“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.” (John 16:13, ESV)
The Holy Spirit is always needed in the life of the believer. You need the direction it provides. You need the truth it reveals. You need the connection with God it keeps present in heart and soul and mind. Without the Holy Spirit, your spiritual life will wither and die. Your spiritual stamina will wane. Your spiritual powers will become non-existent. Fear will creep in. Insecurities will rear their ugly head. Hope and encouragement will fade. You will probably become angry, have a negative attitude, and complain bitterly. Things you used to look forward to will no longer bring joy. Tasks will seem more daunting. Peace will elude you. Anxiety and worry will replace it.
It surprises me that Christians are not more attuned to the need for and presence of the Holy Spirit. Since it is a necessary and productive part of the spiritual life, the Holy Spirit is a crucial element in the spiritual life cycle. Its power is conducive to spiritual growth. If you do not listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will find yourself stymied when making decisions. Your direction in life will become less clear. Obstacles will feel overwhelming. A connection with God during prayer will not occur. Your passion for God will fade. You may find that you no longer feel a glowing warmth of love in the soul. Life will become more demanding. Christians without the Holy Spirit die a slow spiritual death. Christians who are not attuned to the Spirit will not relish an old hymn, feel soulful peace in quiet moments, nor find healing in the company of the faithful.
Often, I have spoken of how God directs the faithful. However, it is the Holy Spirit that does that work in your heart, mind, and soul. When you have a relationship with God in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in you. According to scriptures like that written above, the Holy Spirit is your “guide into all the truth” (John 16:13). Sent by the Father in Heaven to the followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will reveal the “truth” to you. You may not want to hear it, but the Holy Spirit will in time reveal worldly lies and separate out God’s honest truth. That’s why in John 16:13, the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth”. Even more amazingly, when the Holy Spirit is working powerfully in you, it will “declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). You will have an innate ability to perceive what is coming in time and what is needed for the future.
Based on today’s meditational scripture, the Holy Spirit not only reveals the truth to you, but it also reveals certain aspects of the future. It is important you learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as it speaks to you. The quality of your life and the depth of your knowledge will depend on how well you obey the voice of the Spirit and follow the direction of its guidance.
In the books of Genesis and Exodus of the Bible, Joseph listened to God’s direction and followed God’s guidance. With great spiritual fortitude, he endured slavery in order to be placed perfectly for when the world fell into seven years of famine. He was later noticed by the authorities and had the ear of Pharaoh. With Joseph’s leadership, the world was saved from starvation, and the children of Israel found safety and security.
Abraham, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Paul all followed the direction of God. In doing so, the Spirit of God led them to understanding, helped to lead Israel through their leadership, and guided their steps according to God’s plan of salvation. In one way or another, guidance by God’s Spirit gave strength and security to all those who obeyed in faith and were content to be led by God’s hand.
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will direct your steps along difficult paths. You may even be warned by the Spirit that upcoming challenges are coming your way. Don’t let it shake your faith! Don’t let fear or weakness overcome you. Your steps are carefully watched from Heaven. With the Spirit’s guidance, you are in protective hands. Even the faithful Israelites needed to pass through the wilderness to reach the Promised Land!
In a conversation with a faithful matriarch many years ago, I found comfort in her words. While going through my own pain at a time when my church was embroiled in controversy, I sought her out for wisdom and encouragement. She always had a smile, a way of seeing the big picture, and usually gave me good direction. We prayed together often. We shared ideas and worked through where God was leading the church at the time.
One day I asked her if she had always had such a strong faith and great prayer life. She smiled and said, “No way, Pastor Dave. When I was young, I was hard-headed. I let emotions get to me. I often responded without first taking things to God in prayer. In time, I have learned to trust God’s leading, lean on God’s Spirit, and obey God’s voice. But it took a long time and many mistakes to get to that place! Still, I am so glad I took that spiritual leap!”
Not many people can make that leap, that transition to trusting in God’s Spirit of truth. Few people can even handle the truth! Fewer still have learned to listen for God’s voice. Only the chosen obey God’s command. Is God’s Spirit directing your steps? Have you figured out how to listen for God’s voice? Do you trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Dare you step out in true faith?
It surprises me that Christians are not more attuned to the need for and presence of the Holy Spirit. Since it is a necessary and productive part of the spiritual life, the Holy Spirit is a crucial element in the spiritual life cycle. Its power is conducive to spiritual growth. If you do not listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will find yourself stymied when making decisions. Your direction in life will become less clear. Obstacles will feel overwhelming. A connection with God during prayer will not occur. Your passion for God will fade. You may find that you no longer feel a glowing warmth of love in the soul. Life will become more demanding. Christians without the Holy Spirit die a slow spiritual death. Christians who are not attuned to the Spirit will not relish an old hymn, feel soulful peace in quiet moments, nor find healing in the company of the faithful.
Often, I have spoken of how God directs the faithful. However, it is the Holy Spirit that does that work in your heart, mind, and soul. When you have a relationship with God in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in you. According to scriptures like that written above, the Holy Spirit is your “guide into all the truth” (John 16:13). Sent by the Father in Heaven to the followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will reveal the “truth” to you. You may not want to hear it, but the Holy Spirit will in time reveal worldly lies and separate out God’s honest truth. That’s why in John 16:13, the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth”. Even more amazingly, when the Holy Spirit is working powerfully in you, it will “declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). You will have an innate ability to perceive what is coming in time and what is needed for the future.
Based on today’s meditational scripture, the Holy Spirit not only reveals the truth to you, but it also reveals certain aspects of the future. It is important you learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as it speaks to you. The quality of your life and the depth of your knowledge will depend on how well you obey the voice of the Spirit and follow the direction of its guidance.
In the books of Genesis and Exodus of the Bible, Joseph listened to God’s direction and followed God’s guidance. With great spiritual fortitude, he endured slavery in order to be placed perfectly for when the world fell into seven years of famine. He was later noticed by the authorities and had the ear of Pharaoh. With Joseph’s leadership, the world was saved from starvation, and the children of Israel found safety and security.
Abraham, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Paul all followed the direction of God. In doing so, the Spirit of God led them to understanding, helped to lead Israel through their leadership, and guided their steps according to God’s plan of salvation. In one way or another, guidance by God’s Spirit gave strength and security to all those who obeyed in faith and were content to be led by God’s hand.
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit will direct your steps along difficult paths. You may even be warned by the Spirit that upcoming challenges are coming your way. Don’t let it shake your faith! Don’t let fear or weakness overcome you. Your steps are carefully watched from Heaven. With the Spirit’s guidance, you are in protective hands. Even the faithful Israelites needed to pass through the wilderness to reach the Promised Land!
In a conversation with a faithful matriarch many years ago, I found comfort in her words. While going through my own pain at a time when my church was embroiled in controversy, I sought her out for wisdom and encouragement. She always had a smile, a way of seeing the big picture, and usually gave me good direction. We prayed together often. We shared ideas and worked through where God was leading the church at the time.
One day I asked her if she had always had such a strong faith and great prayer life. She smiled and said, “No way, Pastor Dave. When I was young, I was hard-headed. I let emotions get to me. I often responded without first taking things to God in prayer. In time, I have learned to trust God’s leading, lean on God’s Spirit, and obey God’s voice. But it took a long time and many mistakes to get to that place! Still, I am so glad I took that spiritual leap!”
Not many people can make that leap, that transition to trusting in God’s Spirit of truth. Few people can even handle the truth! Fewer still have learned to listen for God’s voice. Only the chosen obey God’s command. Is God’s Spirit directing your steps? Have you figured out how to listen for God’s voice? Do you trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Dare you step out in true faith?