The Role of a Spiritual Teacher in The Chruch
We need teachers to teach us
when we need to learn something. The role of a teacher is to pass his or her
knowledge to the student without keeping anything hidden. When it is done so,
in the process, the student gradually comes to the level of the teacher in the
knowledge of whatever subject being taught by the teacher. When the student
receives this complete knowledge, the student
becomes independent from the teacher where the subject matter is concerned.
However, when it comes to the knowledge of the Word of God, so called believers in the church, who form the majority of the body of Christ today, are students forever while so called pastors function as teachers forever. As a result, believers are dependent on their pastors for their spiritual matters all the time.
However, this is not the ministry Jesus Christ introduced to the church under the New Covenant. Look at the below scripture:
(John 14:26)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
According to the above verse, the major role of the Holy Spirit is to teach us the Word of God and bring what we learn from the Holy Spirit to our remembrance where we need them to put into practice in our day-to-day life. Hence, we do not need so called teachers to learn the Word of God as our teacher is the Holy Spirit.
(1 John 2:27)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Because of this teaching role of the Holy Spirit in the children of God under the New Testament, Jesus Christ has clearly commanded us not to call anybody by the name of 'TEACHER'. Look at the below scripture.
(Matthew 23:8)
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
"Rabbi" is a title used by the Jews to address their teachers in honor. What Jesus means in the above verse is that we should not honor any human as the teacher who reveals the Word of God to us. In other words, we should not depend on humans for spiritual truths. Why? because it is the Holy Spirit on whom we must depend for the right revelation of the Word of God.
I don't mean that it is not right for believers to call leaders in the church who teach them the Word of God by the name of "TEACHER". What I mean is that we must not keep them as our honorable masters who reveal spiritual truths to us.
The role of a spiritual leader as the teacher of the Word of God
Leaders in the church have a role to play as the teacher where the Word of God is concerned. This role is to guide believers to learn the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. They must explain and teach the congregation on how to read the Bible and get the revelation from the Holy Spirit. Leaders in the church should become teachers only in this role. When believers are taught on how to receive revelation of the Word of God from the Holy Spirit, they become independent from their pastors for their personal spiritual matters in life. They begin to grow matured in the knowledge of God so that they become capable of guiding even others spiritually. This process will wipe out spiritual babes from the Body of Christ.
How to learn from the Holy Spirit?
It is very easy to learn from the Holy Spirit when we understand one simple factor. This simple factor is that The Holy Spirit is not initiating anything in our life. It is our responsibility to initiate our studying of the Word of God so that the Holy Spirit begins to teach us in the process.
It is also necessary to speak to the Holy Spirit in faith believing that He is in you as it is said in John 14:17. For example, before reading the Word of God, we must ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the real truth hidden in the Word of God. While reading a passage, if we find it difficult to understand something, we must again speak to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help us to receive the right interpretation of the Word.
Once I read a certain parable of Jesus Christ, but I could not understand it properly. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me. However, I had to repeat this asking for two or three days in order to get the right interpretation of this parable. It is the desire of our Lord Jesus Christ that we understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and we become fully dependent on Him in our needs.
Yes, Brothers and Sisters, just try the Holy Spirit and see how wonderfully, He is teaching you the Word of God.
However, when it comes to the knowledge of the Word of God, so called believers in the church, who form the majority of the body of Christ today, are students forever while so called pastors function as teachers forever. As a result, believers are dependent on their pastors for their spiritual matters all the time.
However, this is not the ministry Jesus Christ introduced to the church under the New Covenant. Look at the below scripture:
(John 14:26)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
According to the above verse, the major role of the Holy Spirit is to teach us the Word of God and bring what we learn from the Holy Spirit to our remembrance where we need them to put into practice in our day-to-day life. Hence, we do not need so called teachers to learn the Word of God as our teacher is the Holy Spirit.
(1 John 2:27)
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Because of this teaching role of the Holy Spirit in the children of God under the New Testament, Jesus Christ has clearly commanded us not to call anybody by the name of 'TEACHER'. Look at the below scripture.
(Matthew 23:8)
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
"Rabbi" is a title used by the Jews to address their teachers in honor. What Jesus means in the above verse is that we should not honor any human as the teacher who reveals the Word of God to us. In other words, we should not depend on humans for spiritual truths. Why? because it is the Holy Spirit on whom we must depend for the right revelation of the Word of God.
I don't mean that it is not right for believers to call leaders in the church who teach them the Word of God by the name of "TEACHER". What I mean is that we must not keep them as our honorable masters who reveal spiritual truths to us.
The role of a spiritual leader as the teacher of the Word of God
Leaders in the church have a role to play as the teacher where the Word of God is concerned. This role is to guide believers to learn the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. They must explain and teach the congregation on how to read the Bible and get the revelation from the Holy Spirit. Leaders in the church should become teachers only in this role. When believers are taught on how to receive revelation of the Word of God from the Holy Spirit, they become independent from their pastors for their personal spiritual matters in life. They begin to grow matured in the knowledge of God so that they become capable of guiding even others spiritually. This process will wipe out spiritual babes from the Body of Christ.
How to learn from the Holy Spirit?
It is very easy to learn from the Holy Spirit when we understand one simple factor. This simple factor is that The Holy Spirit is not initiating anything in our life. It is our responsibility to initiate our studying of the Word of God so that the Holy Spirit begins to teach us in the process.
It is also necessary to speak to the Holy Spirit in faith believing that He is in you as it is said in John 14:17. For example, before reading the Word of God, we must ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the real truth hidden in the Word of God. While reading a passage, if we find it difficult to understand something, we must again speak to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help us to receive the right interpretation of the Word.
Once I read a certain parable of Jesus Christ, but I could not understand it properly. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me. However, I had to repeat this asking for two or three days in order to get the right interpretation of this parable. It is the desire of our Lord Jesus Christ that we understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and we become fully dependent on Him in our needs.
Yes, Brothers and Sisters, just try the Holy Spirit and see how wonderfully, He is teaching you the Word of God.
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