Soap - Holy Spirit, Revealing Truth

S: 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.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13

O: Who is the Spirit who is from God? First of all, this question automatically answers itself-The Holy Spirit is not a force or power used by God-the Holy Spirit is a person who comes from God. The Holy Spirit is the one who is at work in our lives-doing all the works as God instructs. He is also the 3rd person often overlooked in the Trinity-but He is the one who is with us at all times, working with us and against our flesh.

Through the Holy Spirit we've come to know the truths in the Word-The Spirit reveals truth in God's Word, especially in the Gospel, where salvation was given to us freely for Christ paid the cost. But not only does God freely pour out his mercy upon us through His Son, He freely pours out his grace and blessings as co-heirs with Christ. All testimony of the Gospel and of the Word are not spoken in words taught by our own human wisdom (which is foolishness in comparison to God's!) but rather spoken in words taught and directed by the Spirit, Whom alone knows the thoughts of God.

Spiritual thoughts? Spiritual words? Only by knowing the Word's true meaning, revealed by the Holy Spirit, we manifest spiritual thoughts and spiritual words. We who have received the Spirit know the abundant truth and goodness given to us from God-we testify of those truths not by our own conviction, but by the Spirit that reveals what to be true.

A: I need to be Spirit-filled and reliant upon the Spirit. To be Spirit-filled means that I will be equipped to speak the Gospel without any sugarcoating or my own wisdom or tact put into testifying of God's glory and it will move powerfully. My own words will always be foolishness, but by the Spirit, God's wisdom and power is at hand. To be Spirit-filled means I will consecrate myself and press towards sanctification. To Spirit-filled means I will strive towards submitting myself to God's will and God's kingdom. By the Spirit, I lead worship, speak Truth, and exist to reveal God's glory in me that which is not me at all, but Christ who saved me.

P: Who knows the mind of God? Who understands Your ways? I certainly don't. But Your Spirit Who was given to me by Your grace pushes me on in this race to do greater things. I want to a Spirit-filled servant! Would you spur on a greater passion for Your name in my life, Lord? This coming week used to look ominously large, looming over-and I used to wonder how I would get through it. But I understand that I won't, at least not by my own strength. I thank You for Your Spirit, revealing the great truth that brings me face to face with Your saving grace-humbling me beyond anything else in this life. I pray that as the Spirit intercedes for me, when I'm spouting off all the wrong words and desires-set me towards the direction that You intend for me. In Christ, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria