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The Spirit Guides Us
Time after time the Scriptures help us make sense out of life’s puzzles: failing marriages, rebellious children, drug addiction, warring nations, the return of leaves in spring, the insatiable longings of our hearts, the fear of death, the coming into being of children, the universality of praise and blame, the prevalence of pride, and the admiration of self-denial.
The Bible confirms its divine origin again and again as it makes sense out of our experience in the real world and points the way to harmony. I hope, therefore, that one of the doctrines which we cherish enough to die for (and live for!) is that the Holy Spirit is the divine author of all Scripture.
O, that we had all day to talk about the wonderful implications of this doctrine! The eternal Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love and delight between the Father and the Son, is the author of Scripture.
Therefore, it is true (Psalm 119:142) and altogether reliable (Hebrews 6:18).
It is powerful, working its purpose in our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and not returning empty to the One who sent it (Isaiah 55:10–11).
It is pure, like silver refined in a furnace seven times (Psalm 12:6).
It is sanctifying (John 17:17).
It gives life (Psalm 119:37, 50, 93, 107; John 6:63; Matthew 4:4).
It makes wise (Psalm 19:7; 119:99–100).
It gives joy (Psalm 19:8; 119:16, 92, 111, 143, 174) and promises great reward (Psalm 19:11).
It gives strength to the weak (Psalm 119:28) and comfort to the distraught (Psalm 119:76) and guidance to the perplexed (Psalm 119:105) and salvation to the lost (Psalm 119:155; 2 Timothy 3:15).
The wisdom of God in Scripture is inexhaustible. If this doctrine is true, then the implications are so profound and far-reaching that every part of our lives should be affected.
Psalm 119:142 (ESV) -
142 Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
Hebrews 6:18 (ESV) -
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV) -
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV) -
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Psalm 12:6 (ESV) -
6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
John 17:17 (ESV) -
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.