He Will Bring Into Remembrance All Things

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."  John 14:26 (NKJV)

Last week, beginning on Thursday afternoon, I began to struggle with the decision to serve God in a new venue.  However, as exciting as it could be, I know in heart that it would require more of my dedication towards this ministry and the work that would come with it.  I have sought God and some counsel, and yet do not yet "feel secure" over any particular choice. 

This past weekend, I began to read a book that I had bought back in late August of last year!  Even though this book contains two books in one, I read the later.  In "Workmen of God" by Oswald Chambers (1937), I began to learn more about caring for souls.  The following is a passage that has impacted me the most; in fact, it has challenged me even more over making the most appropriate choice:   

• "First, the Christian worker who is right with God must rely every moment on the Holy Spirit when dealing with another soul.  Second, the worker must live among human facts, men and women, not theories. ... The third thing is ransack this old Book [Bible] from cover to cover in the most practical way you know -- by using a concordance, by rewriting the Psalms, or by an other immediate, practical method."
  

Learning to trust God, embrace His Spirit, and minister to others through His Spirit is something that I have slowly began to establish with God once again.  Two Sunday's ago, I attended a church service.  I got prayed over by several people.  However, the Holy Spirit also spoke through me as He spoke to me.  One of the things that He spoke was a scripture, " ... I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one."  1 John 2:14 (NKJV).  Although this scripture served as a form of encouragement, it left me wondering as to why I felt there was something missing from it.  After the service, I went out to eat on my own, and took time to search God's Word for this scripture.  When I finally found it, I saw the missing phrase, "the word of God abides in you".  I asked myself and continued to ponder over this "missing phrase" for the next few days. 

I came to a re-realization that I knew the Word of God enough to build myself up and a few others from time to time.  However, for the work that was at hand (the choice that has to be made), I fell short of God's standard.  I have yet to do something about it.  I have yet to embrace a disciplined source by which to truly profess that "the Word of God abides in [me]". 

On Tuesday afternoon, I went to a book-ministry to do my "work" in serving others through literature and other manners.  After I left, I had a good dinner and then headed over to my Bible study.  Almost everyone from the group was there and it was educational.  The main theme (based on a chapter from the book of Psalms) of that evening was in regards to depression and coping with it through the work of God's Word and His Spirit.  At the end of the lesson, we took up prayer requests in addition to a list we had; I shared mine as well as the choice that I have to make.  We prayed and as it came to be my turn to pray, the Holy Spirit kept pushing on me to pray out-loud Philippians 4: 6-7:

• "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (NKJV).     

As I prayed through these scriptures, I also prayed from my heart and I could hear God move through us as others affirmed my Spirit-led prayer.  Although I have prayed within this group before, I have never prayed with them in such a manner.    I have an inclination, that things will no longer be the same with us again; that is, God's Spirit will manifest Himself more and more throughout our meetings and use others as well. 

In closing, in this world there is much knowledge.  However, for the Christian worker, be it an ordained minister or lay person within a church, true knowledge lies within the Word of God.  Its understanding and application can be made through a complete reliance in the Holy Spirit.  He will not only teach, but bring into remembrance the Word of God that has been read, studied, and embraced as one's own.