by esther phinias | 20 January 2020 08:46 pm01
Shalom! Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the greatest works of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is to open our eyes to understand the Word of God. Jesus Himself promised that the Spirit would come to guide us into all truth:
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth… (John 16:13, NKJV).
Many people struggle when they read the Bible, especially the prophetic books—Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and Revelation. Some give up, thinking these books are too mysterious. Others believe only pastors, prophets, or scholars can understand them.
But the Bible makes it clear that God does not reveal His truth based on human intelligence or education. Instead, He reveals His Word to those who humbly seek Him. As Paul wrote:
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV).
Therefore, not understanding at first is not ignorance—it is often God’s deliberate design. Certain truths are “sealed” until the appointed time, so that the Spirit Himself can reveal them to hungry hearts (Daniel 12:4; Matthew 13:11–14).
The Ethiopian Eunuch: A Case Study
In Acts 8, we meet an Ethiopian official—a eunuch who served under Queen Candace. Though he was not a Jew and had not studied under rabbis like Gamaliel, he was a devout seeker of the God of Israel. His devotion led him to travel hundreds of miles to worship in Jerusalem.
On his return journey, he was reading Isaiah 53 in his chariot:
He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth. (Acts 8:32, quoting Isaiah 53:7, NKJV).
Yet he could not understand who the prophet was speaking about. Was it Isaiah himself? Or another man?
Because he longed to know, the Holy Spirit orchestrated a divine appointment. Philip was in Samaria preaching powerfully, with many people coming to faith. Suddenly, the angel of the Lord directed him away from the crowds and into the desert road leading to Gaza (Acts 8:26). Though it may have seemed illogical, Philip obeyed.
When he saw the chariot, the Spirit said, “Go near and overtake this chariot” (Acts 8:29, NKJV). As Philip drew close, he heard the eunuch reading aloud from Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30–31, NKJV).
Philip then opened the Scriptures and, beginning with Isaiah 53, preached Jesus to him—explaining that the prophecy pointed to Christ, who suffered, died, and rose again for our salvation.
Soon afterward, they came to water. The eunuch, now full of faith, said: “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36, NKJV). After his confession of faith, Philip baptized him. Immediately, the Spirit caught Philip away, but the eunuch went on rejoicing.
Theological Insights
1. Revelation Comes Through the Spirit, Not Human Ability
The eunuch was educated and influential, yet he could not understand Isaiah 53 without the Spirit’s intervention. This fulfills Paul’s words: “Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11, NKJV).
2. Christ Is the Key to Scripture
Philip began with that very passage and preached Jesus. This shows that Christ is the central theme of all Scripture. As Jesus said: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39, NKJV).
3. Obedience to the Spirit Brings Fruit
Philip left a thriving revival in Samaria to meet one man in the desert. This reminds us that God values the soul of one seeker as much as a multitude. When we obey, the Spirit uses us in ways beyond our understanding.
4. The Word Leads to Transformation
The eunuch not only understood the Scriptures but responded in faith and baptism. True revelation by the Spirit always leads to transformation, not mere intellectual knowledge.
Application for Us
Like the Ethiopian eunuch, we may sometimes struggle to understand the Bible. But if we truly desire to know, the Holy Spirit will open our eyes. He may use personal study, sudden insight, a sermon, or even a conversation to confirm His Word.
Jesus promised:
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. (John 14:26, NKJV).
So don’t be discouraged when the Bible feels difficult. Instead, approach it prayerfully, asking the Spirit for illumination. Don’t think certain books are “too hard.” The Author of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, lives within you—and He delights to guide you into truth.
May the Lord bless you as you open your heart to His Word. Trust the Spirit, for He alone gives light to those who seek.
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2020/01/20/how-the-holy-spirit-reveals-the-scriptures/
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