I once heard a bit of doggerel. It went like this:

If you only have the Word, you will dry up.
If you only have the Spirit, you will blow up.
If you have the Word and the Spirit, you will grow up.

This saying emphasizes the need for the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in our lives and ministry if we are to be mature. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sometimes, people who emphasize the Word can end up legalistic, like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Sometimes, people who emphasize the Spirit can end up superspiritual. We need to have a balance in our lives; we need both the Word and the Spirit.

THE WORD

The Word of God is like no other word. It is the inspired Word of God. It is unique; there is no other book like the Bible. It is complete; there is no need for some other book to be written to add to the Bible. It is authoritative; no other book has the authority that the Bible has. It is the source of all truth that relates to our knowledge of God, His plans and purposes, and the way of salvation. As such, the Bible is trustworthy and true; we can depend upon the Word. It is life-giving. The Bible is a two-edged sword; it is powerful and life-changing.

JESUS AND THE SCRIPTURES

There is no doubt that Jesus affirmed the importance and authority of Scripture. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets (i.e. Old Testament); I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5: 17-18)

ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED

The Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments, but it is still one book, and all of it is inspired. 2 Timothy 3:17 states, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Notice the word ‘all.’ 

Just recently, I was reading in Exodus the words, “I did not make myself fully known to them.” (Exodus 6:3 NIV) A reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is sometimes known as progressive revelation. It is like reading a book; you don’t know the full story till you read it all. The Old Testament leads into the New Testament, and we don’t know everything till we finish it all in the book of Revelation.

There was an old man who lived across the street from the church which I went to. He came to church and was a solid Christian who taught a number of things, such as, “In the old is the new concealed. In the new is the old revealed.”

THE AUTHOR OF THE WORD

I once heard a story about a young lady. She was up to date with everything that was happening. At one time, people were talking about a new book everyone was reading by a young author. So, she settled down to read it one night, but she didn’t seem to be able to relate to it. And she really didn’t like it.

A little while later, she met a young man who she was attracted to. He invited her out, and at the end of the evening, she invited him in for a cup of coffee. Noting the book on her coffee table, he called out to her in the kitchen where she was getting the coffee, ‘How did you like the book?” She replied, “Oh, I didn’t really like it. I couldn’t relate to it.” To which the young man responded, “Oh, that is interesting. You see, I am the author of the book.” After he left, she picked up the book and proceeded to read it again. This time, she liked it.

What was the difference when she reread the book? Simply, she had met the author. Knowing the author made all the difference. This applies to people and the Word of God. Knowing the author makes all the difference. When a person meets Jesus, the Bible will take on a new dimension, as they have now met the one who is in the heart of the Word – Jesus!

THE HOLY SPIRIT

I have to admit that initially, I was a man of the Word. I can’t remember ever hearing a sermon on the Holy Spirit growing up. In Bible College libraries, the section on the Holy Spirit was usually the smallest section of all. It was only later on, when I was in my thirties, that I was introduced to the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. Ever since that time, some 50 years ago, I have come to the realization that we need the Holy Spirit and the Word. Experiences with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives will be judged by the Word, and the Holy Spirit will never lead you into experiences that are contrary to the Word.

HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK

It was a Wednesday night. Actually, it was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and I had been asked to speak at a Lutheran church that night. As I was driving home, I had two things in mind. When I got home, I wanted to raid the refrigerator and I wanted to go to bed. At the time, we were living in a three-story townhome.

Parking the car, I put out the trash and went to the study door. Entering the study, I pressed the button for the garage door to close and headed upstairs to raid the fridge. After I was done, I went to head upstairs to bed. As I walked from the fridge to the stairs, the Holy Spirit spoke a sentence to me. Now, I need to say I wasn’t looking for a word or expecting a word from the Holy Spirit. I wasn’t praying or claiming that something good was going to happen to me. I was tired and just wanted to head to bed. The Holy Spirit spoke with an inner voice, “The garage door is open.” I stood still, contemplating what I sensed was the Holy Spirit. Now, I knew that I had pressed the button to close the garage door, so it should have shut. I stood there perplexed. On one hand, I was saying, “The garage door was shut.” Yet, on the other hand, I was saying, “It is open.” This internal debate went on for a short time until I decided to go downstairs and check the garage door.

Opening the study door, I immediately saw that the garage door was open. Not understanding how it could have happened, as I knew that I had pressed the button to shut it, I pressed the button again. I watched the garage door lower, hit a box, and go back up. Evidently, I must have moved the box when I took out the trash.

Now, there was no way I could have known the garage door was open. But the Holy Spirit did. I assume that this was to protect our dwelling and also keep the house warm because it was the middle of winter.

I always like it when the Holy Spirit either speaks or works in your life when you are not looking for something to happen. God is a God of surprises, and we need to take note when we have an impression that could be from the Holy Spirit.

A PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT

Let me share an example of how the Holy Spirit and the Word of God can work together.

In 1971, I had the call and the opportunity to go to New York and visit Teen Challenge. At the time, I was part of a group of people who felt that there was a need for a Teen Challenge style ministry in Sydney, Australia, where I lived at the time.

I knew that there were certain things I needed to get done for the trip. I had to get time off from work as an assistant pastor in a church. I had never traveled anywhere, to speak of, prior to this trip, so I wanted to find someone to travel with me so that I wouldn’t have to travel alone (in what ended up being a 2-month trip around the world). And of course, I need finances to cover the expenses of the trip. This was my first experience of believing God for money for a trip like this. At the time, a businessman gave me a tape to listen to from an American pastor by the name of Harold Bredeson, who was speaking at Melodyland Christian Center in California. Pastor Bredeson was speaking about Philippians 4:19, and it hit me like a ton of bricks, “And my God shall supply all your needs.” 

It was like that verse was written in large letters on a wall with electric lights. It burned into my spirit, and from that moment on, I was able to believe God that He would meet all my needs. And He did. I was given time off from the church with my salary provided. God connected me with a young man, a pharmacist who wanted to go to the same places I was traveling to, including Teen Challenge. And He provided the finances. The last amount came in just days before I was to leave. The Holy Spirit had quickened to me a portion of Scripture – the Word of God. It was the combination of these two facets – the Word and the Spirit – that gave me the faith to believe that my needs would be met. 

Just one word of caution. Paul was able to say this of the church at Philippi – that God would meet their needs (See Philippians 4:16-19). He described how they were givers, so in turn, God would meet their needs, too.

A FINAL WORD

Let me encourage you. Read, study, and memorize the Word of God. It is life-giving. Be open for the Holy Spirit to work in your life, even when you are not expecting it. The Word and the Spirit – we need them both!