I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
John 16:12–15 KJV
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things… the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
1 John 2:20–27 KJV
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual… For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:9–16 KJV
We have a Teacher greater than all other teachers that have ever graced the earth! His name is the Holy Ghost. He wrote a Book, greater than any other book that has ever been written. It is called the Bible.
His Book is not like any other book in existence. To study the Bible is different from studying a maths or science textbook. We are not just looking to fill our heads with more information. When we study this Book we are changed by its truths, transformed by it precepts, enlightened, strengthened, delivered, emboldened, encouraged and set free by its teachings.
Paul the Apostle pulls no punches when he says in 2 Corinthians 3:6 that “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” We need the Holy Ghost to lead us, enlighten our minds and make the words on the page become living truths in our heart. As you approach the Bible, always ask Him to help you understand what is written there. Lean into Him for revelation.
A Teacher Who Leads
The Holy Ghost is not like an ancient professor with a stern face, dryly delivering reams of useless facts. Turn now in your Bibles to the book of John, Chapter 16, and look at verses 13-15. Jesus is speaking:
However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
John 16:13-15
The Holy Ghost, who is the Spirit of Truth, will ‘guide’ us into the full revelation of the things of God. The goal of our Bible study should be greater intimacy with God. We want to KNOW HIM more, not just KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM. That is why He has given us a personal Tutor to guide us. Romans 8:14 says that the “sons of God are led by the Spirit of God.”
Nehemiah 9:20 reveals the same truth:
“Thou givest also Thy Good Spirit to instruct them…”
The Holy Ghost is given as our Instructor, our Teacher. As we become aware of His Presence during our study times, He will highlight passages of scripture, and guide us to the right places in the Bible. I see it a bit like this: as we sit at our desk, He is there beside us, pointing out what He wants to teach us at that time. He speaks quietly to our hearts, saying such things as, “Look up such and such a scripture”, or, “Find out what that word means”, or “Remember that passage we looked at last week, here is the answer to the questions you were asking.”
Study times become an experience of deepening relationship.
Ask Him questions as you read. If there is a passage that you find difficult, tell Him so. Rejoice together when something sparks in your spirit. Tell Him if you are excited about a particular truth, and ask Him to reveal more to you (after all, He is called ‘The Spirit of wisdom and revelation” in Ephesians 1:17). Invite the Wonderful Holy Spirit to come and teach you at the beginning of each session together with His Word.
Truly, what better commentator could we possibly have, but the Author Himself!
The scripture says in 2 Peter 1:21:
“Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
