THE DUNAMI NEEDED TO WALK WITH JESUS
THE HOLY SPIRT & THE HOLY WORD
JASON GRISSOM
Part of THE WALK—SERMONS
January 12, 2025

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

LORD, OPEN YOUR WORD TO US AND OPEN US TO YOUR WORD.

The first part of this excellent prayer addresses the fundamental need for the Spirit’s work in our understanding of the Bible. We need the word to be opened to us. The good news is that God is willing and glad to grant us Spirit-given understanding, as Jesus himself tells us. We are invited to ask, seek, and knock because our heavenly Father will “give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:9–13). This certainly applies to the Spirit’s work of illumination.

Luke 11:9–13 ESV

One of the passages that speaks most clearly and strongly about the role of the Holy Spirit in our understanding is 1 Corinthians 2:6–16. Paul makes clear that everything—from the basic message of the gospel to the deepest theological truths—is bound up with the active work of the Holy Spirit because the Spirit of God alone comprehends the thoughts of God (1 Cor. 2:11). The difference between those who truly understand the Bible’s teachings and those who do not isn’t based on education, skill set, or intelligence. It’s a spiritual matter. The Spirit reveals, instructs, and enables us to apply the beautiful and mysterious teachings of Scripture to our own lives.

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 ESV

THE SPIRIT INSIDE YOU IS BETTER THAN JESUS BESIDE YOU.

John 16:7 ESV

ONCE WE ARE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT WE NEED TO FILL OUR LIVES WITH SCRIPTURE.

Psalm 119:11 ESV

THOUGHTFUL - MEDITATIVE SCRIPTURE READING ENABLES US TO HIDE GOD’S WORD IN OUR HEART.

WHEN WE STORE UP GOD’S WORD THE HOLY SPIRIT …

John 14:16 ESV
1 Corinthians 2:11–16 ESV

The Bible contains the truth needed to win us over from the enemy to Christ, to deprogram our old thought patterns, to train us in strategies of righteousness, and to equip us with armor and weapons to defeat Satan and liberate his captives. But we have a natural aversion to this truth. Therefore, the work of the Holy Spirit is utterly indispensable as we make use of His Word.

The work of the Spirit is not to tell us what the Scripture means. That we must determine by a disciplined study of the text.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

The Spirit inspired these writings and he does not short-circuit them by whispering in our ear what they mean. When we pray for his help, we do not pray that he will spare us the hard work of rigorous reading and reflection. What we pray is that he would make us humble enough to welcome the truth. The work of the Spirit in helping us grasp the meaning of Christ’s manual of operation is not to make study unnecessary but to make us radically open to receive what our study turns up, instead of twisting the text to justify our unwillingness to accept it.

The lessons are plain for those who long to fight the fight of faith and be an integral part of the war effort. We must be diligent students of the Commander’s manual. And we must soak all of our study in prayer that his Spirit would humble us to submit to every truth and commandment in it. The work of the Holy Spirit is to make us say from the heart as we take up the manual,

Galatians 6:14 ESV

If our pride has not been crucified by the Holy Spirit, we will call the Bible foolish or mold it to fit our own natural desires. In either case, the Scripture will not be obeyed, Christianity will languish, and the cause of Satan will go unchecked.

SUMMARY
THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES IT POSSIBLE NOT PAINLESS.
THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES IT EXPEDIENT (WORTHWHILE) NOT EFFORTLESS.


John 14:26 ESV
Psalm 119:18 ESV
Psalm 119:36 ESV


John 16:13 ESV
Psalm 119:105 ESV


John 15:26 ESV
Acts 1:8 ESV