John 16:13-14
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come, He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."
As Jesus continues with his discourse on the coming of the promised Helper, he declares the Spirit will glorify Christ as he speaks to us according to what he hears under the authority of God.
Consider for a moment that Jesus says we need to be guided into truth. You see, it is not our nature to inwardly know truth without the Spirit's touch. We can't rely on our feelings, hunches, or intuition to know God's will. These things are only known under the guidance of the Spirit. Without the Spirit speaking truth into our lives, we could in no way glorify Christ through obedience.
Often times, I hear people say "I think God would want me to…." The truth is, without the Spirit, we really can't know what God wants us to do or believe. This is the role of the Helper, the Spirit's touch upon us.
Consider for a moment that Jesus says we need God's authority over our lives. As the Spirit speaks, he is the conduit of Christ's Lordship. Without this affirmation of God's leadership, our old natures take over the throne of our lives by default, leaving us in disobedience to our Christ.
As believers, we often struggle to give up the place of honor that rightfully belongs to God's authority. In a sense, we are pushing the Spirit aside, living in idolatry, worshiping our own desires.
Consider for a moment that Jesus says the Spirit glorifies Christ as he makes known the things of Christ to us. The Spirit's touch has always been about glorying Christ. He does not seek his own glorification, but to point the world and the Church to Jesus.
As believers, we need not fear the Spirit's presence, because in his voice, we learn what it means to ascribe glory to our Lord.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the Spirit's voice. Now if only I could remember to have listening ears whenever you speak. Amen.
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