The Word of God and the Holy Spirit

          

             All Scripture is inspired by God [theopneustos – inspired by the Spirit of God] and profitable                 for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God                 may be adequate, equipped for every good work.                    2 Timothy 3:16-17

So, we have the prophetic word made more sure [bebaios – certain], to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know [ginosko – denotes personal fellowship] this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation [epilusis – exposition of the will], for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved [phero – bear as a burden] by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.             2 Peter 1:19-21

The above verses clearly convey the truth that the Holy Spirit is the author of all Scripture, and they are all intended to accomplish a specific work, either teaching doctrine, reproving, correcting, or instructing in righteousness. This accomplished work becomes the foundation for every good work. All Scripture is certain: pay close attention. It is not intended to be understood based on one’s own individual conclusions or rational ability, but the Holy Spirit is the source of a proper understanding; He is the Teacher.

The Spirit of Truth 

But when He, the Spirit of truth [aletheia - denotes a reality that is firm, solid, binding, and hence true], comes, He will guide you [hodegeo – lead you in the way] into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore, I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.                  John 16:13-15 

"These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach [didasko – instruct] you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.                           John 14:25-26

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.         John 14:16-17

Jesus promised His disciples just before His crucifixion that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, would come in His place to be with them forever and be their Teacher in His stead. This truth represents reality from God’s perspective and is firm, solid, and binding. Job 36:4 says, “For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.” Man cannot attain to truth apart from the Holy Spirit since his own limited understanding darkens him. The Holy Spirit will also disclose what is to come and reveal all the things that Jesus has reserved for His followers. The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting (Psalm 119:160).

Only the Spirit Knows the Thoughts of God

but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.                       1 Corinthians 2:9-16

But there is a spirit in man, and the breath [Spirit] of the Almighty gives him understanding (Job 32:8). The Father has given a directive to the Holy Spirit to expand the horizons of a believer's life by revelation of things beyond his limitations. In 1 Corinthians 14:6, Paul writes, But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? The disciple's understanding of truth is only limited by his ability to hear and be open to being taught by the Spirit of God. It is the avenue into the mind of Christ.

The Testimony of Joseph 

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge.                              Genesis 39:1-4

So, Joseph's master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. The chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail, so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the Lord was with him, and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.           Genesis 39:20-23

A great example of this principle is found in the person of Joseph. In the above passages, he was first sold into slavery by his brothers and then ended up in jail for something he didn't do. In both cases, the Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. The Lord spoken of in these passages is the Holy Spirit. As a result, God blessed Joseph with exceptional abilities that enabled him to prosper, both in Potiphar's household and in prison. It was evident to those in charge that he was both capable and trustworthy, so he was given responsibilities consistent with his demonstrated character and abilities. God would use Joseph to interpret dreams that would ultimately promote Joseph to a position of being second in command of the most powerful nation of his day. Writing to his children in the Testament of Joseph (Column 10), he wrote the following words to describe his mindset as his brothers had betrayed him:

“You see, my children, how great things come through patience with prayer and fasting. If you, therefore, practice sobriety and purity in patience and humility of heart, the Lord will dwell among you, because He loves sobriety. Wherever the Most High dwells, even though a man falls into envy, slavery, or slander, the Lord who dwells in him, for his sobriety’s sake, not only delivers him from evil, but also exalts and glorifies him, even as me. For in every way the man is guarded, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought. My brothers, know how my father loved me, and I was not exalted in my heart. Although I was a child, I had the fear of God in my thoughts. For I knew that all things should pass away, and I kept myself within bounds, and I honored my brothers. Through fear of them I held my peace when I was sold, and revealed not my family to the Ishmaelites, that I was the son of Jacob, a great and mighty man.”

Joseph understood that the purity of his relationship with God, defined as the fear of God in my thoughts since his childhood, was the source of his promotions by God throughout his life. In Column 11 of that same Testament, Joseph says, "Do you also, therefore, have fear of God in your works, and honor your family? For everyone who follows the law of the Lord will be loved by Him.” Joseph’s reverence for God was foundational for the favor of God in his life.

David’s Last Words

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through sunshine after rain.’          2 Samuel 23:2-4 

These are some of David’s last words, giving testimony to the Holy Spirit as the means by which David could commune with his Lord and fulfill his calling to be Israel’s king for forty years and be the one spoken of in Acts 13:22: 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.' The ministry of the Holy Spirit is a ministry of the heart of the Lord, thus drawing each believer into an ongoing relationship with that heart.

Wisdom & Understanding

Acquire wisdom [chokmah – God’s wisdom by the Holy Spirit]! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over [nasab – preserve, keep] you. “The beginning of wisdom is [wisdom is the principle thing]: acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding. “Prize her [salal – exalt], and she will exalt [rum – lift up] you; She will honor you if you embrace her. “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.”               Proverbs 4:5-9 

According to Vines Expository Dictionary, “chokmah is the knowledge and the ability to make the right choices at the opportune time. The consistency of making the right choice is an indication of maturity and development.” The prerequisite for "wisdom" is the fear of the Lord. In fact, Job 28:28 says, “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’” These two principles, wisdom and understanding, are closely intertwined in Scripture. Solomon advises us to acquire both and pursue them with intensity to incorporate them into our lives. Wisdom is personified in Proverbs 8:22-31 as the coming Messiah:

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. “From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. “When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. “Before the mountains were settled, before the hills I was brought forth; While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, nor the first dust of the world. “When He established the heavens, I was there, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, when the springs of the deep became fixed, When He set for the sea its boundary so that the water would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth; Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the world, His earth, and having my delight in the sons of men.

The above passage refers to wisdom as a person and not just a sense or an ability. It ties wisdom to the person of Christ and also, the logos, the Word of God as John defines it in John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word of God is the essence of God as revealed to man, through Jesus in His humanity and then by the Holy Spirit throughout the Church Age.

The Lord says, Do not forget nor turn away from the words of My mouth. The Word of God is a critical part of the believer’s life. Hebrews 4:12 says, For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding 

Trust [batah – reliance on God, produces a feeling of safety and security] in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean [saan – rely] on your own understanding [biynah – comprehension]. In all your ways acknowledge [yada – experiential knowledge] Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise [hakam – skilled or experienced] in your own eyes; fear [yare – reverence] the Lord and turn away from evil.                            Proverbs 3:5-7

Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.      Jeremiah 9:23-24 

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS." So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you.          1 Corinthians 3:18-21

The Hebrew word batah is translated "trust" and speaks of a reliance on God that produces a feeling of safety and security in God. It represents a fullness of faith in God, rather than in anything related to man or his abilities. There are numerous warnings in Scripture, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, that caution believers against trusting in anything other than God for their understanding of life's matters. Instead, his wisdom can only be characterized as foolishness and useless. The Holy Spirit is the only source to create the spiritual; human accomplishment apart from Him can only produce more humanity (John 3:6).

According to Your Word

The Lord is my portion [heleq – territory]; I have promised to keep Your words [dabar – that which You speak]. I sought Your favor [paniym – face, presence] with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your word [imrah – Word of God]. I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies [edah – testifying to facts]. I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments [miswah – entire corpus of divine instruction]. The cords of the wicked have encircled me, but I have not forgotten Your law [torah - that which is taught, instructed]. At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances [mispat – legal decisions, judgments]. I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts [piqqud – instruction that provides order]. The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O Lord; teach me Your statutes [hoq – regulations].                Psalm 119:57-64 

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, with 176 verses. It is composed of 22 stanzas, each consisting of 8 verses, representing the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. (The eighth Hebrew letter is heth). All but one or two verses are referencing different aspects of the Word of God. Three of the 22 stanzas include all eight of the Hebrew words used to describe the Word of God, including the one above. These words describe different aspects of the written Word that emphasize something unique about the ministry of the Word of God. The Holy Spirit accomplishes the same work by instructing and guiding the believer into the truth, applying it to the believer's life to build their faith in God. In Romans 10:17, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word [rhema – the truth taught by the Holy Spirit] of Christ.

Discerning False Teaching

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.                     2 John 9-11

The Apostle John goes on in his second letter to explain that being taught by the Spirit of God is not a one-time event, but rather something that becomes a way of life. He uses the Greek word "meno," translated as abide, remain, or continue in. When the believer allows himself to be taught by the Holy Spirit as a lifestyle, he “has the Father and the Son". Anyone who comes to you in the name of the Lord, yet is not speaking only from God as having been taught by God, one should not receive such a one into his house. There were many false teachers in the days when John wrote this letter, and this condition remains prevalent today.

False teaching in the name of the Lord takes on many forms. Paul identifies them as "philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world” in Colossians 2:8. They are intended to take you captive, removing you from the power that God manifests through believers who are personally connected to Christ in mind (teaching) and spirit. When Christ is our all in all, we are made complete and, therefore, need nothing else. It reminds us of David’s statement in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” When believers are circumcised to Christ, they are fully satisfied. The Spirit of truth will always expose false teaching to those open to being taught by God.