The Holy Spirit guides us into God’s truth

John 16:12-15

12 ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

We get a glimpse into the working of the Trinity in this passage.

The Holy Spirit speaks what the Holy Spirit hears from the Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit does not make things up (speaking on his own), the Holy Spirit speaks in ways that are consistent with what Jesus has said (vs. 14). Then in vs. 15 Jesus clarifies what he meant in vs. 14. It would be possible to read vs. 14 and say that Jesus speaks on his own, but vs. 15 makes clear that Jesus is also limited, limited by what the Father has to say. So the Holy Spirit speaks what the Holy Spirit hears/heard from Jesus, and Jesus speaks what are the words of God the Father.

In other words, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all sing from the same hymnbook -- they are consistent with each other. What we hear from Jesus as recorded in the words of the Bible – the Holy Spirit will guide in ways that are consistent with those words, with that direction, with those instructions. Thus when people say “The Holy Spirit told me to…” that guidance, that direction, should be consistent with what we read and hear from God the Father and Jesus the Son in the Bible. The Trinity speaks with one voice, the Trinity is not divided against itself.

Reading the Bible helps us recognize the rhythms and patterns, the direction and instructions that God has given to human beings through history, so that we can recognize similar rhythms and patterns, direction and instruction in our lives.

PRAYER:

Triune God, we rejoice that you speak with one voice, consistent with yourself in your leading and guiding. We rejoice that you, Father, Son, and Spirit, speak in a non-confused way, tune our ears to hear, and fire our wills to obey your direction and leading. In Jesus’ name. Amen.