The Holy Spirit and God's Word
Day 36
by Gini Crawford, MSW
How the Bible was written
The Bible is God breathed or inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit inspired each of the many authors of the Bible as they wrote. That is why we can call God's Word, God's Word. Makes sense doesn't it? (1 Peter 1:10-12).
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. / ... to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21 ESV®
God in His sovereignty had the writers of the Bible write through their own personalities and know how. That's why the books of the Bible are different in style. King David tended to be poetic; Luke wrote like a historian, and so on. However when you take the Bible as a whole, it weaves a beautiful and passionate autobiography of God and His relentless love for us. Did you know the Holy Spirit inspired the authors of the Bible?
Not God's words
No matter how encouraging, beautiful or even spiritually sounding other people's words are, it isn't God speaking to you. There are many Christian books out there that are good. However, I feel what is happening in the Christian community is that we get caught up reading and studying these books and not particularly God's Book. We need to remember that it is God's Word and only His words that are promised to accomplish what He wants. No other book is Holy Spirit inspired.
(God speaking) "...so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 ESV®
Just to clue you in, my knowledge of the Bible is considerable. However as I let the Spirit teach me through continued study of God's Word, my knowledge increases, and what I teach can change. In other words, don't think my words are anything but my words. God's Word is His Word, so always test what I or anyone else says by His Word (John 17:17).
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth for a reason (John 14:17). Do you want your life to be led by God and His truth, or by a person's words?
God's will, word and Spirit
Jesus teaches that the Spirit of truth declares God's words to us - telling us His will (Psalm 143:10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Actually the Spirit makes God's Word come alive to us.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ... I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:7, 13-15 ESV®
Can we follow God's Word without His Spirit? Yes. I know that sounds unspiritual and it is. God's Word is His wisdom, so it will guide us to a better life with or without the Spirit if we follow it. (Psalm 119:105). Many people know God's Word and even quote it, but have hardened their hearts to the Spirit's leading them through God's Word. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14; Romans 8:26-27). When a neighbor told me she was a Christian and then went on to tell me she had a beautiful alter in her backyard to worship mother nature, I pointed out, God only wants us to worship Him. She said, "Where did you get that in the Bible?" (Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 5:7-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:9). Do you know God's Word enough so the Spirit can lead you in His will?
Filled with God's Word
Ephesians and Colossians were written when the Apostle Paul was in prison. Their emphasis is on Jesus Christ, what He has done for us, and how to walk with Him. Both are similar in content so we can easily compare the two. Ephesians 5:18 talks about being filled by the Spirit. Colossians 3:16 talks about letting the Word of Christ dwell within you. If you take both verses together, we could say that to be filled by the Holy Spirit is to be filled by God's Word. The leader of a Sunday school class looked at a person and said, "It is your turn to teach the class next week." The person said, "I guess I will need to dust off my Bible." Needless to say, this person doesn't have a lifestyle of being filled with God's Word. (Ephesians 5:15-20; Colossians 3:12-17).
I guarantee if you ask the Spirit to transform you as you read His Word, He will. I have found that one verse from God's Word can change my thoughts and attitude, and at times my life, if I embrace the Spirit's loving words. Do you have a routine that gets you into God's Word daily?
Life Application
The supernatural guidebook
If you make God's Word your foremost instruction book and follow its instructions, your Christian faith will be powerful, fruitful, blessed and of course heading in the right direction. Read Matthew 7:24–27; James 1:22–25. Since the Creator wrote the Bible, shouldn't it be the most important book to read, study, and apply to your life?
How do you make God's Word your guidebook? I have walked with Jesus and His Spirit for many decades, so I have used many different methods to know and study God's Word. Looking back over the years there really isn't a perfect method, granted some make the Word come alive better than others. In reality the key to knowing God's Word isn't complicated, you just need to read and study consistently, kind of like dieting or exercise. You get determined to know the Bible and even if you miss reading God's Word for a while you get back to it. Memorizing God's Word has always made His words come alive to me, but I have known people who can repeat even chapters from memory and they don't seem to know God. It's just a knowledge thing for them. That is where the Spirit comes in. He makes God's words come alive to us, encouraging, nurturing, convicting, comforting and giving us a supernatural understanding that only God’s Spirit can give us. Read John 14:22-27; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 2. These passages very clearly tell us we need the Spirit to understand God's words from God's perspective and to apply those words. What are your insights from these passages?
I know I am probably preaching to the choir here. This is because you wouldn't be doing a devotional like this if you didn't esteem God's Word highly. Read Psalm 1. You are blessed!!!
Reflect on 2 Timothy 3:16-17.