How to Obey the Spirit of Truth

You must be fully committed to obey

Photo by Savvas Kalimeris on Unsplash

In my previous post we learned that Jesus has only one command, and that is for us to love one another. This is the Law we obey and it’s how we walk in the Spirit and bear fruit that glorifies Jesus. We can only do that, however, if we are led by the Holy Spirit to obey that command, and thereby abide in love of both the Father and the Son.

“How, then, can we be reliably led by the Spirit?” That is the burning question before us because it’s not happening well for most. For some of us, it’s a complete mystery and for others it ends up simply looking like obedience to Biblical laws.

We can all agree that obedience to the Spirit begins with reading the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” (2nd Timothy 3:16). How we read the Bible makes the critical difference. It must be read in a way that facilitates recognising the voice of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. Jesus said: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” and “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 16:13, 14:26). That means that the Spirit will instruct us of all what Jesus commands.

This may take some adjustment in your daily devotions. If we study the Bible in the traditional western way of learning, we look for information, evaluate different interpretations and so are reluctant to immediately commit to any response. This method is very useful to discern doctrine and resolve complicated issues. It is rightly said that “faith seeks understanding”. The Christian community needs this intelligent approach to our faith – so long as it begins with faith, and not from the enlightenment dictum to doubt everything until somehow proven to the sceptical mind.

But this is not the way to read the Bible if you want to be led by the Holy Spirit. A disciple must approach the scripture with a prior commitment to obey it. Only then are our ears open to hearing it which allows the Spirit to reveal understanding to us. This is how the mind becomes renewed; the Truth enters the heart as revealed by the Spirit.

Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were deceived into thinking they understood the scriptures, because they lacked the heart for obedience. Furthermore, as St. Paul pointed out, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:14). You need the Holy Spirit for understanding the Bible.

It's true that getting the correct historical, linguistic, or hermeneutic knowledge is essential at times. We must first know the truth of what the author meant to say to his audience to discern what the Holy Spirit has to say about it. That’s all the study you need. The truth you need to know does not come through your brilliant analysis or working out “what would Jesus do”. 

To read without a prior commitment to obey is the same as only hearing the word and not putting it into action as Jesus firmly stated. That is why James warned: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). This is how we know the truth: to know the truth is to obey it, and thereby we abide in the Holy Spirit.

When you read the Bible for this purpose, you understand the importance of taking the time to let the words sink in. You pause, reflect, re-read, and ask God questions that arise but always seek the message He is bringing to your attention. During the day, you let it ruminate in your mind as you are busy with work and other activities. Without much effort, and at the right time, the Holy Spirit will remind you of the Word you have read and the understanding he brought to your attention. That’s hearing the Holy Spirit! When your immediate response is obeying the Spirit, that is when you are led by and abide in the Spirit. Life with God becomes exciting and adventuresome.

Know that your faith in hearing God enables you to hear. It is good to inquire of God when you have questions and experiment with your responses. Although only rarely will you hear the audible voice of God, believe you will hear God, nonetheless. What you can expect is that words will spontaneously present themselves to your mind and will have a special feel to it. It may sound like your own inner voice but sometimes is far too brilliant to originate with you. Remember Jesus said, “my sheep know my voice” (John 10:27).

So be brave and do not yield to fear that this kind of life might lead you into error. Keep believing and praying for more understanding of the truth of the Gospel, which is why Paul prayed that “…the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,”. (Ephesians 1:18)

Reflect: What has been my approach to Bible reading? To what extent am I ready to believe it and obey the Bible when I read it?

Prayer: Father in heaven, help me become willing to obey your voice as I read the Bible. Reveal the truth I need to know.

Practice: Reading your Bible is also a time to quiet your mind and letting your interior noise settle down, which opens up your spiritual ears. When you feel ready to hear and obey – that’s when you hear. Take a half hour if you can and read it slowly.  If your mind drifts, re-read it.

Journal: Write down the scriptures that the Spirit highlights to you, and then write down what you believe is being revealed that you need to know and must obey.