The Spirit’s working
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
The Holy Spirit resides in the lives of every believer to provide clear understanding on how to live a godly life. He is there to convict us when we are not living right before God. From the text, the apostle Paul warned Christians not to douse water on the fire the Spirit produces by not yielding to His leading. We drench the fire He can produce in our lives when we ignore His working within us. We suppress His power when we allow our selfish desires to prevail. He is in us to convict us of our shortcomings, to set us following God’s will, and to remind us that there is consequence if we will not submit to Him (John 16:8). We stifle His working in our life when we let His voice gets drowned by the noise of the world. He wants to produce in us the attitudes and grace that characterized the life of Christ (see Galatians 5:22-23). When we become insensitive to His convictions through the Word of God, we become vulnerable to shallow teachings. “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” (Colossians 2:8). The Holy Spirit came to reside in us so He could teach us the truth of God’s word. “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth” (John 14:17). The word of God was given to us to strengthen, comfort, and encourage the church (1 Corinthians 14:3-7). It was also given to convict sinners of their sin so they will turn to God for repentance (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). When we refuse to let the word of God convict us and effect the change the Holy Spirit wants to produce in us we grieve Him. We need to listen and be receptive to God’s Spirit. But we are also warned not to be gullible in accepting everything we hear claiming a divine authority. Instead, we have to “test everything that is said.” Paul included himself to such scrutiny by the church. We have a responsibility on what we accept and what we reject when claimed to be God’s teachings. And as Paul said, such scrutiny will help us discern what is good and what is evil. Once tested, hold on to what is good and shun what is evil. The good retained will shape how we live our lives for His glory.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
