The Spirit and the Word
Bob Yandian
Jesus warned us that in this world we would face tribulation (John 16:33), but also repeatedly encouraged believers that we would not be left alone in overcoming opposition.
When Amelek came against Moses and the children of Israel, Bod provided help. As long as Moses held up his hands during the battle, Israel prevailed, but when his hands would become weary and he would let them down, the enemy prevailed. Alongside Moses stood two trusted leaders of the people - Aaron and Hur. They stood on each side of Moses to hold up his arms and keep them steady until Israel defeated the wicked king and his army (Exodus 17:10-17).
We Are Not Without Help
God has sent us His two most trusted leaders. Their purpose is to hold up our hands and keep our lives stable as we conquer Satan, the wicked king of this world, in our daily battles. God's two leaders are the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. God has not designed that either one stand alone, rather that they work together in our lives. It has been said, "If you only have the Word of God you will dry up. If you only have the Holy Spirit you will blow up. If you have both working together, you will grow up." We need an operation of both the Spirit and the promises of God in our lives to truly mature. Separated they have limitations, but united they are unlimited and powerful.
The Spirit and the Word represent two members of the Godhead - the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Several times in John 1:1 Jesus is referred to as "the Word." "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
1 John 5:7 also makes reference to Jesus as the "the Word." "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one."
We have two members of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ - the Word who uplift our hands to win each battle we face.
Six Ways the Holy Spirit and the Word of God Work Together
We are going to look at six ways that the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work together in our lives. Little explanation will be required because the scriptures will speak for themselves.
1. The Holy Spirit Speaks the Word of God.
The greatest anointing that God has provided is upon His Word. Everything else in life is temporal, but His Word will live and abide forever. The Holy Spirit will inspire us to speak the promises of God in our daily confessions and prayers. \
"The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His Word was in my tongue." (2 Samuel 23:2)
"Surely I will pour out my Spirit on you, I will make my words know to you." (Proverbs 1:23)
"My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth...." (Isaiah 59:21)
"This is the word of the Lord... by my spirit." (Zechariah 4:6)
"The holy men of God spoke (the Word) as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21)
2. The Word of God is the Power of the Holy Spirit
The Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit and carries His anointing. Speaking the Word of God causes God's creative power to go to work for us. God spoke faith-filled words to create the heavens, the earth and all that is in them. This sets an example for us to follow. When we imitate God and speak His Word, the same power to create answers is available to work in the midst of our problems.
"The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)
"...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17)
3. The Holy Spirit Gives Us Scripture to Use in Witnessing.
True witnessing is not simply formulas or the methods of men. Effective witnessing is prompted and energized by the Holy Spirit. The preaching of the Word of God to win souls should be bathed in the anointing of God's Spirit. Acts 1:8 explains the reason that the Holy Spirit was given to the Church. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit was given for witnessing. The Holy Spirit gives supernatural gifts to help us win souls just as Jesus did while he walked this earth. No two disciples received salvation in the same manner. The Holy Spirit was involved in leading each disciple individually into receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:32)
"So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit... preached the word of God..." (Acts 13:4-5)
"...in might signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God... I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:19)
"...through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven..." (1 Peter 1:12)
4. The Holy Spirit Responds to the Preaching of the Word of God.
Not only does the Holy Spirit inspire the preaching of the Word of God, He also responds to it. Something miraculous happens in the heart of a person, whether sinner or saint, who truly listens to the ministry of the Word of God. The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sins and supernatural answers to impossible situations.
Believers who hear the Word of God can actually be filled with the Holy Spirit without hands ever being laid on them!
"The Holy Spirit fell on them which heard the word." (Acts 10:44)
"That the Gentiles by my mouth should heart the word of the gospel and believe; and God, which knows the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit even as he did unto us." (Acts 15:7)
"...confirming the word with sings (Holy Spirit) following." (Mark 16:20)
"...having received the Word in much affliction, with joy in the Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
5. Both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God Bring Divine Healing.
The Holy Spirit not only works through the gifts of the Holy Spirit to bring healing; He also works with the promises of God to accomplish the removal of sickness, disease and demons that are brought on by Satan.
"He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:20)
" He cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick." (Matthew 8:16)
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... He has sent me to heal..." (Luke 4:18)
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power who went about doing good, and healing." (Acts 10:38)
6. Both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God are to be Used in Prayer.
Paul tells us to pray with the Spirit (in tongues) and with the understanding (our natural language). When we pray with our understanding, we should pray the Word of God. God enjoys hearing His Word returned to him through our prayers, praise, worship, and communion with Him. The early church prayed a psalm of David (Psalm 2:1-2) as they approached God in prayer in the midst of persecution (Acts 4:25).
Praying the Word is truly the prayer of faith. When we know the answer to a problem or situation we pray the Word of God. When we don't not know the answer, we pray in the Spirit. We pray the Word because we have the answer. We pray in the Spirit when we need the answer. Answers are conceived by the Word of God and birthed by the Holy Spirit.
Types of Shadows
God used picture types in the Old Testament to teach us of great truths which affect our lives today. Many of these types and shadows tell of redemption, prosperity, guidance and the Christian walk. Others tell of the work of Jesus on the cross in death, burial, resurrection and ascension. In Colossians we are told that we no longer live under types and shadows (Colossians 2:17), yet through them we learn many truths from God's Word.
There are many types and shadows found in the Old Testament that are types and shadows of the cooperative work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God:
"And they (the people of Israel) heard His words (the Word of God) out of the midst of the fire (Spirit)." (Deuteronomy 4:36)
We should live in daily communion with the Holy Spirit and as we do, He will share with us God's will for our daily lives. We are to remain "in the secret place of the Most High" (Psalm 91:1). We are to live in close communion with God. John chapter 15 describes this intimate communion as a branch remaining in the vine. This is the place of spiritual production and fruit bearing.
"The bin of flour (Word) shall not waste (fail), neither shall the jar of oil (Spirit) fail." (1 Kings 17:14)
In our own personal lives we should keep a full supply of the Spirit and the Word of God. We should pray in the Spirit daily. We should study the Word of God daily. The first deacons chosen in the early church were to be men who were both "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" (Acts 6:3)
Even those who were servers in the early church were to be full of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. If this was true only a few months after the Day of Pentecost, is it not still true today? God wants us, His "servers", to be filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Like the widow in Elijah's day, we should not allow the "cruise of oil" or the "barrel of meal" to fail.
"For the fire (Spirit) and by his sword (Word) will the Lord plead with all flesh." (Isaiah 66:16)
There are two avenues through which God pleads with the world to accept His son as Lord and Savior: He uses those He has called and anointed to preach the Word of God; He also uses the Holy Spirit to convict the world of their sin and to lead them into being born-again.
During your daily time of prayer, you should ask the Lord to lead you across the paths of those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. You should ask the Father to give you scriptures that will make the gospel clear to those needing salvation. You should also seek the direction and supernatural assistance of the Holy Spirit to convict the sinner of their need to accept Jesus Christ. God the Father draws people to His Son, Jesus Christ, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
What About You?
Have you been depending on your own wisdom to make decisions that you face each day? Are you tired of things not working out in your life? You need to quit trying to do things in your own strength and let the supernatural power of God to work for you. It is time for you to turn toward the two most powerful helpers in the univers - the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Both have been sent to YOU.
Think about how much love God has for you to have sent two of the members of the Godhead to assist you in your daily life. If God needs the other two members of the Godhead, how much more do we need them? Through daily prayer for power and daily study and meditation in God's Word, you cannot lose. you can declare with confidence, "If God be for me, who can be against me?"
