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Using Words Taught by the

Holy Spirit

Many in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ have become very intimidated by the human wisdom of this world. Thus, the church often behaves as though the world has most of the answers to the major needs and critical problems of mankind. Consequently, the people of God can become silent when questions arise concerning counseling or guidance or perspective on life. On the other hand, when we do speak, we frequently use “words which man’s wisdom teaches.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 reveals how wrong this approach is, as well as showing us God’s better way.

“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. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

The Spirit of the World

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world.” We who follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior have not received the spirit that animates and motivates the world of unsaved humanity. The spirit of the world involves a perspective focused upon things of self and earth and time. One primary question this viewpoint characteristically provokes is, “What is in it for me, here on this planet, now?”

The Spirit of God

“But (we have received) the Spirit who is from God.” We who know the Lord have received the Holy Spirit into our lives. When we repented of our sins and called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God came to dwell within us. The Spirit of the Lord is now our dynamic of spiritual life. The Holy Spirit draws our minds to matters of God and heaven and eternity. One essential question that He customarily stirs us to ask is, “What glory will God get in every situation of life, as we live for heaven and everlasting priorities?”

Knowing Things Freely Given

“The we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” One of the reasons that we have been given the Holy Spirit is that we might come to understand and to live by the provisions of God’s grace. The freely given things of God are what mankind desperately needs to experience. People must learn to live by that which they cannot deserve or earn or produce on their own. They must know of the freely given things of God. The Spirit of the Lord dwells in believers in order to teach us such realities, empower us to walk in them, and then enable us to share them with others.

Speaking of Things Freely Given

“These things we also speak.” Disciples of Jesus Christ are to speak of the gracious gifts of God. We have immeasurable divine treasures to offer others. To those who are not yet in God’s family, as well as to His struggling children, we can hold forth in His name forgiveness and hope and strength and abundant life. We should not lapse into an intimidated silence before the world’s sophisticated, but inadequate theories and philosophies.

Words of Man’s Wisdom

“Not in words which man’s wisdom teaches.” When we are speaking of the needs of humanity and of the necessary remedies, we are not to be using man’s earthbound vocabulary. The world speaks of dysfunctionalism and codependency and victimization and behavioral disorders and low self-esteem. They place their hopes in psychotherapy and recovery groups and self-help programs. These diagnostic terms fall short in describing man’s true problems. Likewise, the accompanying prescriptive forms lack the necessary resources to resolve man’s dilemmas.

Words of God’s Wisdom

“But which the Holy Spirit teaches.” The only words that are sufficient to both describe man’s spiritual predicament, as well as resolve it, are words taught to us by the Spirit of the Lord. Consider the precise and potent vocabulary that is revealed to us in the word of God regarding these matters. Concerning man’s deficiencies, the Spirit uses words like sin, separation, deadness, alienation, condemnation, and judgement. Concerning man turning to God’s resources, the Holy Spirit uses such terms as conviction, confession, repentance, and faith. Concerning the heavenly provisions of God, the Spirit uses terms like forgiveness, regeneration, justification, sanctification, transformation, and glorification. God certainly has a thoroughly profound, fully sufficient, and absolutely incomparable vocabulary!

God’s Spiritual Words

“Comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” Man’s needs are ultimately spiritual. Yet, his words betray his fleshly, humanistic mind-set. The best that man can suggest will never go deeply enough into the real issues of time and eternity. Only God can give us the spiritual terminology that relates spiritual remedies to spiritual problems.

Conclusion

God has abundantly provided for the needs of sinful, fallen, unrighteous, inadequate man. Let’s ask the Lord to reveal His glorious remedies to us by the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, unfolding God’s heavenly treasures as described in His word. Then, let’s look to the Lord for a growing walk personally in these realities. Furthermore, let’s ask the Lord to purge from our thinking and speaking the “words which man’s wisdom teaches.” Finally, let’s ask the Lord to use us to pass on to others God’s provisions that are available in Christ alone, using the matchless words “which the Holy Spirit teaches.”

(This article is adapted from the book How to Counsel God’s Way, by Bob Hoekstra.)