Once Christian arrived at the Wicket-Gate Goodwill instructed Christian to go to Interpreter’s house. At Interpreter’s house Christian would be taught about the Christian life, and the realities of discipleship.
Interpreter is a two-fold representation of the Holy Spirit as a teacher, and as those who teach and instruct believers. Interpreter’s house has seven rooms which all give insight to Christian life. Most of the rooms are ominous and need further clarification from Interpreter. This is the role that the Holy Spirit, and spiritual leaders play in the Christian life. The Holy Spirit and spiritual leaders interpret and guide Christians through various trials and temptations.
Holy Spirit as Interpreter
Receiving the Holy Spirit is part of the promise of salvation (Acts 2:38; 8:15-17; 10:44-48). While that is important, that is not the only function the Holy Spirit plays in the believer’s life. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (Jn. 16:7-8); is a source of revelation (1 Cor. 2:10-11); empowers believers (Acts 1:8); guides to all truth (Jn. 16:13); bestows spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:7-11); is a seal in believers (Eph. 1:13); intercedes on behalf of believers (Rom. 8:26-27); it will quicken the mortal bodies of believers (Rom. 8:10-11); and, the Holy Spirit sanctifies believers (Gal. 5:16-25).
Likewise, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be a Helper who teaches believers (Jn. 14:26). The Greek word for “Helper” (ESV) is “parakletos” which was used in reference to legal counsel. The Holy Spirit provides counsel to believers, teaching and guiding them. Christians cannot merely rely upon their own knowledge and wisdom. We must place total dependance upon the Holy Spirit to teach and help. Much of the Christian life is completely foreign to new believers. The danger is for new believers to trust in their own feelings, emotions, or intellectual prowess and end up being defeated.
The Holy Spirit is a spiritual resource that believers must depend upon. Too often the Holy Spirit is neglected due to the faulty thinking that it is only needed at initial conversion.
Spiritual Leaders as Interpreters
I don’t know of any army that would send men and women out to battle without first equipping and preparing them. Thankfully, Jesus Christ has given the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11). The function of these offices is for the equipping of the saints (Eph. 4:12). The five-fold ministry (as it has come to be known) is responsible for training the body of Christ so that they can in turn minister to one another. The verb “equipping” in Ephesians 4:12 (ESV) means to train or prepare people. Bible commentator, Grant Osborne, wrote, “It is also a medical term for the setting of broken bones and thus can be understood as restoring people to their God-given task in the body of Christ.”
Interpreter was preparing and warning Christian of the potentials he could face in his journey. Preachers and teachers do that every time they minister. They warn of the dangers of sin. They caution believers about their spiritual adversary (1 Pt. 5:8). And they equip believers with the whole armor of God so they can endure the onslaught of spiritual attacks, and be able to overcome them (Eph. 6:11-18).
Application
The Holy Spirit and the church’s ministry guide, help, teach, and equip. You need the Holy Spirit for counsel, and you need spiritual leaders to guide. You cannot have one without the other. To face various trials and temptations without the Holy Spirit is like the body being devoid of white blood cells. White blood cells combat illnesses and infections. To encounter spiritual battles without spiritual leadership is like going into war without a general. The general is on the front lines preparing the soldiers for what is to come, and how to overcome the enemy.
If you think you can be victorious in spiritual battles without either the Holy Spirit or pastors, then you will incorrectly interpret every situation, every temptation, every trial, and unnecessarily lose.
Christian walked through Interpreter’s house learning of numerous situations that he could inevitably face. This prepared Christian for a victorious Christian life. Thankfully, Christians can also rely upon the Holy Spirit and spiritual leaders for instruction for a victorious Christian life.