40 Days With the Holy Spirit: A Journey to Experience His Presence in a Fresh New Way by R.T Kendall

Author:R.T Kendall [Kendall, R.T]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, Christian Life, Devotional, Religion, book, Spiritual Growth
ISBN: 9781621369776
Publisher: Charisma House
Published: 2014-06-03T04:00:00+00:00

Day 22

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

DO YOU EVER wonder if integrity as a virtue is perishing from the earth? Whatever happened to sheer honesty? Just being truthful—publicly, privately. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Keeping your word.

The God of the Bible is a God of integrity. It is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18). Our Lord Jesus Christ has transparent integrity. The Holy Spirit is totally, thoroughly, and completely honest. Jesus called Him the Spirit of truth (John 14:17).

As for Jesus, He said of Himself that He is “the way and the truth and the life” (v. 6, emphasis added), and so equally the Holy Spirit is truth. As it is impossible for God to lie, never forget that the Holy Spirit is incapable of lying to you. He will never deceive you.

Jesus Himself was full of grace and “truth” (John 1:14). Truth means fact. It means what is reliable. What Jesus does and says can be proved, and He will not let you be ashamed. When a miracle was performed, the enemy of truth was forced to say, “We cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16). Jesus is transparent integrity. Today we sometimes use the expression “the real deal.” It is what people want to see in leaders, what people long for in relationships—no deceit, no infidelity, but honesty and trustworthiness. That is what we want in a friend—pure gold, the real thing.

Jesus is that. The God of the Bible is that—His words are “trustworthy” (2 Sam. 7:28), “true, and righteous altogether” (Ps. 19:9, ESV). And so virtually the first thing Jesus said about the Holy Spirit was that He is “the Spirit of truth.” This means genuineness, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and integrity. It also means theological truth. The Holy Spirit will never lead you to error. What He reveals you can believe and stake your life on.

To put it another way, the Holy Spirit is the opposite of the devil. Jesus said of Satan: “There is no truth in him . . . for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44, ESV). He is incapable of integrity and honesty. He exists to deceive. Do you know the feeling of being deceived? To know what it is to embrace a person, recommend them, put your reputation on the line for them—then find out you were deceived? It can be very painful.

Jesus said to Pilate, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37). Pilate responded by asking, “What is truth?” (v. 38). Did Pilate ask that question because he wanted an answer? Was he being cynical? Was he suggesting that he didn’t know what truth is and doubted whether anybody knows the truth? Jesus meant that there is truth that is objectively true—that is, factual.

Dr. Francis Schaeffer used a phrase: “true truth.” He believed Scripture is true truth, that it is trustworthy and faithful. Jesus believed in what can be called propositional revelation—that there is a body of truth that does not change.

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