DATE: 17th May, 2020
THEME: MANIFESTING THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
SCRIPTURE READINGS
ACTS 17:22-31
1 PETER 3:13-22
JOHN 14:15-21
PSALTER: PSALM 66:8-20
INTRODUCTION
Charles Spurgeon once told of sitting in a nice restaurant. As he ate he kept noticing a rather angry looking man across the dining room who scowled at him every time he looked his way. Finally Spurgeon decided to go over and speak to the man to see what his problem was. However, as he stood he realized that what he had been seeing was his own reflection in mirrors that lined the walls across the room. We may not always like what we see in the mirror of God’s Word but what we see there is always the truth and always the best!
The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. He will lead us to understand His word, He will teach us. How is this possible for God to teach us? How can I discern what I am hearing is the Spirit of truth?
BODY
A) THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
These verses tell of the coming of the Holy Spirit. We are given several truths about Him and His ministry to believers that need to be looked into today.
▪ His Person – Jesus promised the Disciples that when He goes to the Father, He would ask the Father to send the “Comforter.” This Comforter is none other than the Holy Spirit.
▪ His Title – Comforter – “paraklete” – One who comes alongside another to offer protection and counsel. It carries the idea of and advocate, or a lawyer. The Holy Spirit is our divine “paraklete.”
▪ His Personality – Another – “allos” – Literally another of the same kind or quality. Jesus was a Comforter Himself, but the Spirit of God is Another Comforter. One just like Jesus.
▪ His Ability – Jesus was able to abide with the Disciples for 3 years. Now, through the coming of the Holy Spirit, He will not abide with them, but He shall abide in them. Hence, Jesus has the ability to promise every child of God that He will never leave them nor forsake them, but that He will be with always, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20.
B. WHY THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH?
The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth” a few times in the books of John and 1John. Whenever Jesus Christ is exalted the Third Person of the Trinity is at work. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and He always points us in the direction of the way, and the truth, and the life.
It is through the person and work of Jesus Christ that we know the truth and are set free (John 8:32).
▪He is the Spirit of Christ who is the truth. He exalts the truth and glorifies Christ.
▪He does not speak of Himself, but always of Jesus.
▪ The “Spirit of truth” opens our blind eyes so the unregenerate heart can see the truth.
▪The Holy Spirit of truth reveals the truth about God, man, sin, judgment, atonement, salvation, eternal life, etc.
▪He is the Agent of the Godhead who reveals what God is like in His saving grace.
▪The Holy Spirit guides us in the realization that it is in Jesus Christ that God the Father is seen and known (John 1:18).
The Spirit of truth reveals to every seeker of the truth the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and everyone who believes on Him has eternal life. He prepares our minds to accept this truth.
C. AWAKENING TO LOVE
How do we keep following Jesus after he is no longer among us? The answer is simple, and extremely difficult at the same time. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” Jesus says. Note that this is not a conditional imperative statement. Jesus isn’t saying, “If you really love me, you’d better keep my commandments.” He is simply stating a fact.
The word we find here, which is repeated at least four times in verse 21 alone, is AGAPE.
▪It is this self-giving, indiscriminate love that Jesus demonstrated to his disciples when he knelt down to wash their feet.
▪It’s the kind of love he showed on the cross.
▪It’s the kind of indiscriminate, selfless love he offers to us, and commands us to offer to each other.
It’s a tall order. Jesus knows this. That’s why he tells us that we will have some help. He says, “I will ask the Father to give you another Advocate, to be with you forever”.
• The Proof Of Love – Jesus makes it crystal clear that our obedience to Him and His word is the absolute proof of our love to Him.
• The Promise Of Love – The promise to those who are obedient to the Lord Jesus and His will for their lives is that He and the Father will manifest themselves to them.
D. MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT
i. The manifestation of the Spirit is a life of Obedience.
Obedience is not the perquisite to get the spirit, because you cannot earn the Holy Spirit it is a gift from God.
ii. The manifestation of the Spirit is a life of DOING GOOD
iii. The manifestation of the Spirit is a life of SAYING THE TRUTH
APPLICATION
▪ Being Truth Defines the Name and Nature of the Holy Spirit – He’s the Spirit of Truth.
▪Speaking Truth Defines the Role and Responsibility of the Holy Spirit – …he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard.
▪When the Spirit Speaks Truth to You, the Spirit Brings Glory to Jesus – The Holy Spirit wants to talk to you because when he does, he brings glory to the Son of God.
CONCLUSION
I thank the Lord today for the SPIRIT OF TRUTH! I am glad that when I do not understand what is going to happen, when it seems that everything is falling apart, when I don’t know which way to turn, I can count on THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH! He has given us all we need today. Whether the need is for salvation or for peace of heart, the remedy will be found in Him. Stay BLESSED
Stay SAFE.
PREPARED BY
VERY REV. DR. SAMUEL YAW DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA-ACCRA
