THE SPIRIT IS A TEACHER.
By H. F. PHELPS
THE Comforter, or Spirit of God, comes as a teacher. It teaches in comforting. It could not comfort except by teaching. This is so, for there is and ever will be comfort in the very things which it teacheth. "For he shall not speak of himself [there is no selfishness in the Holy Spirit; and that is just the reason that it can comfort]; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me; for he shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you." John 16:13, 14. Indeed, there is a blessed comfort in receiving those things, for they are all of Jesus. And we may be assured that he will never tell us anything that the Saviour did not say. It is for this reason that we can not believe that spirit which tells us that the first day of the week is the Christian sabbath, for Christ never taught it. And we may read still further: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things [So much so that we need not go to the Bible to learn what is therein revealed?—No, no. Listen!], and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26. Therefore we ask, What saith the Word of God concerning any doctrine that is presented by any man on earth? And there is a blessed comfort to that man or woman who will receive without question that which that Book does tell us, and receiving it act upon it. That Word is the Word of the Spirit. But how can that Spirit teach or comfort when we ignore that Word, or any part of it? How can it bring to our remembrance that which he has said unless we study to know and become familiar with that which Christ has spoken to us in that Word? Thus we see that the Word of God, spoken by Christ, and the prophets, and apostles, is the agency through which the Holy Spirit is to comfort the believer. This is so, for the Spirit does not work independently of itself, it is not selfish; for it takes of the things of Christ to give to those who will accept of the comfort which it has to give. A most wonderful lesson here for the believer, who is to comfort others by the same Word of God, given through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Never can a man give true comfort by any other means. "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63. Then let us open our hearts to receive the words of Christ in their fulness, and thus enjoy all the comfort which they so freely bestow. The Holy Spirit in Revelation.
We are not through with our subject yet. The more it is studied, the more it seems like an endless chain. "Secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deut. 29:29. Not only was the Holy Spirit the agency in the giving of that Word, giving to us the things that he has "revealed" "unto us and to our children" in that Word, but the very "spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" (Eph. 1:17), is given to us that we may understand that Word; for we can not understand him nor acknowledge him except through that Word; that Word must be in us. And this is accomplished in him. He has even put that Word within us. "But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the Word of faith, which we preach." Rom. 10:8. And so, the "word of faith" being given to us, and the "spirit of revelation and wisdom" also being given, "ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power." Eph. 1:17-19. How good the Lord is! He gives unto us the revelation of his own will, and then gives unto us the same spirit of revelation and wisdom that we may understand his Word, having also placed that same "Word of faith" in our hearts that we may believe. And then the same Holy Spirit which indicted that revelation, is given to us that it may also bring to our remembrance whatever he has said unto us.