‘It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.’ (John 6:63)
Sounds a bit complicated, so let
me ‘say it different’.
‘It is the spirit that gives life
and understanding to what I am saying; natural thinking cannot figure it out:
the words that I speak to you are of spirit, and they are life to all who hear
them.’
And so it is when we read the
Bible. The intellect may grasp the story and the moral teachings, but unless the
Holy Spirit gives understanding to the truth, all they are is words. Jesus was
telling things to those who gathered around him and some were offended by his
sayings, and others simply baffled.
You can sit in a church and
listen to a preacher, but it does nothing for you whatsoever. Now, that may be
because the preacher himself is both boring and has no clue about what he is
saying, or it could be because you have no spiritual ability to understand.
No matter how simply we may put
things, unless the Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual knowledge, we stay in
ignorance; but when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead us into all truth,
for he lights up God’s word and spiritually enables us to receive it as from
God. (John 16:13)
Now, if we do not have the Spirit
of God, then we do not belong to Jesus Christ, and need to be truly born again. (Romans 8:9)
Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed?
If not, ask God: for if we sinners know how to give
good gifts to our children, HOW MUCH MORE will God give the Holy Spirit to them
that ask him. (Acts 19:2) (Luke 11:13)
Pilgrim Warrior
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