Even though there are many intelligent people in the world, wisdom is in short supply. Mere intelligence, without wisdom, is foolishness (1 Corinthians 3:18-20). Each of us needs God’s Spirit to teach us wisdom; lest we find, too late, that we have put our confidence in the wrong thing. “It is written in the prophets, `And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:45).
All of us are students. Our minds are being trained by someone. Students of the Holy Spirit study the Word daily, being diligent to present themselves approved to God, by accurately handling His Word. Their confidence is never placed in the words of men without first searching Scripture–this is wisdom. The apostle John said: “These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the anointing [power to hear the Holy Spirit] which you received from Him abides in you and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide [live and progress] in Him” (1 John 2:26-27). When you personally listen to the Holy Spirit reveal insight from the Word, taking it to heart, you receive wisdom to discern good from evil, right from wrong, and truth from lies. Wisdom enables you to test every word which others speak–an essential process since the words of others greatly affect your thinking (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
God sent the Holy Spirit of Christ to be our Teacher, Counselor, Advocate, and Strengthener. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). He sends His Spirit, not to those who merely believe in Jesus Christ (even the devil believes), but to those who set their heart to obey Him (Acts 5:32; Hebrews 5:9); who lay aside their own mindset to partake of the mind of Christ: “Do not be conformed to this world [or to its ideology or religious doctrines], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Doing God’s will is proof that you possess the Holy Spirit and is the true sign of genuine faith. Possessing signs, sacraments, and manifestations, without doing His will, profits you nothing (Matthew 7:21-23).
As Scripture instructs, testing every spirit–the words of men–must be exercised if you are to recognize and escape the schemes of the devil, not only in church but in every other arena. Who can afford to be without the power to test words in our loose-thinking, word re-defining, definition-morphing climate? Today, `in a relationship’ has become the cover-up word for fornicating; `pro-choice’ the word for killing-for-convenience; `progressive’ the word for radical-left-wing-socialist-communist; and `saved’ the word for believing-in-Jesus-but-living-like-the-devil; so be very careful how you listen to words.
It’s become standard today for heads of government and religion to abandon righteous principals and justify the use of smooth, calculated, misleading words to deceive, in order to move people to accept their ideology. It is in this manner that Satan, the real ruler of this world (by God’s permission), works through our leaders, skillfully maneuvering nations and congregations to disregard God’s will–capturing minds has been Satan’s purpose since the Garden (Genesis 4:7). This insidious activity is taking place right before your eyes and is the very reason you must be able to hear God’s Spirit for yourself. Regretfully, many in Christianity and the world walk after their own mindset without sufficient investigation, oblivious to the truth, and unwilling to accept the words of God’s Spirit. This war of words, of which none of us are exempt, is ultimately the battle to win your mind and soul!
But God has not left you in this world to struggle alone. His way for you to win this war is by submitting to His Spirit, who searches all things for your benefit, even the depths of God’s mind. But first, in order to partake of His wisdom, you must reject the spirit and mindset of this world and ask God for His Holy Spirit. He freely gives wisdom, understanding, counsel, and strength to any willing soul. God’s counsel for every aspect of your life will not be found in words taught by human wisdom (intellectualism and religious nonsense), but words taught by His Spirit, combining God’s spiritual thoughts with His Word. When you have God’s Spirit teaching you, you actually receive the thoughts and mind of Christ! (1 Corinthians 2:4-16).
God’s Spirit calls to us from His Word: “How long, O naïve ones, will you love simplicity [ignorance]? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I called, and you refused … I will even laugh at your calamity … then [you] will call on me, but I will not answer; [you] will seek me diligently, but [you] shall not find me, because [you] hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord … But he who listens to me shall live securely, and shall be at ease from the dread of evil” (Proverbs 1:22-24, 26, 28-29, 33).
The importance of discerning the words men speak cannot be emphasized enough. The devil is deceiving the whole world with a flood of lies spoken through the mouths of men. But those led by God’s Spirit destroy every lofty thought and imagination that exalts itself against God’s Word. Holding fast to His Word not only provides you with the power to destroy the words and works of the devil but also secures peace and safety for your mind and soul for all eternity. And for this reason, your Teacher the Holy Spirit is calling to you: “Come” (Revelation 22:17) and “learn from Me” (Matthew 11:29).