"The Grand Illumination"

As I was putting up the Christmas tree, I began to think about how beautiful it was, all lit up! When it is illuminated, it looks completely different. We could say the same about people and how differently they look when they become born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. They begin to shine brightly, as God intended! The Holy Spirit goes to work on the inside, so when we dive into the Word of God, the Words of the Bible come to life.

Almost everyone has the ability to “read” the words of the Bible, but not everyone can understand what it means. Many of us have read it at some point with no grasp of the true and personal meaning of God’s word. We cannot fully understand the Bible without the help of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates the scripture and gives us a “heart of understanding”, enabling us to apply His truth and revelation as a guide when we make decisions.

In 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, Paul reminds us of this truth: “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit indwells within us and becomes our guide, our teacher, and our illuminator. Just as the grand illumination of the Christmas Tree lights up the darkness of the cold winter night, the Holy Spirit illuminates scripture and brings it to life. He reveals to us the truths and mysteries of God’s Word and how to apply it to our lives.

In Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”. The Holy Spirit will guide us in all our ways and lead us on the right paths if we seek Him and put our trust in Him.

In 2 Peter 1:19-21, we are also reminded to pay attention to the things that the Holy Spirit illuminates to us. We are to “pay attention to this as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit does not just illuminate Scripture; He also dwells within us, becoming our guide and teacher. As Jesus said in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, our source of guidance and understanding, and He will never leave us.

The Holy Spirit is also our source of strength and courage. As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” The Holy Spirit is our ever-present comforter, our advocate in prayer, and our hope in times of need.

The Holy Spirit is our source of joy and peace. As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit brings us joy and peace in the knowledge that we are loved and accepted by God and that we have been called to a higher purpose.

The Holy Spirit is an essential part of the Christian faith, and He brings life and understanding to Scripture. When we welcome Him into our lives, He will guide us, strengthen us, and bring us closer to God. As we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to illuminate our lives, we will come to a deeper understanding of God’s will for our lives, and experience the true joy and peace that only He can bring.

The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us to understand and apply God’s word to our daily lives. He is the illuminator of scripture and the one who reveals to us the mysteries of God. He is the one who can help us understand the implications of the Bible and how to make it a part of our lives. We must open our hearts to the illumination of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to be our guide and teacher. He will lead us on the right paths and help us to make wise choices in our lives.

The Bible is filled with even more verses that speak of this type of illumination by the Holy Spirit. In Psalm 119:18, David exclaims: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” In John 16:13, Jesus says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” And in Ephesians 1:17, Paul prays, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.”

The Holy Spirit illuminates the scripture and brings it to life. He reveals the truth and understanding of God’s word so that we can apply it to our lives. He enables us to discern His will for our lives and to use the scriptures as a guide when we make decisions. We must be open to the Spirit and allow Him to be our teacher and guide. When we do, He will not only cause illumination within but will also allow us to shine brightly for all to see. Let's light it up! ©Rita Larson 11/26/2023

#GrandIllumination #OpenMyEyes #HolySpirit #OnWordandUpWord

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