Reading With Gospel Eyes: The Spirit Speaking Through The Word

The Holy Spirit speaking in the Bible is the supreme judge of all religious controversies. - Westminster Confession of Faith – 1:10

Written in 1646, The Westminster Confession of Faith has been the recognized doctrinal standard for orthodox Presbyterians ever since.  As a pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, I have affirmed that I “sincerely receive and adopt it as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.”  So what does it meant to listen for the Holy Spirit speaking in the Bible?

Take a straightforward statement like, “Do not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)  It is only two words in the original Hebrew, two words that I would closely connect through Moses directly to God Himself! 

First, can we understand those words and their intent without the Spirit?  Yes, people do that all the time.  We can even benefit from what we learn from them.  Our life will be better if we live them out.  Any society would benefit from encoding them into the civil law, and indeed most have.

Second, would it ever mean that we might heart the Spirit say through these words something like, “Murder is a good thing to avoid, but I’m making an exception for this particular person.  Go ahead and pull the trigger no matter what I said back there on Sinai”?  The answer here is an emphatic “No!” because such action violates the plain meaning of the text.  The Spirit won’t contradict what He plainly teaches.

But I believe – and I think Presbyterians have historically believed – that the Spirit speaking to us in the Bible means more than our own understanding and thoughtful application of it’s plain meaning.  That voice might sound something like this: I read “Do not murder” and understand its plain meaning.  As I pray, wait, meditate and listen, I may “hear” something like, “Bill, your quickness to be angry at home is rooted in a wounded and unforgiving heart resulting from an insult and harm received at work.  That unforgiveness is the root of murder (Matthew 5:21-22, 15:18-19) and though you are not pulling a trigger, you are certainly venting harm into your wife and children.”  That may well be the voice of the Spirit.

It takes time, practice and faith to cultivate a heart and mind that listen for and to the voice of the Spirit.  It is best done with accountability and humility.  Expect to miss the mark on occasion, so be quick to repent and apologize where needed.  Know from the outset that the vast majority of what the Spirit will say to you is about what you need to repent of in your life.  Much will be about steps of service for others that the Spirit is leading you to take.  Some may be what you need to pray for in the lives of others.  The smallest portion by far will be things you need to challenge other people about.