'The Spirit ... Opens Up The Scripture To Us And ‘Opens’ Us To The Scripture.'

In our preaching of God’s word today we must earnestly pray for this dual ministry of the Spirit: 'The Spirit ... opens up the Scripture to us and ‘opens’ us to the Scripture.' Being opened up by the Spirit to the Scripture can be an uncomfortable experience. Where the Word of God is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the situation described in the letter to the Hebrews: 'The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword ... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do' (4:12-13). Scripture does not speak of salvation only. It also speaks about sin. Scripture does not speak only of the love of God. It also speaks of the holiness of God. When Jesus spoke of the ministry of the Holy Spirit he said this: 'When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment' (Jn. 16:8). There are uncomfortable truths concerning which the Lord Jesus says, ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
-----
This post is an excerpt from my article on The Use of the Bible in Evangelical Preaching Today.