⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 4 min read
The Spirit and the Word Work Together
Introduction
Welcome back to Contending for the Word. In recent days, we have seen that true revival is anchored in the Scriptures. Today we consider how the Spirit of God and the Word of God work together in revival, with clarity and unity.
“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.” John 16:13–14
The Holy Spirit does not work apart from Scripture, he works through the Word to glorify Christ. Any movement that neglects or contradicts the Bible is not revival, it is deception. The Spirit and the Word do not compete, they agree in perfect harmony.
The Spirit Inspired the Word
The same Spirit who empowers believers is the Spirit who inspired the Scriptures. “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit,” (2 Peter 1:21). The Bible is not man’s thoughts about God, it is God’s revelation of himself, breathed out by the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16).
Because the Spirit inspired the Word, every genuine work of the Spirit will align with what he has written. Revival is not about new revelation it is about submission to what God has already said.
The Spirit Illuminates the Word
The Holy Spirit not only inspired Scripture, he illumines it to our hearts. Apart from his help, we cannot truly understand or receive God’s truth. He opens our eyes to behold the beauty of Christ, he convicts of sin, and he enables faith and repentance.
When revival comes, hearts that were dull begin to tremble at the Word again. This is not the product of emotional manipulation it is the Spirit bringing the truth to life.
The Spirit Applies the Word
The Spirit does more than inform the mind, he transforms the life. “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live,” (Romans 8:13–14). True revival produces obedience, holiness, humility, and love.
Where the Spirit and the Word unite, the church is renewed in godliness. Christianity is not mere knowledge it is truth lived out by the power of the Spirit.
The Spirit and the Word Glorify Christ
The goal of both the Spirit and the Word is the exaltation of Jesus. Real revival does not focus on experiences or personalities, it magnifies Christ. The Spirit lifts high the name of Jesus, the Word proclaims him faithfully, and the people of God rejoice in him.
Conclusion
The Spirit and the Word work together in perfect unity. The Spirit gives life through the Word, the Word reveals truth by the Spirit, and both direct our eyes to Christ. Where people claim the Spirit apart from Scripture, confusion follows. Where the Word is handled without the Spirit, hearts remain cold. When the Spirit of God applies the Word of God to the people of God, renewal comes.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
