5. Holy Spirit Truth

True Worship

Holy Spirit disguises Jesus Christ's person when he comes to lead and to bless us. When we gather in our churches to worship, God guides us by one significant verse from the lips of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well. In John 4.23-24, Jesus said, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is a spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and truth." Jesus is here contrasting the superficial worship of the Temple, a synagogue, or other building with true worship or "worship in truth." This kind of worship only occurs in a person's heart. Whatever the building, the place of worship is irrelevant! True religion must be in keeping with God's nature, which is spiritual. The Samaritan woman got the message! ✞

Holy Spirit's Fellowship

Saint John used the word "truth" twenty-five times and linked "truth" with Jesus. He wrote in John 14.6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Very likely, this statement means, "I am the only way to the Father in that I am the truth and the life." Saint Paul also explains the meaning of "Holy Spirit truth" when he writes in 2 Corinthians 13.14, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." According to Saint Paul, the "fellowship of the Holy Spirit" brings truth into our lives. Saint Paul later adds in Ephesians 3.20-21, "Now to him (meaning the Holy Spirit) who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. To him be glory in the church and Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Holy Spirit truth brings immeasurably more power to work among his people. ✞

Holy Searchlight

Dancing Policeman Simultaneously, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the most profound understanding of God and his Creation. Saint Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2.10, "these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." Mrs. Charles H. Bonfy told a story about the invisible presence of God in her life. It appeared in "The Readers Digest." "My father, a Presbyterian minister, was late driving home from an out-of-town meeting. In haste, he exceeded the speed limit and was stopped and ticketed by a highway patrolman. When he finally got home, Mother greeted him at the door with a hug. 'Oh, darling,' she said, 'I have been so worried. I prayed and prayed that God would be with you as you drove home.' 'You know,' replied Daddy, with a twinkle in his eye, 'he was. But I didn't recognize him in uniform'" ✞

God in You

What if God was one of us? Would we recognize him even if he were in uniform? Sometimes the truth comes in the strangest of disguises! When it impacts our lives, God often disguises the Holy Spirit. John 14.15-17 explains, "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." Some early manuscripts have an alternative translation of "will be in you" as "is in you," stressing the present reality and invisible presence in Christians' lives of the Holy Spirit! ✞

Day of Pentecost

Searchlight Some Christians believe that this indwelling relationship anticipated the Holy Spirit's coming on the Day of Pentecost! In Acts 2.1-4, we read, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." "Other tongues" may be translated as "other languages" in this verse. I have personally experienced the invisible Holy Spirit's coming like a blowing wind in an enclosed room during prayer. I felt the strong wind on my face and arms even though the curtains there never moved! It was a scary and awe-inspiring moment! ✞

Sheep

Sheep Flock Jesus Christ, who directs God's people, leads Christians as overseers of shepherds and sheep in the flock by the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul spoke to the elders from Ephesus in Acts 20.28, saying, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his blood." "Shepherds of the church of God" in many manuscripts also means "shepherds of the Lord." "Shepherds of the lord" indicates the equality in the Early Church of "God" and "the Lord," meaning "Jesus." ✞

Holy Spirit Appointments

Similarly, "with his blood" may be equally rendered "with the blood of his Son." The Holy Spirit appoints leaders in the church today who are variously called bishops, overseers, or elders in the New Testament. A church may fancy the idea that theirs is a democratic process, but it is not! The Holy Spirit directs God's people and not the church. The Holy Spirit is responsible for this task. ✞

Sheep and Goats

Jesus said that there were two types of people in Matthew 25.31-46, "All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place sheep on his right and goats on his left." On his right were "the Father's blessed," and on his left were not. The Holy Spirit appointed some with the necessary qualifications, qualities, and characteristics to lead God's people. Their appointment must be totally in line with the teachings of Scripture. The church's job is to be guided by the Holy Spirit through these under-shepherds. ✞

Top Page

Next

Previous