Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject whatever is harmful – (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

Like John warns Jesus’ followers, Paul is reminding folks to test the teaching of those claiming to speak by the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 John 4:1-3).

At the same time, we are not to discount the message of those who speak God’s truth, but to test the message and reject what is harmful.

The Holy Spirit, our anointing from the Father, will help us know and discern what is good and help us reject what is harmful (1 John 2:20-29).

We must hold to what is true and from God, but reject what is from mere human or evil sources. If we don’t, we can be quenching the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

Prayer : Father, I ask for wisdom and discernment. More than just human wisdom and discernment, I pray for the ability to discern your truth by the power of your Holy Spirit. In my world, there are so many voices competing for my attention and I want to only follow your will — not my own or anyone else. Help me to hold on to what is good and reject what is harmful. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. – (1 Corinthians 2:12)

We sometimes get frustrated when those outside of Christ do not seem to be able to understand the teaching of Scripture. However, we must not forget that there are two realities to the truth of Scripture that non-believers do not experience.

First, the truth of Scriptures often becomes understandable only after we obey it.

Second, the Holy Spirit, who inspired Scripture and uses Scripture to form us, also helps followers of Jesus understand the truth that God has given us.

The Holy Spirit is at work helping us understand the Scriptures he inspired! Let’s never approach our time in Bible study without asking for the Holy Spirit to make God’s truth known to us!

Prayer : Father God, I thank you for blessing me with your Holy Spirit. I pray that as I open the Bible that I can be able to hear your voice and understand your will. I ask, dear Holy Spirit, that you open my mind and that you work on my heart so that I can understand and obey the truths that the Father has shared through Scripture. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. — 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

When the good news of Jesus is preached, the Holy Spirit is at work making the message powerful.

This may refer to miracles accompanying the preaching of the message of Jesus (Hebrews 2:1-4). However, in this context, Paul is primarily focusing upon a greater truth. While the message of a crucified Savior doesn’t appear to be wise and persuasive by human standards of wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18; 2:1-3), the Holy Spirit is active in the telling of the story of Jesus so it has inexplicable power to reach into our hearts and call us to Jesus.

For those of us who know the Holy Spirit, this power is not inexplicable; it is a reminder of God’s grace to not only give us the gift of Jesus, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us understand the gift of Jesus!

Prayer : Words cannot express, dear Father, how precious your love is to me. I realize that everything that I am and have in Jesus is the result of your grace. I believe that my future is secure because of that grace and because of the blessed Holy Spirit who is in me, and who helps convict, correct, and console me. I thank you for such grace in the name of Jesus. Amen.