John 15:13-15 (ESV)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit in the world and in the believer’s life cannot be fully exhausted. Because He is a person, and the third person of the Godhead for that matter, we cannot confine Him solely to a few roles. Nevertheless, the Scriptures point us to some things that help us appreciate the Holy Spirit’s purpose. For instance, Romans chapter eight alone highlights a few of the Holy Spirit’s role – He is the one that brings about sanctification in the believer’s life (verse 13); He gives the believers assurance that they are children of God (verse 16); He intercedes on behalf of the believers (verse 26).
In the passage in John 15 above, Jesus also helps us appreciate the value and role of the Holy Spirit. He says that one of the things that He will do is to guide us into all the truth because He is the Spirit of truth. Additionally, tucked in the middle of this passage and easy to miss is perhaps the most crucial aspect of the Holy Spirit’s purpose. “He will glorify me,” Jesus says pointing us to the fact that the Spirit points us to Jesus. This is extremely important because it helps us to discern what is truly of the Holy Spirit and what is not. If it is of the Holy Spirit, then Jesus will be glorified and not a man or anything else. So, the next time you witness a great sign or hear a prophesy, ask yourself, ‘How does this point me to Christ?’ As it is written in Revelation 19:10, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Reflections
1. What are the other roles that the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the believer and the church?
2. How does this knowledge of the purpose of the Holy Spirit affect your life and worship?
