One of the greatest errors is the practical separation of the written Word of God from the teaching of the Spirit of God. Because it is such a common and serious mistake, it demands our constant care and watchfulness. Man’s confidence in himself to deal with the truth has resulted in a lack of dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit, and thus the last days are characterized by “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5). No doubt man does have natural ability in understanding natural things, but “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). We are entirely dependent on the Spirit of God, whether to know, to discern or to communicate “the things of God.”
Satan always seeks to set aside the present work of God on the earth. When it was a question of owning the only true God, he brought in idolatry. Now that the Holy Spirit has come down to bear witness to Christ and His finished work, the competence of man is asserted in the things of God. The great characteristic of Christianity is the coming down of the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever, and this Satan seeks practically to set aside. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit may be held in some measure, but His present work is so little regarded that He is both grieved and quenched. Because He is not better known personally and privately, His power is not known corporately and publicly.
Harmony With the Word
Some, however, have gone to the other extreme and pretended to have the guidance of the Spirit apart from the Word. As a result, they have fallen into the most extravagant folly and error. Scripture enjoins that we have an ear to hear what God says in His Word in conscious dependence on the guidance of His Spirit. To separate the Word and the Spirit is fatal to a true understanding of the mind of God, for the two are joined together all through Scripture.
In the very beginning of the Word of God we have God speaking and the Spirit moving. The Word of the Lord by Moses and the prophets was both written and spoken by the Spirit, for “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). When some came back from the captivity, they were to act on God’s Word “as it is written,” while the prophet assured them that God’s Spirit remained among them (Hag. 2:55According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. (Haggai 2:5)).
When the Holy Spirit came down after our Lord’s resurrection, the believers were “all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:3131And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)). Finally, we have the perfect example in our blessed Master, who, always led by the Spirit, contended for the authority of the written Word. He on whom the Spirit came down like a dove constantly put his enemies to silence by saying, “It is written.”
Speaking of Christ
May we not overlook a third truth given to us with all this, namely, that the Word and the Spirit always speak of Christ. When the Lord Jesus told of the future coming down of the Holy Spirit, He could say of Him, “He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak . . . for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you” (John 16:1314). Those in Acts who were filled with the Spirit not only “spake the word of God with boldness,” but also gave “witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:3333And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)). Stephen too, under the power of the Spirit of God, used Scripture in a large way in addressing his hearers, but then he was so taken up with Christ that He saw Him standing at God’s right hand. Surely the Spirit, the Word, and the One of whom they speak is a threefold cord that cannot easily be broken.
What do we learn from all this? We learn that the written Word, having been given by the power of the Spirit, needs the Spirit to bring it home to our hearts. Also, when the Spirit acts by the Word in us, it will be connected with the ministry of Christ and will produce in us conduct according to Him. If the intellect is allowed to work on the Word of God without the Spirit, we may be puffed up with knowledge. This will lead to a low walk while we profess to hold the highest doctrines. But if we are occupied with the Word in the power of the Spirit, we will have a care for all that the Word teaches. There will be consistency in every path in which we are called to walk. We will seek to honor God in our personal walk, in our family life, and in our assembly relationships. When a believer is not consistent as to general conduct, it may often be traced to the practical separation of the Word of God and the Spirit of God. May we be found reading the Scriptures, pondering them in prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit, and learning from them more of Christ!
H. H. Snell, adapted from “The Word
and Spirit,” The Christian Friend