OUR HEAVENLY 1 HELPER

Transcription

1 1 OUR HEAVENLY HELPER

2 From the Author Meet with God an official publication of Back to the Bible Copyright 2008 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in the U.S.A. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. STAFF: Editorial Assistance: Allen Bean, Ben Zuehlke, Kathy Thorne, Emily Wurl Design: Brandy Griffin Produced with the assistance of The Livingstone Corporation ( Project staff: Neil Wilson Cover Photo: Meet with God is produced 12 times per year and sent with no obligation. BACK TO THE BIBLE P.O. Box Lincoln, NE It wasn t that long ago that Americans those in California particularly were reminded of the incredible destructive potential held in a single spark. Wildfire is the term used to describe the inferno that, once started, was almost impossible to contain. In this month s Meet with God we consider the awesome power of a similar spark sent by God the Holy Spirit. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2 4). But while an actual wildfire is destructive in nature, the Holy Spirit of God restores and rebuilds; He restores us to a right relationship with our Father God through faith and rebuilds our lives shattered by sin. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, was sent to be our guide. By the leading of the Holy Spirit, the early apostles were able to accurately record the words of Jesus. That same Spirit interacts with you and me today as we read those words, teaching us how to live and showing us the mind of Christ. The Holy Spirit has much to teach you about Himself this month, so let s begin! 2 3

3 Your Study y Companionp This week, pause and acknowledge the Holy Spirit each time you pick up your Bible. READIT John 16:1 15 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 (John 16:13). The disciples knew something was about to happen. They could feel it in their bones. It troubled their hearts. Minutes before, Jesus had touched those fears directly when He said, Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me (John 14:1). Jesus gave them two reasons not to be troubled: He was not abandoning them, He had work to do elsewhere (vv. 2 3), and He was leaving behind a built-in Counselor. He said, And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (vv ). Jesus gave us two parallel promises the promise of a heavenly home and the promise of a heavenly Helper. During the Last Supper, Jesus had a lot to say about the work of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Counselor would have a special role according to Jesus words. He said, These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 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 things that I said to you (vv ). The Holy Spirit did carry out His immediate primary task in bringing about the writing of the New Testament. He helped those men recall and record what Jesus said (2 Pet. 1:21). Now the Holy Spirit continues His guiding, teaching and indwelling role. His tool is the Word of God. That tool can be light (Ps. 119:105), food (Heb. 5:12 14), scalpel (Heb. 4:12) or sword (Eph. 6:17) for us. Believers grow by leaps and bounds when they stop thinking of the Bible as a book they have and begin thinking of the Bible as God s Word that has them. They become the people of the Book and in the Book. They carry the Bible as a living document that God s Spirit uses to speak truth into their lives. They anticipate what God has for them on those pages. Troubled hearts or not, the way into God s presence leads through His Word. And He has provided a reliable companion to guide every step of the way. 4 5

4 CONSIDERIT What reason did Jesus give for all the things He told the disciples during the Last Supper? APPLYIT Read this short passage from John 16, again, asking yourself the question, As Jesus follower, what do these verses say about His expectations of me in response to the Holy Spirit s indwelling presence? Start with, He expects me not to go astray. What difference does it make to think of the Scriptures as the place where I meet the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide me? EXPRESSIT Perhaps because we are surrounded by books, we might be tempted to treat the Bible like just any other book. What we think and how we prepare ourselves each time we open God s Word has a lot to do with our openness to God s message. Think of a brief prayer that would express your heartfelt desire to listen to and obey God each time you open your Bible. Write that prayer down on a card; put it inside your Bible s front cover and develop the habit of approaching God s Word prayerfully. 6 7 AS YOU READ JOHN 16:1 15, REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: What specific roles does the Holy Spirit carry out in the world according to Jesus? How does Jesus description of the Holy Spirit s role encourage you? In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit s work in your life?

5 Walking According to the Spirit REMEMBERIT 1. What will people, thinking they are offering a service to God, do to the disciples? 2. Who did Jesus promise would come after He went away? 3. In addition to sin and judgment, the Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers (the world) concerning what? 4. According to Jesus, why would the disciples no longer be able to see Him? 5. Who would guide the disciples into all the truth? SEEKIT GO DEEPER INTO YOUR STUDY OF THIS WEEK S LESSON. The Bible: 2 Timothy 3: Peter 1:16 21 Answers: 1. Kill them (John 16:2); 2. The Helper/Counselor (John 16:7); 3. Righteousness (John 16:8); 4. He was going to the Father (John 16:10); 5. The Spirit (John 16:13) READIT Romans 8:1 39 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:1). This week, remember a time the Holy Spirit has kept you moving forward spiritually. This week s key verse stands among the most powerful, life-changing passages in all of the Bible. Countless people have heard these words as God s powerful command swinging open the door and inviting them to walk out into the light of freedom. When we make the decision to live our lives for Christ, we find new possibilities for hope where before there was only hopelessness. In Romans 8, we see at least six of these possibilities. First, we discover we are surrounded by a new family made up of brothers and sisters in Christ. Next, we realize our life s destination has changed, and we are filled with anticipation rather than dread. Third, we discover that living according to the Spirit isn t a set of rules but a dynamic relationship with our indwelling traveling companion. Fourth, our journey is filled with promises, like 8 9

6 CONSIDERIT In what ways do I identify with the issue of condemnation in my life and what do I do about it? AS YOU READ ROMANS 8:1 39, REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: What new possibilities do I see in my life because I m now walking according to the Spirit? What are my personal danger signs for when I m tending to live by my own wisdom and efforts? What is the most significant truth I ve learned as a result of reading Romans 8? constant encouraging roadside signs. Fifth, our pace and direction are under the control of Someone who really knows the way. And sixth, we can t help but develop a quiet sense of confidence as we live by the Holy Spirit. All of this reminds us of the two paths we can take according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. If we insist on continuing to live according to the flesh, by our own wisdom and efforts, our journey will take us right back into the darkness and captivity of sin. Instead of new possibilities, we will face the old certainties of loneliness, hopelessness and purposelessness. The other, according to the Spirit, is the journey we were designed to experience. The apostle John described it well when he wrote, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Do we stumble sometimes? Yes. Do we fall sometimes? Yes. And when we do, Satan is quick to say, You ve failed! To which we respond, Sorry, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps us up, and we keep moving forward. All these traits flow and grow out of intimacy with God. They express joy and reinforce joy. They are part of God s plan to grow us up spiritually. APPLYIT Your schedule today might take you to many places, but everywhere you go will be an opportunity to live by your own will or live in obedience to the Spirit in you. Which will it be? As you think about your day, ask God to help you realize what it will take to live for Him everywhere you go. EXPRESSIT Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding me of Your constant companionship by Your Spirit in me. Help me not to lose the view of all the new horizons that trusting You has brought into my life. Thank You for continually whispering to me that I am a child of God. What a difference to know that I face no condemnation because I rest in You! 10 11

7 APPLY IT Most of the physical landmarks that we deal with are part of a long-standing but not eternal creation. But the truth of God s Word stands for time and eternity. The directions God provides (even the painful ones) give us a dependable route and effective rules for living. If we ve got God s eternal landmarks in mind, we ll adopt a pilgrim mindset, never thinking of this world as our permanent home. We will make it a habit to check God s landmark presence every day for correction and encouragement. And we will live by those instructions we find chiseled in the landmark of God s Word. EXPRESS IT Proverbs is filled with short landmark statements that provide us with food for thought and reflection each day. Choose one of the proverbs from today s reading, and express it in a prayer. Ask God to keep bringing His words of direction to mind throughout the days of your journey ahead. REMEMBERIT 1. In addition to life, a mind controlled by the Spirit leads to what? 2. A person does not belong to Christ if they don t have what? 3. As sons and daughters, we have not received the spirit of bondage to fear, but the Spirit of what? 4. From where does Christ intercede for us? 5. Through Christ s love for us, we are more than what? SEEKIT GO DEEPER INTO YOUR STUDY OF THIS WEEK S LESSON. Hope: Lamentations 3: John 3:1 3 Forgiveness: Psalm 86:1 7 Colossians 2:13 15 Answers: 1. Peace (Rom. 8:6); 2. The Spirit (Rom. 8:9); 3. Adoption (Rom. 8:15); 4. The right hand of God (Rom. 8:34); 5. Conquerors (Rom. 8:37) 12 13

8 Access to Wisdom This week, take advantage of the fact that God s Spirit has graciously given you access to His Word. Read your Bible each day this week. READIT Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God (1 Cor. 2:12). What is remarkable about Paul s Corinthian ministry is that he shifted focus from reaching the Jews to reaching the Gentiles (Acts 18:6). He did this out of his desire to follow the leading of God s Spirit. Paul s first trip to Corinth came after his visit to Athens (Acts 17 18). Verse 1 in this study s reading recalls, when I came to you (1 Cor. 2:1). Some scholars suggest that Paul may have been discouraged by the lack of response in Athens. He had matched wits with the philosophers but few of them had been brought to faith in Christ. So, he arrived in Corinth intent on sticking to the simple Gospel. He writes, For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). 1 Corinthians 2:1 16 This lesson s key verse speaks about the things that have been freely given to us by God. God s Spirit has graciously given us access to His Word. And although the Bible is abundantly available to us, many of us take little time to know it well. Because we are not steeped in the authentic teaching of Scripture, we have a difficult time discerning what is false or counterfeit. It s easy for us to say, This is God s will, when we really mean, This is my will. That is why we need to exercise a healthy reliance on God s Word and a healthy caution when it comes to our plans and perspectives. A spirit of submission to God s Word is one of the most powerful inoculations against getting caught up in the spirit of the world and losing the values that God would want us to have. Does God get the last word, or do we (our group) get to decide what God s Word means to us? In Paul s day, believers only had the first installment of God s Word the Old Testament. Now we have the whole revelation. As we will see, Paul kept sending his Corinthian friends back to God and His Word for guidance over divisive issues. We have even more reasons to do the same

9 CONSIDERIT How does Paul explain spiritual wisdom in these verses? AS YOU READ 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1 16, REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: What are the sources of spiritual wisdom to which Paul refers? What does it mean to have the mind of Christ (v. 16)? How has having access to God s Word made a difference in your life? APPLYIT The world s wisdom says, Trust yourself, and doubt God and His Word. The world s wisdom echoes the Book of Judges, In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judg. 21:25). A shared allegiance to God and His Word won t eliminate disagreements but will give us a sure standard beyond our personal opinion to settle matters. EXPRESSIT As you pray, quote Proverbs 3:5 6 slowly and turn the verses into an expression of your confidence in God and His Word: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths

10 The Work of the Spirit REMEMBERIT 1. Where did Paul want the Corinthians faith to rest? 2. What did God decree before the ages for our glory? 3. Who is it that comprehends the thoughts of God? 4. What kind of person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God? 5. What kind of person judges all things yet is not judged by anyone? SEEKIT GO DEEPER INTO YOUR STUDY OF THIS WEEK S LESSON. Paul in Corinth: Acts 18:1 17 Answers: 1. In the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5); 2. The wisdom of God (1 Cor. 2:7); 3. The Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:11); 4. The natural person (1 Cor. 2:14); 5. The spiritual person (1 Cor. 2:15) READIT 1 Thessalonians 1:1 10 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake (1 Thess. 1:5). This week, ask a friend to share how they have seen the Holy Spirit working in your life. God is at work in the world. The Gospel is more than words. It has life-transforming power and an assurance that is the evidence of the Holy Spirit s activity within us. Paul planted a church in Thessalonica around A.D. 49. The Gospel was well-received by many in the city, but others saw their power and prestige threatened by the message so, they drove Paul out. He had to leave the Good News in the hands of people who had only recently heard it themselves. He entrusted them as young believers both to keep the faith and share it. Months later, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the church. He returned to Paul with a glowing report. The 18 19

11 CONSIDERIT How are these verses a glimpse of God the Threein-One at work? AS YOU READ 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1 10, REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: In what ways does Paul use faith, hope and love to describe the lives of believers? How easy was it for the Thessalonians to become believers (v. 6)? Describe one way you have passed on the Gospel to someone else. believers were standing firm. Paul could write to them the encouraging news that their faith was having a wide effect. Their example was being used to strengthen other believers and bring many others to faith in Christ. They had proven themselves worthy of trust. Everywhere Paul looked he saw examples of the Gospel at work, sometimes arriving ahead of his team, readying people to respond to the invitation to trust Christ. (See 1 Thess. 1:8.) These events later caused Paul to tell the Romans I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation (Rom. 1:16). Imagine a conversation between you and the person who first introduced you to Jesus. How long has it been? More important, what has happened since that encounter? If you became a follower of Jesus, you were entrusted with His presence in your life. What kind of host have you been? When others have passed through your life, have you introduced them to your most important guest? APPLYIT Think of the Gospel as the truth by which you live. Think of it as a trust you have been given to share with others. And think of it as a task you can carry out with God s help. The world is looking for answers. No, they don t always receive the Gospel with open arms, but Christians who share are delighted with how readily many do turn to Christ. Look for a way to share Christ with someone this week. EXPRESSIT The apostle Paul prayed for people before he spoke to them and after he spoke to them. A good starting place for evangelism is praying for the people we know who don t know Christ. Heartfelt prayer for another will often loosen our lips to share with them

12 REMEMBERIT 1. Who, besides Paul and Timothy, wrote this letter to the Thessalonians? 2. How frequently does Paul give thanks to God regarding the Thessalonians? 3. What came to them in power and in the Holy Spirit? 4. The Thessalonians were examples to believers in what two regions? 5. Who delivers from the wrath to come? SEEKIT GO DEEPER INTO YOUR STUDY OF THIS WEEK S LESSON. Paul in Thessalonica: Acts 17:1 9 Witnessing: Matthew 9:35 38 Acts 1:6 11 Answers: 1. Silvanus (1 Thess. 1:1); 2. Always (1 Thess. 1:2); 3. The Gospel (1 Thess. 1:5); 4. Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thess. 1:8); 5. Jesus (1 Thess. 1:10) 22 23

13 Get to know the Holy Spirit through this deeply spiritual and warmly evangelical book. Dr. Torrey first carefully describes who the Holy Spirit is and how you can come to know Him as a person an ever-present, loving friend and mighty helper who is always with you. Then he goes on to describe the work of the Spirit in the world and in the lives of Christians. Find a fresh understanding of the Holy Spirit and gain a renewed desire for the rich blessings you can realize through Him. Order your copy of The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit today. # *includes shipping $15 * $19 * (U.S.) (Canada) SEE BELOW FOR ORDERING INFORMATION! Back to the Bible is a worldwide ministry dedicated to leading people into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. Using radio, the Internet and other media, we share the Gospel message and help Christians grow to spiritual maturity. With broadcasts in 25 languages and an Internet reach to millions, Back to the Bible teaches the Word and touches the world. Contact us for ordering information: BACK TO THE BIBLE P.O. Box 82808, Lincoln, NE BACK TO THE BIBLE - CANADA P.O. Box 10, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2G