How do you experience God? How would you characterize your relationship with the Holy Spirit? God would have you value the active ministry of the Holy Spirit as you do the Scriptures.
As the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness after being set free from the bondage in Egypt, God provided daily measures of manna for food. Moses revealed that God provided the manna to prove a point: “He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3-4). Jesus quoted this very scripture when tempted by Satan.
God gave us the Scriptures—His Word—to establish His covenant with us. More than a “law” the scriptures serve as God’s instructions for life. They provide stories of real people to illustrate how God is involved in the affairs of the human experience called life and how God interacts with us. They provide wisdom on a multitude of topics.
Isaiah revealed that beyond God’s written word He has given us another component of His covenant to communicate with Him and experience His glory—the Holy Spirit: “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth…” (Isaiah 59:21).
Jesus revealed more about this. He said “God is Spirit” (John 4:24). Truly, He whispers to our heart through His Spirit—the Holy Spirit—residing in our heart. It is how He planned for us to live in union with Him. Even more, it is how He helps us live a life of true freedom in Him! Experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit is how you experience God.
RELEVANCE
So God planned for man to live in freedom in Him by being dependent upon Him. Such independence in God is truly expressed by depending on God’s Word breathed by His Holy Spirit. This is what the LORD revealed towards the end of His ministry.
I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future. He will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and announce it to you (John 16:12-14 JNT).
The LORD truly guides us in truth by speaking through His Spirit, which affirms what His written word reveals in the Scriptures. It’s how we experience His presence. He won’t contradict His written word. He will amplify it and give it relevant and practical meaning.
REFLECT AND RELATE
If you’ve not heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit, ask in Jesus’ name for Him to confirm how He speaks to you.
REFERENCES
Romans 8:1-17; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Galatians 5:16-26