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THE HOLY SPIRIT: TEACHER, LOVER

“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 said to you.”
(John 14:26)

  The truly remnant heart has quit wearying itself with speculations concerning the truth of God. It has had enough of the emptiness of religious reasoning, tracking and tracing the many connections of truth with truth in the study of the Bible. God has clearly told us that the natural man is disqualified to receive the things of the Spirit. A natural man can reason with perfect logic and accuracy about the things of God, but he cannot possibly receive or discern Divine things unless the Holy Spirit enlightens the heart. For this reason, the true seeker after God does not trust his own mind or resources when He comes to the Book of God; He has been taught by God Himself, that only God can reveal God. He must trust the Holy Spirit to be the teacher.

It has been my holy habit for many years now, to approach God and His Word in the spirit of childlike dependence upon the Holy Spirit. I know I cannot behold the Lord in the Scriptures unless the Holy Spirit graciously unveils the Lord Jesus to me. I trust Him to teach and instruct my heart.

Recently, the Lord greatly humbled my heart as I routinely offered my prayer of trust, that the Holy Spirit would be my Teacher as I studied the Bible to know the Lord Jesus. I came to Him that morning as I ever came. I had a notebook before me on my desk so that I could write down any insights that might flash in my mind. My glasses were raised on my head and a pen was resting behind my right ear as I bowed my head in prayer. I was coming to the Lord as His humble student; I was asking Him to be my Teacher. I did not entertain the slightest doubt that He would answer my prayer!

I do not want to communicate to you the idea that I heard God literally speak to me in an audible voice. Not at all! But I do believe that the Lord guided my thoughts as I prayed to Him. I was clearly coming to Him as a student. I desired Him to be my spiritual Teacher. In my mind I imagined this conversation: “Ed, you have asked Me to be your Teacher! I will certainly grant that request. I desire with an infinite longing to reveal the Lord Jesus to your heart. Yes, Ed, I will be your Teacher, but you cannot be my student! There must be more to our union than a teacher-student relationship. I am more than a Teacher; I am a Lover! A loving parent desires to teach the beloved child many things. The parent is constantly teaching. When the parent introduces the child to a friend, does the parent say, “I would like you to meet my student?” No! The Teacher is more than a teacher and the student is more than a student. If you desire to be taught of God, Ed, you must come to Me as my dear child. Then I will gladly be your Teacher.”

Even before I read a verse of Scripture that day, my heart was wonderfully warmed by the thought that I had a personal relationship with my Teacher.

Do not fail to trust the Lord for His light when you study the Bible. He desires to be your Teacher and unveil the Lord Jesus in a transforming way to your heart. He is your Teacher but you are far more than His student.