There is so much that the Spirit is able to reveal about the Lord. Most believers can scarcely grasp it all in head and heart. Yet, as believers are filled by the Spirit and follow Him, the Spirit does a wonderful work called, “Illumination.” Like a beam of light in a very dark place, the Holy Spirit gives understanding and clarity to the things of God that are hard—even impossible—to grasp.
This illumination of the Spirit took place for the Gospel writer John. As much as it might be tempting to think of John as some super-human Christian, he also was in need of the Spirit’s illumination. Prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said things that John didn’t understand. But after the Holy Spirit came to indwell (live in) John, the Spirit illuminated some otherwise confusing words spoken by Jesus. Read this following section of John 7, and consider the order of events John describes:
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39 ESV)
What happened in John’s life happens in every believer’s life. Believers need the Spirit to give understanding to God’s ways. Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth gives the assurance of illumination.
For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:10b-12 ESV)
Read the last phrase one more time: “that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” While colleges, universities, tech and trade schools charge huge amounts of money for education, the Holy Spirit freely gives understanding of the most important subject of life—the Lord of the Universe.
Illumination is an invaluable gift of the Holy Spirit and is always available when requested. Ask then, for the knowledge and understanding of the Spirit when reading the Bible, meditating on a passage of Scripture, listening to a sermon, or talking about the Lord with friends, to name a few of the many ways and times the Spirit will shine Hislight.
Where else can believers see the Spirit’s light?
More to come!
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