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(Read John 16: 12-15)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on “Minimizing Your Humanity and Maximizing Your Divinity.” I trust you have been enjoying reading this series as much as I have been enjoying writing it. We have looked at passages in John chapters 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, and 15. This morning we cross over into chapter 16.
As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure, He said, “I have so much more to tell you, but it is too much for you to accept now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what will happen in the future. The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me by telling you what he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will tell you what he receives from me.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Holy Spirit is IN you to lead you. Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth.” The Holy Spirit is an exceptional leader and He will lead you in the way you should go. However, the Holy Spirit will not twist your arm to follow Him. He will not force you to be blessed. The Holy Spirit will do the leading, but you must do the following. If you refuse to take the time to hear His voice, and to follow Him, then you will be the Captain of your own ship, setting your own course, and you will have to deal with the storms you encounter along the way; many of which you could have avoided, had you listened to the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit will reveal things to you about your future. Jesus said this of the Holy Spirit: “He will speak only what he hears and will tell you what will happen in the future.” The Father does not want you to blindly and aimlessly meander your way through life. He wants you to know your purpose, to hear His voice, to receive divine revelation about your future, and to pursue what He shows you in faith, with bulldog tenacity, all the while trusting Him to bring to pass what He has revealed to you.
3. The Holy Spirit is submitted to Jesus and the Father. Jesus said this of the Holy Spirit: “He will not speak his own words. He will speak only what he hears… the Spirit will tell you what he receives from me.” God is a God of order. Jesus only said what He heard the Father say. Jesus did not come up with His own words. Jesus was completely submitted to the Father. In the same way, the Holy Spirit is submitted to Jesus. Jesus only said what He received from the Father and the Holy Spirit will only say what He receives from Jesus. What can you learn from this? You learn that God is a God of order and it is difficult for a disorderly person to receive from an orderly God.
4. You can “plug in” to the order and unity of the Godhead. This is the order of God: the Son only says what He receives from the Father, the Holy Spirit only says what He receives from the Son, and since the Holy Spirit is IN you, you are in position to “plug in” to the order and power of God. When you submit to the Holy Spirit and you allow Him to flow through you — giving you the words and performing the work — then you become an extension of God in the earth. The Father speaks to the Son, the Son to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit to you, and you to others. In this way God is able to reach the world through you to impact the lives of others. This is how you minimize your humanity and maximize the divinity God has placed IN you. Remember, God is in heaven and you are the one in the earth. God wants to impact and influence the earth, but He is looking to do it through you. When God works through you, giving you the words and performing the work, He is able to change the world. And what is required of you is not necessarily more trying, but rather more dying! The more you die to self, the more God is able to flow through you.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your love, Your grace and Your precious Holy Spirit. You love me with an everlasting love. You have chosen to use me by Your undeserved grace. You have placed Your Spirit in me to lead me in the way I should go. You speak to Your Son Jesus concerning me, Jesus speaks to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit speaks to me, and I receive His words, I incline my ear to His voice and I submit to His leadership. The Holy Spirit does the leading and I do the following. He gives me the words and He performs the work. I become the conduit, in the earth, through whom You are able to flow freely, impacting and influencing the world. I am ready to be used. I know I am not worthy on my own merit, but I accept the righteousness Jesus earned for me, offered to me by grace, and I receive it by faith. I want to You to use me for Your glory and I am learning that to be used it really does not require more trying on my part. What it requires is more dying. Therefore, I die to self, I minimize me, and You are able to maximize You and live through me, for Your glory. Not because I deserve it, but only because of Your grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
