The Spirit of Truth

While studying John chapter fourteen in connection with another discourse¹ , the Lord the Holy Spirit revealed another layer of truth for us to examine:: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.; (John 14:12-20)

Jesus started this portion of Scripture with the words "Truly, truly". A double accentuation of the certainty that this is a promise of Jesus Christ, which is a promise of God the Father.

A promise. Do you understand?

A promise, do you believe?

If we fulfil God's conditions, these promises are ours to claim!: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.; (John 14:21)

Jesus said "whatsoever ye shall ask", knowing what sort of gift we are likely to ask for - one that will give glory to God.: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.; (James 4:1-4)

As we already know, the four Gospels describe the period of the public ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and are a transition period between the Law of the Old Covenant and the freedom of the New.: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.; (John 1:17); And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.; (John 14:16-17)
We see here, at the last supper, that the Spirit of Truth was with the disciples, but not in them. Jesus could only breathe the Spirit into them after He had made the New Covenant with the Father on behalf of mankind, and after He had risen from His bodily death.: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:; (John 20:21-22)

We already know that Jesus only worked the works of His Father (John 14:10). We also know that the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus in His public ministry (John 1:32-34).

It would therefore seem that the Spirit of Truth that the disciples knew as described above was the power which Jesus laid upon them to cast out spiritual evil:: Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.; (Luke 9:1-2)
For God's glory!

The Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, cannot lie, whereas the god of this world, Satan, cannot tell the truth without a lie being the reason behind it.: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.; (John 8:44)

We see therefore two truths.

Firstly:
If any person has real spiritual power, but is not obedient to our Master, he can only be a servant of Satan, that master deceiver, and the truth is not in him.: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.; (1 John 2:3-5); Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.; (1 John 2:18-20)

Secondly, and more importantly from our point of view, if we are serious about keeping God's commandments and are filled with the Holy Spirit of Truth that Jesus sent, the words that we say will be Truth and we shall have spiritual power over the spiritual enemy.: But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.; (1 John 2:27-29); Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.; (2 Peter 1:4-8)

We must get used to the idea that the Power that comes from the Spirit of Truth is available to us and start believing that we can use it.: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.; (John 16:13-16); And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.; (John 16:22-24)
All glory to our loving Master!

Moreover, when we pray and believe, Jesus promised that He would do it for each of us.: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.; (James 1:2-7); Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.; (James 5:13-18)

Getting used to praying, knowing that God hears you, is actually connected to your soul spiritually can be intimidating as well as uplifting. It is also possibly an "easy" way to learn to trust your Lord, becoming familiar with supernatural happenings.
Also, sing to the Lord. Sing anything, tell Him how you love Him, thank Him for the rain that refreshes the earth, sing hymns that you may know. Sing.
If you can, play music, there need not be a tune, make a joyful noise through your spirit to your fingers for your Lord to hear, a sweet savour of your worship for Him to appreciate.

He will respond.

Wouldn't you love to see a smile on His face when you meet Him in paradise, good and faithful servant?
: Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.; (Jeremiah 17:14)

¹ The Burning Bush