Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Truth about the Truth

The solution to any lie is the supernatural illumination that comes from the Holy Spirit and the holy Word of God. Only truth can dispel a lie. But what is the real power of that combination, the Holy Spirit and the holy Word? Jesus revealed it in a few words from John 14. The disciples of Jesus had been shaken by His revelation that He would soon leave them (see John 13:33-37). For three years, He'd lived with them, eaten with them, spent time with them, as some say, "24/7," meaning twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. These men had left their jobs, homes, and security to follow Jesus. And now He was leaving them! The disciples were terrified. What would they do? Where would they go? They'd put everything they had into the life and times of Jesus Christ. Now, seemingly, He was leaving them stranded! It was then that Jesus brought out the greater truth, a truth that would truly make these men invincible: He would give them another comforter, the Holy Spirit. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (John 14:26). Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is with us, in us, going ahead of us and behind us. The Holy Spirit is our resident comforter, teacher, encourager, and friend. He's Jesus living in us. It's perhaps the greatest truth of the Bible: Wherever we are, Christ is. We cannot be anywhere that He isn't. Through the Spirit of God, Jesus takes what is in the Word of God and makes it practical and effective in our lives. He answers our questions, shows us how to deal with difficult situations, and guides us through the "valley of the shadow of death" when necessary. In spiritual warfare, that valley can open up before us and seem to swallow us before we even know it. But with the Spirit in us, we cannot fail. The average evangelical church in America acts like the Trinity is made up of the Father, the Son and the Holy Word of God. We need to invite the working of the Holy Spirit back into our churches and our lives. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

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