true follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He longs to show us the wisdom of God so that we might live as men and women inspired by God rather than fools who find their knowledge only in the matters of the world. Let’s open our minds and hearts to receive the wisdom that can only come from God himself in the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:10, “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” The Holy Spirit who dwells within us searches the depths of God and longs to reveal to us the ways of our heavenly Father. He longs to teach us what it is to be a lover of God in a world set in opposition to the ways of God. He longs to reveal to us the wisdom of God’s plans and show us the folly that comes from living for the world.

The Holy Spirit desires to be your Teacher today. The questions before you today are: are you willing to be his student? Are you willing to submit your understanding to the Holy Spirit and live in light of his teaching? Are you willing to appear foolish at times when the world doesn’t understand the wisdom of God? Are you willing to live wholeheartedly for the pleasure of your heavenly Father over the fleeting opinions of man? If you will open your heart and mind today to being taught by the Spirit, you will discover a wealth of truth that has the power to set you free from the bonds and burdens of this world. Scripture will begin to change your life as the Holy Spirit reveals to you how these words written thousands of years ago are entirely applicable to your life today.

Receiving the teaching of the Holy Spirit is as simple as submitting our lives to him one day at a time and making time to listen to him and study the word with him. As important and helpful as they are, we don’t have to be pastors, ministers, theologians, or scholars to understand what the Bible means. The Holy Spirit will be our teacher the way he was for the disciples. He will teach us how Scripture applies to our life and guide us into the way of truth. It’s incredibly important that we make time to study Scripture, but it’s equally important that we read the Bible along with the Spirit instead of apart from him. The Bible is a practical book meant to impact the lives of those who read it under the influence of the Spirit. It’s a manual for living life in the abundance of relationship with God, not a book to be read apart from the reality of God’s nearness. Scripture is meant to guide us into direct communication with our heavenly Father, not substitute real, direct relationship with him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Trust in the teaching of the Holy Spirit today. Lean on his wisdom instead of your own. Acknowledge the reality of his nearness in your life. And discover knowledge that has the power to fill you with abundant life.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the Holy Spirit’s desire to be your 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.” John 14:26

“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” 1 John 2:20

2. Choose to be a student of the Holy Spirit. Choose to follow what he reveals to you to be wisdom over the ways of the world. Choose his opinion over man’s.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” 1 John 2:27

3. Spend time studying Scripture with the Holy Spirit. Pray and ask the Spirit to reveal to you what wisdom he wants to show you. Ask him to show you the meaning of the words you are reading. Allow him to apply Scripture directly to your life.

“These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

We have perfectly powerful guidance in Scripture and the Holy Spirit. The pairing of God’s written word and the very God who authored the word have the power to lead us into a life of all wisdom, understanding, and revelation. But we must choose to live this life in light of eternity. We must choose success in heaven over success in the world’s eyes. Scripture and the teaching of the Holy Spirit only have power in our lives if we follow their leadership and principles. Choose today to be a doer of the word instead of a hearer only and discover freeing and empowering wisdom that has the power to transform your life.

Extended Reading: 1 John 2

When Prayer Is the Best Way To Help...LAURA BAILEY

 When Prayer Is the Best Way To Help

LAURA BAILEY

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

My phone buzzed, and immediately knowing who the text was from, I read the message, which contained more heartbreaking news.

Over the last few weeks, a dear friend had experienced a series of trials that left her physically exhausted, emotionally drained and spiritually defeated.

What more could I do for her?

Why weren’t things turning around?

At first, I felt honored and humbled that she would trust me enough to share her struggles, and I was hopeful that, with my help, eventually things would get better. Sincerely working with her toward a solution, or at the very least hoping to alleviate some of her stress, I delivered meals, offered to babysit her children and sent cards with encouraging notes. I rearranged my schedule to be available whenever she called.

Nonetheless, as the weeks passed, her circumstances didn’t improve. In fact, they worsened, making me wonder if there was more I should do to help.

Did I exhaust all my resources?

Maybe you, too, have felt like this after relentlessly working to help someone — depleted and discouraged when there's no evidence that the situation has improved.

God graciously allows us to be co-laborers in ministry, giving us the Holy Spirit to labor within and through us in Kingdom work. He encourages us to give to widows and orphans, (James 1:27) to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15) and to carry each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2)

However, sometimes we get caught up in relying on our own strength instead of calling on the power of Jesus. Upon reflection, perhaps I was guilty of spending hours on my feet “doing” for my friend without spending hours on my knees praying. I tended to use prayer as a last resort.

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10-17 warns Christians to be alert to the spiritual warfare raging all around us. Then he outlines the fundamental rule for engagement — put on the armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

Last but not least, he instructs, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).

Our key verse reveals three things about prayer:

• First, we are to “pray in the Spirit,” allowing God’s desires to become our own.
• Secondly, we are to pray continually, presenting our requests to our heavenly Father throughout the day. Prayer isn't a one-and-done act but a constant communication with the Lord.
• Lastly, we are to pray for the needs of “all the Lord’s people.”

When we see others in need, prayer should be our first response. The Lord never intended for us to carry the weight of the world on our own shoulders, to single-handedly heal every hurt or solve every problem. How comforting to know that when we are weak, He is strong! (2 Corinthians 12:10)

God never tires of bearing the burdens of His children, for He is all-powerful. In fact, He wants us to go to Him for strength, guidance, comfort and rest, not just for ourselves but for others as well.

While in these mortal bodies, we continue to experience the effects of sin: hardship, struggle, disappointment and pain, to name only a few. Notwithstanding, through faith in Jesus Christ, we have hope, for we aren’t alone; the same almighty power that raised Jesus from the grave is alive and works in and through us for His glory. (Romans 8:11)

Let’s be encouraged and not defeated in our mission to help those in difficult situations. Starting with prayer, as we submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading, we will be prepared to complete the good works Christ has prepared for us. (Ephesians 2:10)

Heavenly Father, what a blessing for Your children to be able to go to You in all circumstances! Thank You for bearing our burdens, for knowing and understanding our needs before we do. Help me to pray and wait for Your guidance when helping others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Things That Cannot Be Shaken...Dr. Charles Stanley

 Things That Cannot Be Shaken

Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 12:25-29

As a rule, people like security. We seek what is comfortable. Yet the reality of our world is that much instability exists. For example, finances, health, and even a country’s ability to survive are not guaranteed.

When our foundation is shaken, we often feel overwhelmed.  Sometimes Satan causes the difficulty—with God’s permission, of course. At other times, challenging circumstances are brought about by the Lord’s hand. Regardless of the source, we have the promise in Romans 8:28 that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” And in either case, the Almighty’s purpose remains: to glorify Himself in our world and in our lives.

There are different reasons the Lord permits turmoil, but for now, let’s focus on one: He won’t allow anything that enables man to seem self-sufficient in his own eyes. Therefore, God may lovingly allow enough trouble for us to realize our need of Him. Consider the trials the Israelites faced each time they turned away from Jehovah to worship other gods. In many ways, we do the same thing today. Individually, in our churches, and as a nation, we often glorify “gods” like money or status. But the One who created us will not tolerate this.

In our pride, we tend to think we’re able to manage without God. But out of love, He may stir up our lives to reveal our dependence upon Him. If you are basing your security on anything except Jesus Christ—even something as seemingly innocent as comfort—it will prove to be sinking sand.

If We Lived with God as Our Portion...By Cindi McMenamin

 If We Lived with God as Our Portion

By Cindi McMenamin

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6 NASB)

What do you consider your reward in life? A fulfilling career, satisfying relationships, or being able to find joy in the simple things in life? What about success, notoriety, or financial security?

The problem with those “rewards” is that we can often feel we are missing the mark when our expectations aren’t met. But when you and I adopt a mindset like some of the great men of faith in the Scriptures, we can funnel every circumstance in life, every disappointment, and even every miserable failure, through the grid of God being our portion and reward.

Consider Abraham, who waited years for God to deliver upon a promise to give him a son. Remember David the shepherd boy, psalmist, and giant killer who became Israel’s greatest king, but was also a fugitive for many years of his life. And consider Paul, who was shipwrecked, imprisoned, and beaten and left for dead several times. They all considered God as their portion – or reward in life – regardless of their circumstances.

What if you and I were to adopt the motto: “The Lord is my portion?” Our lives would look very different.

We would be content with our lives.

When the Lord is your portion, you are content and you know what it means to have enough. Instead of praying for more money, a bigger house, a better job, and a happier or more fulfilling life, you realize you have been abundantly blessed.

The writer of Proverbs 30:7-9understood God as His portion, when he said: “Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.” (NASB).

Are you content with what God has given you, realizing He sees what is best for you and knows what you can handle and what you can’t? If you see God as your portion, you will be.

We could surrender the need to succeed.

In Genesis 15:1, God told Abraham, “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

The Apostle Paul understood this “exceedingly great reward” in Christ when he said, “I consider everything (education, achievement, a spotless reputation, self-achieved righteousness) a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him…” (Philippians 3:8-9).

When we understand the worth of knowing Christ, we can surrender the need to succeed in our eyes and in the eyes of others. When He is our portion we find our reward and our worth in Him, not in anything the world offers. And we can say as David did in Psalm 16:1: “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

When you and I live like God is our inheritance, our share, and our reward, we also understand that nothing else compares to Him. We’ve won the prize.

A Prayer to Bring Back Honor...By Chelsey DeMatteis

 A Prayer to Bring Back Honor

By Chelsey DeMatteis 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2

In a culture that screams we need to honor the flesh, we as believers need to rein our hearts back to the truth of what God says about honoring, loving, and submitting to Him above all else. We serve a good God that desires good things for His children. While those "good" things are often laced with hard things, He lovingly sees us and stewards us through it all. He deserves our honor and praise.

While it seems hard to see the goodness of God while in the midst of difficulty, I believe it's one of the most important reasons why we must stay guarded by God's truth. For years of going through all kinds of things, these are scriptures that I've held tightly to.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” - Romans 12:2

For us to know what is good, pleasing, honorable, and perfect in the sight of God, we must have a personal relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. We can't love and honor someone if we don't know them. We can't trust the plans and provision of the Father if we know nothing about the character of His heart.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:26

We must die to self. Our flesh will always fail us. We are fragile and emotional beings that have been tainted by sin, and because of this, we often get bound to our feelings and allow them to trump God's truth. Keep your heart steadied here, GOD is the strength of our hearts, our portions forever.

“His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?” - Job 9:4 

If you've never spent time studying Job, this is a perfect season to do so. When we look at Job's life, we not only see the sovereignty of God on display in a powerful way, but we also see why we're called to be fully submitted before the Father. Trusting in His heart and remembering that all things are sifted through His hands.

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” - 1 John 5:2-4

Scripture makes it very clear to us that those who love God seek and desire to obey His commands, out of our LOVE and honor for Him. God gave us commands out of His deep love for His people, we should never look at them as burdens.

As Christ-followers we must be informed on what teachings in the world are contrary to the heart of the Father and how they go against His Word. If you're looking to research what some are, here are a few big movements today that clothe themselves as the "church", though they are not rooted in God's truth: Prosperity Gospel, Word of Faith movement, and Progressive Christianity.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27

To be submitted to the Lord means we follow Him. This means we no longer live in the limbo of wishing that what our flesh desired could be truth, it means we've now reconciled to the Lord that we live fully for Him. Tethered to His grace and mercy as we walk out conviction and sanctification. 

My prayer is that you and I will honor God by seeking to understand His heart for His people. As we grow in learning about His heart, reading His Word to see what He commands of us, and why He desires us to live fully surrendered to Him; we will see His loving correction and perfect guidance in all of our days.

Let’s Pray:

Lord, help me to seek your word no matter what my circumstances look like. Help me as I walk through hardship to still see your goodness. Draw me near and lead me by your still waters. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

Change Is Scary But the Lord Is with You... By Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

 Change Is Scary But the Lord Is with You 

By Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

If you are going to be honest, change can be scary. It is scary to leave a job and start a new one. It can be scary to leave your hometown and move to another one. It can be scary to start a new relationship, business, or ministry. If you want to talk about scary how about getting married and starting your own family. All these things have the potential to cause fear, anxiety, worry, or concern. Here is the good news for today; they don’t have to.

We often approach life in the moment. What I mean is we deal with the issues as they are happening. While we may have prepared to some degree, it is not until you are in the moment that you can truly deal with what you are facing. I got married in 2011 and seven months later I was laid off from a job and shortly thereafter I discovered my wife was pregnant. That’s an exciting first year of marriage. Part of the concern of getting laid off was medical benefits because I also have a son who has had an extensive history of medical issues, among them he is an 11-year leukemia survivor. I mention this to give God glory but to also know I remember how expensive his hospital stays were. These were some of my concerns as I was facing this life moment. However, here is the beauty of the story and the promise of this verse. In Deuteronomy we are told that the Lord himself goes before you. To understand the breadth of that statement, think of it in this light. Before you ever get to the situation in life you are about to face, God has already walked into it. Before you arrive, he has already worked it out. So much of life is unknown and this can cause fear and panic, however, God has already addressed your tomorrow and has made provision for it.

Let me show you how God did this in my situation. This will be the shortened version. When I got laid off in July my prior company offered to pay my health benefits until the end of September, as part of the severance package. Losing this job put me back in the job market. As I began looking, I saw an opportunity that I really felt would be a good fit for me and I decided to interview for it. In the shortened version of this story, I got the job. One day I will fill you in on all the other exciting details that led to this hiring. For now, in light of this verse, here is how God had gone before me. 

The company had already hired four other people for this position back in June. The owner of the company decided that he wanted to hire four more people, so they posted the job right around the time I was laid off and was beginning to look. By the way, had I not been laid off I probably would not have been looking for a job at that time. They interviewed a few people for the position, and they decided to only hire one more person, and I was that one. That is not the end of the story because remember one of my biggest concerns was medical benefits. I got hired in September. The benefits from my severance ended September 30 and the benefits for my new company started October 1. I did not miss one day and that is simply for one reason. The Lord himself had gone before me and prepared a way.

As you face the unknown in your life and things happen that catch you off guard, please know today these things have not caught God by surprise. He has already gone into your tomorrow, made a way and provision for it and he is waiting for you to arrive. Perhaps the best part of it all is the rest of this verse in Deuteronomy, he will be with you. He doesn’t just go before you and prepare for your tomorrow; he walks with you into it. He is walking with you now and is walking ahead of you into your future. Whether it is today or tomorrow he will be with you and will never leave you or forsake you.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
You never have to be afraid of what tomorrow holds because you know the One who holds tomorrow. Focus your attention on trusting God today and allow him to take care of all the other details.

Further Reading:

• Numbers 6:24-26