Don't Limit the Spirit's Working

Matt. 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Acts 13:27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

The Spirit of God reveals no new truths to the believer. It is His office to explain, apply, and witness inwardly to the heart the truths already written in the Word of God. The written Word is the only authorized channel and instrument of His divine agency toward man. Everywhere the Word is spoken of as the instrument of conviction, regeneration, sanctification, and of all the Spirit's operations on the heart of man.

The Spirit not only limits His agency to the sphere of truth comprehended in the written Word, but also in each individually case. He uses only such truth as the individual is already acquainted with. If the mind is ignorant of any particular truth, the Spirit will not apply that truth for the admonition, instruction, or santification of the soul. Such ignorance is a loss to the soul, and such loss can be repaired only by personal study and application of the mind, by reading, hearing, inquiring, and learning the Word of God; not by any special manifestation of the Spirit. If we are ignorant of any Bible truth relating to promise, duty, or doctrine, the Spirit will not supply the defect. The Christian character of the individual will therefore be defective just in proportion as the truth of which he is ignorant is essential to this edification. When he has learned such truth by searching the Scriptures, then the Spirit will make use of that truth for the enrichment of his spiritual life.

It is the "Spirit of truth" that helps our reason to apprehend the knowledge of God. As we like Timothy follow the instructions given by Paul, "give attendance to reading," the Spirit Who inspired the Scriptures will become the interpreter of them. There are things spoken of and promised in the written Word above the reach of natural reason; these can only be apprehended and experienced through the revelation of the Spirit.

1 Cor. 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Written by Edward Davidson in an article printed in the "Out and Out" in 1917

The man of God must live by the Word of God, and the Holy Ghost never will pass by or lightly esteem the Word that He has given. There are two extremes. The Word without the Spirit is dry and dead, but the Spirit without the Word is incomplete. Let us honor the Holy Scriptures; let us habitually use them, search them, feed upon them, incorporate them into our lives, and use them as the weapon of our warfare against Satan, and for the souls of men. - A. B. Simpson