The Holy Spirit has impressed upon us to further the discourse on The Book. Let’s see what other things He has to say to enlighten us about written word.
In my times of reading written word I have come across passages of scripture that has instructed word to be written. I’ve seen where scribes were taking dictations of spoken words to be recorded in books. Scrolls filled with histories and instructions were written to be read. Prophecies were spoken and recorded to be read and heeded. The more that I think about written word, and indulge myself in the written word of God, the more I want to just lose myself in it. The benefits of God’s written word is a treasure more valuable than all the riches of the world. Its benefits and treasures are priceless. What excites me the more about the reading of the written word is the excitement of the Holy Spirit to draw ever so near to sit with me and teach me from the written word. We have laughed together about written word and the insights that he has given about written word. Again I will quote Jesus’ reference to the Holy Spirit. In the 15th chapter of John, Jesus informed the disciples that he was going to leave them. Of course they became sad and filled with grief. I can only imagine the painted pictures of the mind that spoke to the disciples of what life would be like without the Master of all masters, the Teacher of all teachers, the Energizer of the souls of men. In the 14th chapter of John, Jesus goes into more depth about the Holy Spirit, who He is and about the work He will do in the earth and in the believer once Jesus himself left. From the description given by Jesus of the Holy Spirit we will see that the Holy Spirit is “Just like Jesus.”
The Holy Spirit has been called the Comforter, the Advocate, The Spirit of Grace and Truth. He has been called The Teacher, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and of Power, the Spirit of Knowledge. He has been accredited as the Author of Scripture, the Convicter of Sin. He has been called a Guide, a Deposit, A Seal, an Intercessor. He has been called the Spirit of Life and a Witness. Many are the names, titles and descriptions of the Holy Spirit but the one thing He is not and that is an IT. One of the things that I challenge bible believing students to do is to read aloud scriptures referencing the Holy Spirit and substitute Him or He with the word it and tell me how the substitution of it in reference to the Holy Spirit sets in their spirits. What they should feel is the grief of the Holy Spirit within their spirits.
In John 14:26 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit (whom my Father will send in my name), he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have told you. John 15:26: 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, which is the Spirit of truth who proceeds of the Father, he will testify of me. (All scriptures are taken from the New Matthew Bible)
In the 16th chapter of John Jesus talked some more on the subject of his leaving and explained to the disciples how it was necessary that he leaves because if he didn’t the Holy Spirit could not come. Let’s take a look at this chapter:
These things I have said to you so that you are not made to stumble. 2 They will excommunicate you; yea, the time shall come that whoever kills you will think that he does God service. 3 And such things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when that hour comes, you may remember them, that I told you so. I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was present with you. 5 But now I go my way to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, Where are you going? 6 But because I have said such things to you, your hearts are full of sorrow. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you. 8 And when he is come, he will rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe on me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you will see me no more; 11 and of judgment, because the chief ruler of this world is judged already. 12 I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot receive them now. 13 However, when he is come (I mean the Spirit of truth), he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak of himself, but whatever he hears, that he will speak, and he will show you things to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will receive of mine and will show it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said to you that he will take of mine and show it to you.
Why was Jesus so adamant about the Holy Spirit coming?” I’ve been asked. Are you ready for the answer? Here it is. THE BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS; SHED FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD, RECONCILES BELIEVERS TO THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TRANSFORMS THE BELIEVERS INTO THE VERY LIKENESS OF CHRIST AND INTO THE KINGDOM CITIZENS THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD CALLS FOR. WRITTEN WORD IS THE MAJOR TOOL THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT USES IN THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS. Again: the blood of the Lord Jesus reconciles and it is the Holy Spirit who transforms.
To the unsaved who desire change in their lives I advise the acceptance of the redemptive work of Christ, acceptance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. To the believer who struggles with his or her walk, I advise to hang out with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Examine the following passages of scripture carefully:
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them“Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22 New International Version
When Jesus appeared to the disciples that day they were locked away…scared. They feared the same Jews whom they thought had the power to kill the Lord Jesus. Let’s remember what Jesus said during his interrogation. John 19:1-12 (New international Version):
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.(beat (someone) with a whip or stick as punishment or torture.) 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
So the disciples were fearful that day and locked away. After realizing that their visitor was truly the Lord Jesus, Jesus breathed on them and said receive the Holy Spirit. Now let’s look at the difference the endowment of the Holy Spirit made in and on the disciples. In the same room that they were locked away in after their 40 day visit from Jesus, the Holy Spirit was sent ten days after Jesus left. In that same room where the disciples were snivering cowards; they were transformed by the Holy Spirit into bold and courageous disciples who came out of that room and went into the streets and testified to the awesomeness of God; speaking in unlearned languages of every Jew that was in the city for the Pentecostal celebration. They no longer cowered from the Jews but boldly, face to face; testified of the Jesus that many of them yelled..”crucify him!” The Holy Spirit transforms. The Holy Spirit convicted and convinced men and women on that day so much so that about three thousand souls was added to the kingdom of Christ and the work thereof.
The Book is very, very important. The Holy Spirit who is the Author of the Bible, uses written word to transform our lives. If there is no indwelling Spirit of Christ, there is no Change. If there is no indwelling word there is no change. King David said as quoted in part 1 of The Book Discourse: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, (Why) that I might not sin against you. David knew of the transforming and keeping power of God’s word, his laws, his statutes.
In a sit down with the Holy Spirit just recent, he said to me; “Joyce many of the saints don’t even read their bibles anymore”. The sadness in his voice pricked my heart deeply. Listen to this next statement with your heart. ALONG BESIDE JESUS THE MASTER TEACHER; STANDS THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE MASTER TEACHER. I sincerely pray that you received the understanding. Paraclete is a Greek term used to describe the Holy Spirit. One of the meanings for this Greek term is “One called along side to help. When the Holy Spirit introduced himself to me some 20+ years ago, he said to me that the meaning of the term Paraclete carries a twofold meaning. He said to me that One called along side to Help is first indicative of the work of Christ. He said; ” I am called along side the redemptive work of Christ Jesus to aide. I am not called along side man. Man is to be aided in what I am doing along side the work of Christ. To be called along side man is saying that man is in charge and I am to help man in what he is doing. This is complete error. Man was not left in charge of the work of the Kingdom Joyce. I am the one who is left in charge. Man is not in control of the drawing of men and women to Jesus Christ, I am. Man is not in control of converting the hearts of men and women, I am. Man is not in control of filling a heart with love, peace, joy, temperance, goodness, faith, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, faith. These characteristics, are gifts of the Spirit. My aide with man is to conform him to the image of Christ. Man is not in control of anything except choice. Throughout the Scriptures, the epistles; my person and my work is talked about. But as Jesus is seldom mentioned in the churches, even the lesser am I mentioned. I am the author of the scriptures. I was made known even as Jesus was made known through the scriptures. He was rejected though the scriptures spoke of him and likewise I too am faced with the same.
Writing and recording has a major part in the history of the world and certainly has a major part in the redemption of mankind. Writing and recording is not something that man alone does but God himself with his own hands wrote his law; the ten commandments on tablets of stone before the prophet and servant Moses on Mount Sinai. The bible says the tablets of stone was written on with the finger of God. (Exodus 31:18). I bet that was an awesome sight. So it has been established that as a whole, what the Lord wants his people to know is written. Once the written is read, the Holy Spirit will open our understanding and not only will he open our understanding, he will also empower us to keep the instructions written if we want to.
Psalm 119 is noted as a Tribute to the Word of God. There are 176 verses of scripture and scholars say that only five of the 176 verses does not reference the Word of God. The Psalm talks about God’s Law , his rules, his commands , his message, his teaching , his word and his promises. Psalm 119 describes the power, greatness, and absolute necessity of God’s Word in the life of a believer. Where there is no love for the Word of God there is no love for obedience to Him. My heart is torn for the professing believers who’ve said to me that they don’t read or like to read the word of God. Because of there being no love for the word of God many to most of these professing believers are living shabby lives in Christ and that shabbiness has nothing to do with a lack of ability on the part of the Holy Spirit. A love for the word of God has to be developed by the Holy Spirit yes, yet, how can He develop what we will not delve and indulge ourselves in?
Follow us to The Book III…..