The Ministry of the Holy Spirit—Part 2

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.1 John 2:24Here are two more observations about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.4. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual sight“You have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge” (2:20). This cannot mean that believers know everything. It does not mean that true believers can never be deceived or make foolish mistakes. John is not saying that we don’t need to learn or that we don’t need wise teachers.The point here is that the people who had left the church had been deceived about the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. To those who remain, he says, “I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it” (2:21).Take in this truth: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God... they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). The Holy Spirit has been your teacher. He has given you spiritual sight.5. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the Word“If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father” (1 Jn. 2:24). God has given us His Word and His Spirit. The Spirit of God works in, with, and through the Word of God. And in the Word and the Spirit we have a double defence against the power of lies and deception.As you open your Bible, pray your Bible, pray the words of the psalmist: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Ps. 119:18).