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The Way
by Kevin Pauley
Special Revelation – Interpretation and Animation
But as it is written: What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and what has never come into a man's heart, is what God has prepared for those who love Him. Now God has revealed them to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the concerns of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the concerns of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, in order to know what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. - 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 HCSB
Humanity’s dependency upon the Holy Spirit did not end with that original creative impulse,[1] nor with the inspiration of the authors of the Bible.[2] As the Scriptures were inspired, so must they be received – through the agency of the Holy Spirit.
God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not ours. As heaven is higher than earth, so His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.[3] The things which Paul taught, called “God’s hidden wisdom” or the teachings of the Spirit, had never even entered the mind of man. God had to reveal them to us by the Spirit and if we are to understand something of God, we are going to have to deepen our dependency on the Spirit.[4]
The Counselor was sent in order to testify of Christ and is rightly called the Spirit of truth.[5] How could we ever hope to grasp truth without the Spirit’s guidance? We empathize with the Ethiopian who, when asked if he understood what he was reading, responded, “How can I unless someone guides me?”
Not only do we need the Spirit’s help in understanding the Scriptures, but we also need help in praying their truths into our lives. We are often at a loss as to how to respond to God’s promptings. The Spirit comes alongside our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for and intercedes on our behalf with unspoken groanings.[6]
The Spirit teaches us about sin, righteousness and judgment; gradually and progressively guiding us to ultimate truth.[7] The Spirit empowers every real change for the good in our lives.[8] The Spirit is so essential that true worship can only occur through the Spirit of truth.[9] The Spirit even brings the Scriptures back into our minds at appropriate times and fills our mouths with irresistible wisdom when we courageously confess the Lord in times of trial.[10]
May the Spirit of Truth guide us as we search the Scriptures.
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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