MONDAY, MAY 1
1 Corinthians 2:11-16
John 16:13

"…we have received,
not the spirit of the world…"

THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR DIVINE TEACHER

Not only is the Holy Spirit the seal and earnest of the Christian’s salvation, He is also the believer’s divine teacher who will lead the believer into a right understanding of spiritual truth (1 Cor 2:13). "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).

The Bible is not like any human book. It is given by divine inspiration. The words of the Holy Scripture are God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16), and are thus spiritual words. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). Since the words of Holy Scripture are spiritual words, it is necessary therefore for man to have the Holy Spirit to understand the words. Paul explained it beautifully in 1 Corinthians 2:11. One cannot know what is going on in a man’s mind except for the spirit of that man. Similarly, no one can know the mind of God except the Spirit of God. Without the illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit, man cannot know the truth of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is the perfect Teacher of the truth! Many scribes spent their entire lifetime studying God’s Word. However, if they are not born again and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they will never come to a right understanding of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:7 applies to such men: "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Whenever we read God’s Word, we must pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us to understand His Word. We must never read God’s Word without depending upon God for illumination and comprehension. Neither must we be proud when we grow in our understanding of Scriptures. This understanding comes only from the Lord.

THOUGHT: Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to understand Thy Word, and keep me humble.