God’s Word exhorts us, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). Do we approach Bible teaching with this kind of passion? We can list a number of reasons why we might lack this kind of enthusiasm. What will alleviate that which holds us back from experiencing this kind of excitement in serving the Lord? The answer: Get out of the driver’s seat and let the Holy Spirit take the wheel. When we view the Spirt as the Ultimate Teacher, rather than ourselves, our perspective changes.
How Viewing the Holy Spirit as the Ultimate Teacher Changes Our Attitude in Serving
While “spiritual fervor” in this verse mainly refers to that which is within our inner being, our spirit, we could also view it as fervor from the Spirit of God.
1) Knowing the Holy Spirit is both in us and with us alleviates fears and insecurities. — How reassuring to know we aren’t alone!
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. … But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (Jn. 14:16-17)
2) Viewing ourselves as conduits through whom the Spirit works alleviates stress, anxiety, and undue striving. — How exciting to know that the Almighty God works in and through us!
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 Cor. 2:4-5)
3) Acknowledging that God is the One who must bring the growth through the Spirit’s work alleviates the need to compare and compete with others. — How encouraging to know that results aren’t dependent on us!
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Cor. 3:7)
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. (1 Cor. 2:12-13)
Results of Yielding to the Spirit in our Teaching
When we live in light of the above realities, we won’t have to self-generate fervor. Yielding to the Spirit as the Ultimate Teacher leads to hope, joy, and peace. With these inner qualities, our spirits are free to serve the Lord with zeal.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)
Teacher Training Resource: The Holy Spirit and My Teaching Devotional