John 1:1 English Standard Version (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

I left you yesterday with faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word. We get into discipleship classes and we read and are instructed in what those passages mean. We have teachers that tie all the passages together, line upon line, precept upon precept. We have pastors who relate scripture to daily life and comfort us.

We should be listening for the Spirit in the Word. How we get to know Christ is not by studies, it is by the Spirit who testifies of Christ and tells us all the things that Christ has said.

John 14:26 English Standard Version (ESV) 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 that I have said to you.

Romans 8:26-27 English Standard Version (ESV) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, becausethe Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Even before we learn to hear by faith, the Spirit is on our side. He intercedes for us because we have not yet experienced the sound of the Spirit within us. He wants to be heard because He carries the Word of life from Christ to us. That is His purpose. It is vital that we hear the Spirit in order for us to be obedient in faith. How can we obey if we cannot hear?

Granted, some are more experienced than others. That does not mean we should let them do all the listening.

Romans 8:1 English Standard Version (ESV)

Life in the Spirit

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)

Some believe being in Christ means to know Christ, others feel the need to explain how we follow Christ. For a new Christian the sound of “no condemnation” is all they hear. Words that comfort the weary soul often take first place in the mind of the novice. They give little thought in how or why the Word gives comfort.

Romans 8:9 English Standard Version (ESV) You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Those words “if in fact” will be used by Satan to challenge us because of our behavior. Being instantly changed does not mean we understand what it means to be changed. This new creation in Christ has no experience with being “in the Spirit”. A lack of experience leaves room for Satan to cast doubt and fear. This is why it is necessary for the mature in Christ to disciple the novice. They have no experience in being “in the Spirit.” It sounds mystical but it is not.

John 3:8 English Standard Version (ESV) The windblows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

What does the Spirit sound like? That is not a question I can answer for you. God makes Himself known to each of us in a way we will accept. The Spirit directs disciples to passages within the bible so the Holy Spirit can speak to them and be heard.

Romans 10:17 English Standard Version (ESV) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.