LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT (PART-20)

HOLY SPIRIT (Part 20)

– A teachable spirit.
  Question:
  What can prevent us from having a teachable spirit?
      – Fear (lack of faith)                                 – Rebelliousness
      – Pride                                                        – Laziness
      – Stubbornness                                        – Self-centeredness
      – Arrogance (have all the answers)     – Attention deficit

      – (James 1:19-25)
        In these verse we see some things that are important for us to be teachable.
        We need to:
            1. Be ‘good listeners’ (“quick to listen”)
            2. Think about what we are going to say before we say it (“slow to speak”).
                Note:
                    If we don’t think about it first, we may say something that is either
                    hurtful or rude to someone else, or we might make someone angry.
            3. Develop self-control so that we don’t allow ourselves to get angry.
                Note:
                    Anger is often triggered from selfishness. We think everything
                    should be the way we want it to be, and when it isn’t, we get mad.
                    Note:
                        The scriptures tell is that anger is an obstacle to developing
                        righteousness that is pleasing to God (instead we want a type
                        of righteousness that is pleasing to ourselves.
            4. Get rid of the sinful and evil thoughts that tries to
                infiltrate the minds of everyone (including Christians).
            5. Develop humility (being humble is not a weakness,
                but a gentle strength under control).
            6. Apply to our lives what we have been taught
                (which confirms that we have been good listeners).

         – (verse 21)
            Another way of saying the phrase,
            “humbly accept the word planted in you” is, “be teachable”.

    – (Acts 18)
      An example of teachable spirits.
      – (verses 1-4)
        Aquilla and Priscilla spent a lot of time learning from Paul.

      – (verse 18)
        Apparently they (Aquilla & Priscilla)
        had a great thirst for what Paul was sharing with them
        because they left their home to travel with him.

      – (verse 24)
        Look at the description of Apollos.
        Note:
            We can assume he was a very teachable person
            because he had a comprehensive knowledge of the scriptures.

      – (verse 26)
        Apollos learned from Aquilla and Priscilla,
        who had learned from Paul.
        Apparently they detected some missing information in what
        Apollos had been taught and they wanted to ‘fill in the blanks’.

      – (verse 28)
        Apollos did not neglect the use of this newfound knowledge.
        Note:
            Apollos became a dynamic teacher of truth,
            of the same calibre as Paul and Peter (Cephas).
        Note:
            (Acts 9:17-19)
            Paul faithfully received teaching from the disciples.

  – (James 1:21-22)
    A true sign of ‘teachability’ is ‘being obedient to what we are taught’.

  – (Numbers 22:21-38)
    God may use any number of ways to instruct His people.
    – (verse 22)
      Question:
      What grievance did God have with Balaam?
          – (2 Peter 2:15-16)
            He was indulging in sinful ways
            (“loved the wages of wickedness”).

  – (verse 32)
    First the donkey spoke to Balaam,
    and now the angel of the Lord spoke to him.

  – (verse 33)
    We see the value of God’s instruction.
    Question:
    What does this say about the Lord?
        – He loves us enough to keep us on the right paths.

  – (verse 34)
    Balaam knew the purpose of God’s instruction,
    and with his response, he shows he is teachable.

  – (verses 35, 38)
    Look at how teachable Balaam had become (and also obedient).

  – The importance of seeking
    and understanding God’s instruction (in its entirety).
    – (1 Chronicles 13)
      David wanted to bring the ark of God, but we see
      no record of his consulting the Lord, or seeking His instructions.
      Note:
          As a result, they mishandled the ark
          and it resulted in the death of Uzzah.

  – (Exodus 25:13-15)
    God had provided instructions for transporting the ark.

  – (1 Chronicles 15:1-15)
    Apparently David finally sought and received
    new instructions for transporting the ark.

  – (Psalm 119:67)
    Sometimes we may experience affliction
    as part of learning to obey God’s instructions.
    Note:
        (Psalm 119:71)
        We show spiritual maturity
        when we recognize the benefits of our afflictions.
    Note:
        (Psalm 119:92)
        We also show spiritual maturity
        when we recognize the value of God’s instructions.
    Note:
        (Job 22:22)
        Job realized the importance of God’s instructions.
    Note:
        Proverbs emphasizes the importance of God’s instructions.
            – Proverbs 4:13
            – Proverbs 13:13
            – Proverbs 16:20
    Note:
        (1 Thessalonians 4:8)
        We see the real impact of not being receptive to instructions.