Grow by Word and Spirit

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

Among the last words of Jesus to His disciples, He described the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Truth” who would guide them “into all truth.” The Spirit and truth cannot be separated — God is Spirit and God is Truth.

Some religious traditions emphasize the Word to the neglect of the Spirit. That can lead to dry dogmatism, or what many call “head knowledge.” Knowing the Bible doesn’t mean knowing God. There is a vast difference between intellectual understanding of God and a transformational experience with God.

Other traditions have emphasized Spirit to the neglect of the Word. That can lead to emotionalism and sensationalism. When the Word is neglected, experiences and feelings become central. A Christ follower who isn’t grounded in the Word can be tossed by any “wind of doctrine” according to his or her changing moods and experiences [Ephesians 4.14].

God never intended a separation between Word and Spirit. God’s Word is full of His Spirit and His Spirit always confirms His Word. One of my Bible College professors was fond of saying, “If you have all Word and no Spirit, you dry up. If you have all Spirit and no Word, you blow up. But when you have Word and Spirit, you grow up!”

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the 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. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16.13-14