All this month I am highlighting excerpts from Chapter Five (on the Holy Spirit) of my new book, I Am Not Afraid of My Future, the first of The Timothy Collection for young people of every nation. Last week we learned that the Holy Spirit is a Person. He is also our Teacher.

While growing up, I had many wonderful teachers. The ones I especially remember had a tremendous influence on my life and learning. When I was 17, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and later was completely filled with the Holy Spirit, the greatest Teacher of all! He is the One who knows and explains everything (1 Cor. 2:9-16). Jesus announced that the Holy Spirit would come to help us.

The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at My request, will make everything plain to you… (John 14:26, The Message Bible).

I pray that you are a good student, that you listen to your teachers, and that you always try to do your best (including homework). I encourage you to work and study hard, not just to make good grades, but to prepare yourself for the rest of your life. School days, especially in high school and later in college, go by so quickly. Make the best use of your time in school—set your goals and graduate!

The Holy Spirit won’t do your studying for you, but He will help you with your studies. All through high school and college, before I took any test in my classes, I prayed this prayer, “Lord, by your Holy Spirit, help me to remember all the material that I have faithfully studied.” It worked! I was the Valedictorian (the person with the highest average) of my senior high school class, and later graduated from college with honors (magna cum laude), having a grade point average over 3.7! I know firsthand that the Holy Spirit is our Teacher.

In the front of every book I write (including this one), there is a section for Acknowledgements. I thank those who have helped me in any way with that certain book. After I list the people, I always add, “To the Holy Spirit, who is my Teacher.” He taught me the Bible so that now I can impart that knowledge and wisdom to others. I feel privileged to be here for you and to pass on what I have learned in the last 40 years from the Holy Spirit.

…God by His Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you. The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along (1 Corinthians 2:10, The Message Bible).

Christ’s anointing [another name for the Holy Spirit] teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and Him… (1 John 2:27, The Message Bible).

FURTHER RESOURCE: You can pre-order I Am Not Afraid of My Future online at www.Kelleyvarner.org/online-store/ or by calling 910.324.5026.