Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully;  but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.   3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.   5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord;  and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.   6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.   7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  

Tuesday, 28^th May 2024       

THE HOLY SPIRIT ILLUMINATES US

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

Memory verse: Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions.

The Holy Spirit speaks by illumining God’s Word. The Spirit is the One who illuminates our minds to see the truth. Like turning on a light in a dark room, so the Spirit of truth enlightens our understanding. Without His active work in our minds to “open our eyes” we would not see, which is why unbelievers scoff at any reading of the Bible.

The work of God’s Spirit changing the blind into believers is accomplished through His word. The Spirit of God is God’s breath. However, in Greek language of the New Testament and Hebrew the language of the Old Testament, the word translated ‘Spirit’ pneuma, ruach means ‘breath’ or ‘wind’ John 3: 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. When the word of God comes not just as words more particularly not just as human words, but with the Holy Spirit and power, then the words come with the power of God’s own breath The one who brought creation into being by his powerful word illumines the darkness of unbelieving hearts by speaking the word of the gospel of Christ.

The word of God is effective only as God himself addresses the hearer. The Spirit’s work is to bring the word of God to us in such a way that our deaf ears and our blind eyes are opened to receive God’s truth. We cannot believe God’s word unless God graciously and powerfully speaks it to us himself. This is not necessarily about verses ‘standing out’ on the page or new insights being gained; it is about hard hearts being made responsive to God, unbelief turned to faith, sinners made obedient. It is not the word of God that is illumined; it is our darkness that is illumined by the God-breathed word. The Spirit is, then, not a substitute for the mind. God’s word is to be understood by careful reading. We must guard against misunderstanding by thinking as we read. But the intellect alone will not make us believe God. We must pray that God himself will breathe his word to us. We must understand that every spiritual insight to God’s word is all from God and not our own imagination because the Holy Spirit gives assurance, peace, because God is “not a God of confusion but of peace”. He assures us we are doing the right thing, or He disturbs us when we are not. His presence affirms the truth within us.

CGDS HYMN 27: SS&S 173: 

THERE'S A LIGHT THAT IS SHINING IN DARKNESS

1. There's a light that is shining in darkness,

While we wait for the dawning of day;

And it cheers us along on our journey,

Till the shadows shall vanish away !

2. So we'll wait and watch for the dawning,

The day of eternity blest;

Then take the wings of the morning,

And fly away to our rest.

3. From the sure word the prophets

have spoken, [the gloom;

There is light flashing forth through

For the Scripture can never be broken,

And the King in His glory will come.

4. Now we sing 'mid the darkness and shadows, ;

And we pray and we watch for the dawn

Till the Day-star, in glory arising,

Shall betoken the coming of morn.

His Second Coming

5. We are not of the night nor of darkness,

Let us walk, then, as children of day;

Our weeping shall be for a moment,

And our joy shall ne'er vanish away !

 Prayers: 

1.  Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind to see and understand what is ahead of me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

2.  LORD God Almighty, always make Your word alive in me each time I read it through the help of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.