“When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative — that is, the Holy Spirit — he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
John 14:20-26 NLT
Escape the theology trap. Theology is man’s attempt to understand the incomprehensible God and explain Him and His ways systematically. Seems like a valid goal but it’s living life according to man’s understanding instead of God’s commands.
If we can explain God and His plans ourselves, then we no longer need Him to teach us and lead us. We can form a religion around our particular viewpoint. We can become dogmatic about our doctrine and set up camp on some revelation that God gave in the past.
People divide over doctrine. A quick peek on YouTube reveals a bunch of so-called experts fighting with each other over their beliefs. What kind of witness is that?
Has doctrine ever saved anyone? Will your superior theology gain you access to Heaven? Of course not! It’s not what’s in our brains that matters. What counts is what’s in our hearts.
If there is a doctrine to teach, it is the doctrine of love. If there is a superior teaching methodology, it is teaching by example.
Escape the theology trap and quit dividing over doctrine. If that rattles your cage, ask yourself if you might be worshipping idols. Have you made a person, a doctrine, a school, a church, or a movement an idol? Do you worship what you think? I think we can all easily fall into that trap if we’re not aware of it.
What does God want us to do? Let’s get practical.
He wants us to do what He says. It takes a real relationship with God, not a theoretical one, to be able to fellowship with the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and God the Father. Our daily communion with God is how we abide in His love.
The Spirit is given to those who obey God. Those who love God obey Him. It’s impossible to separate love, the Holy Spirit’s leading, and obedience. They all go together as a package deal.
Instead of trying to get people to obey you and your view of how things should be done, encourage people to follow Jesus and love one another. There is only one thing that the entire Body of Christ has in common, the Head. As the Head goes, so goes the Body.
If you’re not listening to the instructions from the Head, are you even part of the Body? Something to think about. Ask God what He says.
We need to be about our Father’s business, not just our own. Selfishness got us into this mess. More selfishness is not the answer. Every denomination can trace its roots back to someone who wasn’t a peacemaker. Someone got into a quarrel over doctrine and instead of prayerfully resolving their differences, they decided to break fellowship and end their relationship with one another. Is that the Way of Christ? Is that the ministry of reconciliation in action?
Get your daily instructions from God Himself, not someone else’s rulebook.
God wants to lead you more than you want to be led. He is long-suffering and patient. But His patience will not last forever. His love endures forever. Let’s not test His patience, and instead love one another as He loves us.
Will they know us by what we say? Or will they know us by our love?
Father in Heaven, deliver Your Church from the influence of man’s precepts and the doctrines of demons. Expose every lying and deceiving spirit and cast them out into the outer darkness. Purify Your People. Make us holy. Make us righteous. Fill us with Your Spirit. Fill us with Your Love, Your Peace, Your Wisdom. Fill us completely with Yourself. Let us be One with Jesus as Jesus and the Father are One. Amen.
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.
Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT
Recommended reading: Ephesians 4.
Igniter Ministries 
Good stuff.