How the Unlimited Spirit of Truth Will Help You Know More
Have you ever wanted to know more about an unfinished story?
Do you remember the dialogue between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men?
From the witness stand, Nicholson asks, “You want answers?”
Cruise angrily responds, “I want the truth!”
Prompting Nicholson to bellow, “You can’t handle the truth!”
Those remarks came to mind when I read the following words of Jesus…
“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.”
John 16:12
Dial down the temperature from anger to tender compassion, and remember that Jesus was not a character in a movie or story. This was a moment from an accurate account of the night before Jesus’ crucifixion.
Sometimes the truth can feel like it’s too difficult to process … a tragic death, a frightening diagnosis, or a sudden loss are just a few examples of hard-to-bear truths.
Jesus knew what was about to happen over the next few days. He knew the impact those days would have on His disciples, and the details of the near and distant future. By fulfilling God’s prophetic promises, Jesus would change everything forever.
Yes, the disciples needed to know more, but the Savior knew the truth about those coming days would confuse, upset, and overwhelm them.
Remember, many of them believed that Jesus was the Messiah who would save them from Roman rule, and He had just told them He was going away.
“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come.”
John 16:5–7
How often do you read the Bible and think, I want to know more?
That’s how I feel. So, I read, study, and learn, but that alone is not enough.
I need to pray and humbly ask the Lord for wisdom and understanding. I need His Spirit to be the Advocate who helps me know more.
If we want to KNOW Jesus, the truth, we need to trust and listen to the Unlimited Spirit of God.
The Life Application Notes add…
“If Jesus did not return to the Father, the Holy Spirit would not come. Christ’s presence on earth was limited to one place at a time. His leaving meant He could be present to the whole world through the Holy Spirit.”
And Jesus told us why we need the Spirit…
When He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
John 16:8, 13
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future.
Praise God! We have His Word and Spirit to guide us with the truth of God’s love and saving grace. We don’t have to fear the future because we know that through Jesus, our forever future is full with hope.
And that makes me think of these words of Jeremiah…
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Jeremiah 29:11–12
Let’s pray…
A Prayer for the Presence of
the Spirit of Truth to Know More
Father God, thank you for blessing us with the Spirit of Truth. Jesus called Him our Advocate, Comforter, and Helper. By grace, He is the One who gives us faith and guides us along the path You want for us.
He gives us our spiritual life! (John 3:6) He gives us faith for eternal life (John 6:63). And by Your grace, He provides us with power, strength, peace, joy, and everything we need each day.
I thank you for Your Spirit who fills me with Your love (Romans 5:5), giving me hope today and forever. (Romans 8:23)
Please forgive me for trying to do life on my own. I can be stubborn and prideful, although I want to live fully surrendered to You through faith in Jesus. I can’t live as You desire without Your Spirit. I am so sorry for my frequent foolishness. Please help me live in humble submission to You through His presence and power.
It had to have been hard for the disciples to understand why You would go away. They saw You restore life. Yes, the specific details of the days ahead would have been so very hard for them to process.
That’s why the gift of Your Spirit means everything. He is who we need to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST You now and forever. He is Your presence with and Your Word within us. He gives us what we need to grieve with hope, love with kindness and compassion, and bear the fruit of joy, peace, patience, goodness, and self-control.
I love You, Lord. Thank you for sacrificing Yourself to give us everything we could ever need. I worship and adore you with all my heart. Amen.
What if you and I are the ones who limit the Spirit, trying to know, grow, and obey on our own? What if we let pride and self-righteousness get in the way of letting the Spirit guide us as He desires?
If we want everything we need for life, we need the Holy Spirit. William Pratney said it like this…
“The Holy Spirit is the gift of the Risen Christ. His anointing filling, empowering work is a baptism of love that gives power to make Jesus real to you and known to others.”
May we humbly submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide us and help us handle the truth about our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
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So beautiful and so needed…i truly needed this encouragement today, Deb. Sometimes the hurts of this world are so heavy on my shoulders, and I do grieve for all the non believers. “Call on me while I may be found.” One day it will be too late…and I wonder how much worse it will be. I pray for God to please come soon. Thank you, Deb, for being a warrior for God. Have a blessed weekend, and thank you for helping all of us who are floundering, feeling so overwhelmed living in the midst of so much evil going on around us. With love and gratitude, I needed these reminders today. “Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.” God bless you, Deb,
and all who visit here today.
Thank you, Kathy! It’s wonderful to hear from you! When I think how hard this life can be, I think about the fact that God covers it with His love and care. I can’t begin to imagine what a life without that would be like. I join you in lifting up those who don’t love and trust Him. God bless you, precious friend!
May we all turn to the Holy Spirit, humbly and sincerely, and ask to be guided by Him every day. Wonderfully said, Deb! Blessings!
Amen, Martha! I can’t do a day without His help. God bless you!
Thanks Deb! Again we all need reminding of these verses. The disciples needed reminding many times during the 3&1/2 years Jesus was with them that he was going away. Thank you again Deb for reminding us. Look forward to each email you send. Blessings to you Deb Wolf.
Thanks much, Scott! I truly appreciate your kind encouragement. God be with you and bless you!