December 7, 2020 -- John 16:13 -- The Spirit of Truth and no compromise

When the Spirit of Truth comes, 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 declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13 English Standard Version

Clearly the truth we need is given to us by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. God our Glorious Father has spoken and the Spirit of God has made His will known all through the generations. God the Father spoke most clearly in Jesus Christ—the Prophet, the Perfect and final High Priest, and King. The Spirit of God was given to Jesus without measure and we know that the Spirit Who resides in Jesus is given to believers.

There are many times a man will speak with me and say, I want to date a woman. She is not a Christian, but I am seeking the Lord’s will on this. Hm. He has spoken clearly about this in the Bible—the Old and New Testament are filled with examples of God’s clear declaration. And mentally I count down for the “yes, but” and usually the immediate example to refute this is Solomon. The man will argue with me, he had lots of wives. To which I reply something to the effect true they were not “Christian” or God'-fearers”. They also turned his heart from serving God. What makes you think you are smarter than Solomon?

All that believers need for faithful living as followers of Jesus Christ is given in the Bible. The Spirit of Truth guided the followers of Jesus to write the New Testament. This has been preserved by the Spirit of God through the generations so that believers have the clearest manual for living as grace-receiving, obedient children of God.

Are you prepared to be guided into all truth? Where are you making small compromises? Where are you thinking “this is too much for God to ask of me”? How are you examining your life so that you choose to follow Jesus into all truth rather than in compromise. Notice the Spirit only speaks what has been given to Him by Jesus. Notice that Jesus reveals the Father’s will. Such committed love and unity in work and purpose should be so instructive for believers. Clearly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit devote themselves to One another in love and unity in accomplishing their purpose. Clearly the point is for believers to yield obedience and worship and love to God the Triune without any hint of compromise to the world around. The Spirit will guide the believer in all truth—what a glorious promise!

The lament today, from Job, shows how God answered Job’s cries and pleas. The help long-sought for by all humanity has fully been given in Jesus the One Who cleanses us and the Spirit Who speaks to our spirit. What a Savior!

Job 9:30-35

If I wash myself with snow
and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me into a pit,
and my own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him,
that we should come to trial together.
33 There is no arbiter between us,
who might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me,
and let not dread of him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him,
for I am not so in myself.

https://youtu.be/nwSV-b9vAUQ