SOUL NEED PART 3

-->

KEEP SPIRIT AND TRUTH TOGETHER

Pilate replied, “You are a king then?”

“You say that I am a king, and you are right,” Jesus said.  “I was born for that purpose.  And I came to bring truth to the world.  All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

“What is truth?” John 18:37-38

I believe the world’s outlook of truth is much the same as Pilate’s response. The world is so filled with its truth and its version of the truth and truth that isn’t even truth that it has given up and satisfied with things that aren’t even truth.  They are satisfied with loose facts and sketching evidence.  They say, "Everyone has their version of the truth.  They don't believe in justice, or truth, or fairness and see no wrong with immorality or impure thoughts or not doing what you said you would."

Jesus said he came to bring truth to the world and that he did by His Spirit- The Spirit of Truth -the Holy Spirit.  We read this in John 16:13-15  

The Spirit of Truth is lost on those in the world.

“He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.  But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”  John 15:17

 Jesus said, “For God is Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.”- John 4:24.

When the Spirit and truth are working together in us, they exude from our words and actions.  There is a conviction to do what God directs.  There is a truth to our actions.

Example:  “For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.  And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.”  1 Thessalonians 1:5
 

We find as the Spirit and truth move together God makes the impossible- possible. 

Jesus, who spoke in Spirit of Truth, did he not make the bind see, the lame walk, the lepers cured, the deaf to hear, and the dead raised to life?  Does he not make those without discernment- spiritually discerned?  Does he not make those once deaf and closed off to the Good News, hearers and doers of the Good News?  Does he not raise us from dead deeds of the world to a new life in Him? Does he not make those once victims of offenses walk and forgive?        

And he (Jesus) said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27

^“And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams.  Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].  And I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor; The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious day of the Lord comes—that great and notable and conspicuous and renowned [day].” Acts 2:17-20

The Spirit of truth makes the words of God come alive and tangible.  We not only read them but experience them as well.  The relationship/partnership with God are reality.

John wrote, ^“By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,” 1 John 3:19

For truth and the Spirit to work, they must be together in our internal personal lives, which come out in our external lives.

They Spirit of Truth brings “quality” to our life and labors.   He is what makes our labors endure the test of time and fire.  Frankly I do not know how the faith in Jesus Christ can “exist” without the Spirit of Truth at work in our lives.