​If We Have the Bible,

What Is the Role of the Holy Spirit?

​

To answer this, let me begin with a simple illustration.

Suppose an author writes a book. Would you rather read the author's book, or would you rather speak directly with the author himself?

That is essentially the question being asked. Surprisingly, many believers struggle with this issue, even though the answer becomes clear when viewed from this perspective.

For example, I, Prophet Yemane, have written a book that is soon to be published. That book contains my experiences, what I have seen, what I have heard from God, and the message I desire to share with people. However, if you were given a choice between reading my book or speaking directly with me, the author, which would you choose?

Personally, I would choose the author over the book.

Likewise, I prefer the Holy Spirit over the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the source. He is able to reveal an unlimited number of books, messages, and revelations. The Scriptures are one expression of what He has already spoken and inspired. If someone chooses only the written book while neglecting the One who inspired it, they have chosen a portion of the source's output instead of the source Himself.

If a person cannot know God personally or communicate with Him directly, then it is understandable why they would rely entirely upon the Holy Scriptures. However, if someone has an intimate relationship with God, hears His voice, and communes with Him personally, that person will naturally desire God Himself above the written record about Him.

Moses Preferred God's Presence Over His Angel

This principle is demonstrated in the life of Moses.

After Israel sinned and provoked God's anger, Moses interceded on behalf of the people, asking God to forgive them. God replied that He would send His angel before them. Yet Moses refused this arrangement.

Instead, Moses said in essence, "If You Yourself do not go with us, then do not send us at all."

Why did Moses reject the angel?

Because an angel carries out only the specific assignment entrusted to him. An angel faithfully executes God's command, but he does not replace God's personal presence. Moses understood that only God could provide living guidance, wisdom, and direction appropriate for every circumstance the people would encounter.

He desired God Himself rather than merely His messenger.

Likewise, believers should desire the Holy Spirit, who continually speaks and guides His people, rather than depending solely upon what has already been written.

The Holy Bible and the Word of God

The Holy Bible is a collection of sixty-six books written by many different servants of God over many generations. Each author recorded different events, prophecies, histories, teachings, genealogies, and experiences under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Because of this, it is important to distinguish between the Holy Bible and the Word of God.

The Holy Bible is a sacred collection of inspired writings. However, the Bible contains many different kinds of speech. Within its pages are the words of God, the words of prophets, the words of kings, the words of righteous men, the words of wicked men, the words of Satan, the words of Pharaoh, the words of the serpent in Eden, and conversations between many different individuals.

Therefore, not every sentence recorded in the Bible is itself from God.

When we speak of the Word of God, we are referring specifically to words that proceed from God Himself, or words spoken by God through His chosen servants.

Beyond Reading the Scriptures

Every genuine servant of God should teach from the Scriptures. Reading the Bible is good, proper, and essential.

However, there is also a deeper dimension of ministry.

A believer may cultivate such an intimate relationship with God that he not only reads what God has spoken in the past but also listens to what God is saying today through the Holy Spirit. Such a servant is led by God's living voice while remaining faithful to His revealed truth.

 

"The Christian life was never intended to consist merely of reading written words. It is a living relationship with the God who continues to speak."

 

Servants of the New Covenant

The Apostle Paul explains this truth in 2 Corinthians 3:6, where he writes that Christ "has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant."

What does Paul mean?

Under the Old Covenant, ministry centered upon the written Law. The priests administered God's commands according to what had been written.

The New Covenant introduces something greater.

It is not the rejection of Scripture but the fulfillment of Scripture through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Ministers of the New Covenant are not servants of written regulations alone. They are servants led by the living Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit gives fresh direction, wisdom, and life for every circumstance believers encounter.

The Inspiration of Scripture

Paul also writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

What does this mean?

It means that the Holy Spirit inspired the authors of Scripture. The Spirit moved upon them, enlightened them, and gave them the words they recorded.

The phrase "God-breathed" does not mean that God physically breathed upon the paper or ink. Rather, it describes the divine inspiration given by the Holy Spirit to the human authors. As the Spirit moved within them, they wrote what God desired to communicate.

What Makes the Scriptures Holy?

This leads to another important question.

What do we mean when we speak of Holy Scripture?

Who made these writings holy?

If someone claims that every word found in the Bible is holy simply because it appears within its pages, then that claim must also apply to the recorded words of Pharaoh, Satan, the serpent, and every other individual whose speech is preserved in Scripture.

Yet these recorded statements cannot all be called the direct Word of God. The words of one person cannot automatically become the words of another simply because they have been recorded in the same book.

Therefore, the Word of God consists of words spoken directly by God or words spoken through those whom God was speaking.

The Bible faithfully records many conversations and historical events. It includes genealogies, descriptions of kingdoms, historical accounts, geographical details, speeches by rulers, and conversations involving both righteous and unrighteous individuals. These are faithfully preserved within Scripture, but they should not all be regarded as the Word of God.

Knowing About God Versus Knowing God

Ultimately, the central issue is this:

If you had to choose, would you choose Jesus Christ Himself or simply the book that testifies about Him?

Many believers know a great deal about God. They know that He is omnipotent, omniscient, and mighty. They know about the miracles of the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, and many biblical events.

Yet knowing facts about God is not the same as knowing God personally.

Many know why Jesus came into the world, but they do not truly know Jesus Himself.

The Scriptures testify that Israel eagerly awaited the Messiah, yet when He appeared, many failed to recognize Him because they knew the writings but did not know the One about whom the writings testified.

The same danger exists today.

People may possess extensive knowledge of the Bible and still fail to know the living God in a personal and intimate way.

At CJFAN Ministries, our desire is not merely for people to know about God. Our mission is to lead people into a genuine relationship with God Himself through the Holy Spirit, so that they may know Him personally, hear His voice, and walk with Him daily.