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

The Signs of Drifting..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Signs of Drifting

Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 2:1-3

Regularly gathering in the house of the Lord with brothers and sisters in Christ provides an "anchor" of support and accountability. But skipping church in order to pursue other interests is an obvious sign that a believer has begun to drift away from God. Less apparent are the men and women who mentally skip the worship service. The act of attending means nothing unless we make a deliberate decision to receive God's Word and apply it to our life. As the writer of Hebrews warned, if we do not pay attention to what we have heard, we will drift away from it (2:1).

However, Sunday morning is not the only time for receiving a steady diet of nourishing principles and encouragement from the Bible. We should be in its pages every day, reading and meditating for ourselves. When our interest in what God has to say decreases, we're already slipping out into troublesome waters. The only way to keep our way pure is by following His Word (Ps. 119:9).

If Bible reading is neglected, a prayer life has usually faded as well. Prayer is the way believers communicate with the Navigator. If we stop talking with Him, the God who once seemed so close soon feels far away. That chasm in our spirit is one more sign that we're far from shore and safety.

I've watched many a captain guide his cruise ship through a narrow channel. The crew members are intensely focused on their tasks because drifting means disaster. Life is full of narrow channels to navigate. We cannot afford to drift away from God and His Word. Only He can bring us safely through.

Learning to Rest in Christ..Emily Rose Massey

 Learning to Rest in Christ

By Emily Rose Massey

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7, NASB).

My husband has a remote position, so he works from home Monday-Friday. When he logs off for the day, he typically goes straight for his spot on the couch to kick up his feet. His workday is over, and it is now time to relax and rest for a little while before dinner is ready. He is a “worker bee” by nature, so he has had to practice this routine of relaxation and remind himself often that it is important to take breaks. I must admit that I struggle with this “go, go, go” mentality too and need to remember to rest. Sitting down is a position of rest. 

The Bible tells us that Jesus, our great High Priest, is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12, Mark 16:19). Before He had taken His final breath, he declared "it is finished" (John 19:30). He accomplished all the Father had asked of Him and paid in full all debt of sin. Jesus is now sitting because the work is finished. In His graciousness, He is now forever making intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25), but that is not an act of striving. The end has already been written- He has won the victory for us!

Did you know the Bible also says that we, as believers, are now seated with Christ? We can find that truth in Ephesians 2:

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7, NASB).

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Because of Christ's finished work on the cross that poured out God’s great mercy upon us, we no longer have to strive to earn God's love or forgiveness. We are forgiven! We are God's beloved children who receive His grace and mercy daily! This truth will echo into eternity as we see and experience His rich grace and love toward us forever. We have been given an inheritance in Jesus, our salvation, and abundant life forever joined with Him. We are seated in heavenly places with Him meaning that, like Christ, our striving is done, the work has been accomplished. Because we are in Christ, we receive the fruit of His labor of love. We can rest in that blessed assurance even as we serve Him.  Do you find yourself striving to earn God’s love and forgiveness on your walk with Him? We need the good news of our salvation to permeate our hearts every day to remind us that we did nothing to earn it and we can do nothing to keep it. It is all the work of Christ, the finished work of the cross. His grace is sufficient and powerful to both save and keep those who are His chosen children. His grace also empowers us to accomplish what He has called us to do here on earth. Your story of walking with Jesus is not about your works or what you can do to look more like Him in your own power or strength, it is about working with grace and allowing it to do its work in you and through you. The more you lean into His grace, the more you will see growth and maturity in your heart and life. Through this dependency on Him, this resting in Him, you will make Jesus famous and not your own name. God alone will receive all the glory that is due His name. Spend some time meditating on the truth found in Ephesians 2:4 and write down in your journal areas of your relationship with God where you are struggling with control issues and trusting God’s grace. Receive God’s fresh mercies today!

Further Reading:

• Matthew 11:28-30
• Ephesians 1:19-20
• Colossians 3:1-3

God Is All About Forgiveness..Anne Peterson

 God Is All About Forgiveness (Proverbs 17:9)

By: Anne Peterson

Today’s Bible Verse: Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. - Proverbs 17:9

The mood is tense. You were caught off guard, and before you know it your first thought is not to keep silent. You are not interested in praying before you respond, so instead, you react. And it’s not good. Has this ever happened to you?

God tells us to be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other, just as he forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). I think at times we have a different way of looking at forgiveness.

We sometimes make our decision to forgive based on the amount of hurt we experienced. A small offense is easier to forgive. But when something pierces our hearts, that’s another story. And yet, God tells us we are to forgive as he forgave us. That means we must forgive like he did. Did we deserve forgiveness? No, we didn’t. And yet, Jesus forgave us. We’re supposed to forgive as he did.

I remember a speaker once saying, “if you’re not sure you’ve forgiven someone, just imagine they are approaching you on the sidewalk. Would your heart welcome them, or would you rather cross over to the other side of the street?”

Sometimes we try to fool ourselves into believing we’ve forgiven someone when in reality, we’ve just pushed it out of our minds, or down inside of us. Pushing our emotions down doesn’t help. They will surface, and sometimes it’s not pretty when they do.

When we bottle up our feelings, we don’t get to sort them out nicely and prayerfully. Instead of choosing which words to say and which to hold back, they all push and shove each other, demanding to be heard.

Solomon was wise when he said a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1). Our words can be like gasoline on fire. We stand there watching the flames shoot up for feet above us. And while we attempt to justify our actions, God tells us to respond in love and to forgive.

Remember when Joseph was wrongly accused? He still chose to do what was right. And God honored Joseph’s decision. God worked it all together for good (Romans 8:28).

Time is a precious commodity. We can waste it, or we can let God show us how to redeem it. In the case of disagreements, we can be open to God showing us our parts.  We can ask God to soften our hearts as well as the hearts of those we hurt. He is more than willing to do that.

God is for unity, Satan is not. So when we are at odds with someone, the enemy is happy.

What is the answer?  When you are in the heat of a battle, breathe and send up a prayer to the Lord. As him to silence any word that will not be for the other person.

Pray that God will show you how you can be more loving.

When we care more about the other person than we do about our own feelings, we are moving in the right direction. God tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility to consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

Whenever we are planning what we will say next, we are focused on ourselves. The thing is, I am not responsible for what the other person says, but I AM responsible for the words that come out of my mouth.

I don’t believe we can truly forgive apart from the Lord. We get in the way too much. We try to justify our own actions. Maybe because we care more about us, or about being right.

If we commit our interactions to God, the Holy Spirit will show us where we need to be more loving, more forgiving. And then we have a choice. Will we choose to hold onto our hurt, to store it away with others? Or will we forgive as we were forgiven? When God forgave us, it was totally.

God will give us grace for our interactions with others because God loves unity. And God is all about forgiveness. He really is.

A Prayer to Stack Stones..Jessica Van Roekel

 A Prayer to Stack Stones

By Jessica Van Roekel

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." - Psalm 77:11, ESV

“Bring a rock the size of your fist,” the voice on the phone instructed. In an instant, I was eight again, walking ankle-deep in the lake, searching for another rock to add to my collection. The lake represented my happy place where smiles graced faces, imaginations took flight, and time together translated into love. I collected pink-speckled rocks, semi-opaque white ones, and smooth skipping stones. They were more than pebbles to walk on. They were the foundation of memories that carried me through an unsettled childhood. And then they were gone.

Even as a middle-aged woman, I still think about my rock collection and wonder during which of the many moves in my childhood it was lost. Losing the collection hasn’t deterred me though. I still collect rocks. Only now they are small enough to fit in my pocket, and half fill a clear glass on my desk. I’m still on the hunt for more rock memories, but I didn’t have the requested fist-sized rock. The voice went on to ask me to bring it to Sunday morning service with what God means to me written on it.

There’s a song I play on repeat because it reminds me of my rock collection and the value of remembering. If I don’t remember I can lose sight of God’s faithfulness when I’m in the middle of deep trouble. If I don’t recall good past events, hard current events overwhelm me and rob my hope. The storms of life can cause us to doubt if God is even there at all, but there are some steps we can take to reset our focus.

Psalm 77 is a psalm we can turn to when we desperately wonder if God hears our cries for help. The psalmist expresses his heart with vulnerability and helps us give words to our emotions too. There are times when we have no words except groans because of our breaking heart. We can follow the psalmist’s example. He led himself to search his memory for God’s favor and delight in his life. And in the remembering he found hope and peace. We can do the same.

It's important to stack stones of remembrance of what God has done in our lives. It’s amazing how we can forget how God answered a desperate prayer for help or gave us supernatural strength to face a health risk. Sometimes though, our minds get so muddled with the daily struggles and anxieties that we can’t see God’s hand in our lives. That’s when we turn to the Bible and search out evidence of his faithfulness.

Abraham’s life demonstrates God’s faithfulness. He was faithful in Abraham’s life to lead him, to be his God, to fulfill the promise of a son in his old age, and then to provide a ram in place of his son on the stone altar on Mt. Moriah. Peter’s life shows the power of God’s faithfulness. Many times, Peter said the wrong thing and led with emotions instead of the truth of Jesus’ words. Much later, Peter preached to a huge crowd on the day of Pentecost and thousands turned their lives over to Jesus’ lordship. God is faithful.

Deuteronomy 6 tells to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and to tell of his words and to write them on the doorposts of our homes. This practice sets us up to remember and to see his unending faithfulness woven like a golden thread through our lives. To remember means we pay attention to when God gave us peace when we didn’t have any. It’s recalling the times when hope flooded our hearts when we felt despair. We can remember how God helped us over the last mountain we faced when we encounter another. These memories can encourage our hearts with evidence of God’s faithfulness.

There are twelve rocks stacked on a table at the front of my church’s sanctuary. Written on the rocks are words like protector, answers prayers, good, and strength. On my rock, I wrote faithfulness. Looking at my life, I can see God’s hand. He’s never left me, never forsaken me, but he’s always been present. He’s the whisper in the storm, the rock of my refuge, and the shadow where I hide.

Collect those rocks of remembrance of God’s faithfulness to you. Write them down so you can call them to mind when you wonder if God hears your cries. Stack stones and remember.

Let’s pray:

Holy God,
You are faithful and true. Forgive me when I doubt your goodness in my life. Forgive me when all I can see is the hard. Help me see you in the beauty of the sunrise and in the laughter of a child. Help me stack stones of remembrance so I can recall your faithfulness to me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen