Let the Holy Spirit Be Your Guide
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. John 15:26
Living in this day and age, we have resources at our fingertips. In-person trainings, Zoom trainings, books, podcasts, online materials, etc. While those things are wonderful and can be very useful, it can often lead one to prioritize those things over God himself. It can lead people to think that those things must be the first go-to, and the end result is less time in God’s Truth and more time spent in man-made materials. People are missing the most important and source of Truth that we need that is a direct link to the Father – the Holy Spirit. In John 14, Jesus promises his disciples the Spirit of Truth, but he says, “….the world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him or knows him (vs. 17).”
When discipling friends here in Uganda, talking with them about the Holy Spirit is probably one of the things I get the most excited about. What a true gift that our Heavenly Father desires to be constantly present with us, to lead us, and to guide us! And what a GIFT that is that we get to share the Holy Spirit with others. The lie many people believe is that, in order to disciple someone, they must attend trainings at a church (preferably with a certificate in the end to prove it). Then just maybe they’ll start thinking about discipling others, but their confidence level is low because it’s within themselves. And their mission circle may be very small, maybe only sticking within their comfortable church or community setting.
When equipping local partners to disciple, House to House prioritizes the value that the groups should give space for the Holy Spirit to lead the group. The structure of the discipleship groups is to teach each member that they can lead a group, because they have the Holy Spirit at work, the Helper, and that qualifies them to be a laborer for Christ. No formal training or certificate is needed if the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead.
I love reading the scriptures on when the Holy Spirit came and filled a room of believers, and He equipped them to go out. The Spirit gave them power to go out. You can’t rest in that guarantee from a podcast or book. Allowing the Holy Spirit to come and lead the discipleship groups makes space for the amazing things God can do. It’s been beautiful to witness our local friends reach out to their neighbors and co-workers, and also share vision for new people and new places that God has placed on their hearts.
May we all walk with the Spirit of Truth today, allowing Him to connect us to the Father, His heart for those around us, and to lead us in our days.