1 John 5:6-8
This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
Do you know the sound of the Spirit’s voice? If the Spirit testifies to the true nature of who Jesus is, how do we hear the Spirit’s testimony? Most people go their whole earthly lives without ever hearing God’s voice out loud or for that matter seeing a glorious vision of the manifestation of God. We might long for an experience like that, thinking that hearing or seeing God would erase all doubts and fears from our hearts. If we had just a glimpse of the divine, we imagine our spiritual lives would blossom and we would from then on be more pure and faithful. On the other hand, Jesus told us that those who believe in him without having seen him are truly blessed (John 20:29), and in the same way, we can receive the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus without actually hearing God’s voice.
Biblical scholars believe John was refuting in these verses a false teaching circulated in the early church. Some held that Jesus was an ordinary man, and that God’s presence entered him at his baptism and departed from him before his crucifixion. There is no Biblical support for this view, and John wanted to make clear that he believed Jesus is fully and eternally God, proven through the water of his baptism and the blood of his death on the cross. To further authenticate Jesus’ true identity, John tells us that the Spirit testifies about who Jesus is. Of course, the Spirit speaks truth, and anyone who believes in God must accept the Spirit’s testimony.
Which brings us back to how we hear the Spirit’s voice. Every time you open God’s word, the Spirit speaks. Every time you pray, the Spirit joins your voice in calling out to God. Every time you worship, the Spirit moves in your heart to inspire your praise. The Spirit speaks into our hearts time and time again, testifying to who Jesus is. In fact, it is the Spirit of God who enables us to believe in Jesus. The Spirit warms our hearts with faith. We can know and love Jesus because of the Spirit’s voice and presence in our lives. How do we hear the Spirit? We hear the Spirit’s voice in scripture and prayer, through worship and acts of love. We hear the Spirit by faith, and it is the Spirit who enables us to believe.
Holy Spirit, fill me with Your power and wisdom. Thank You for dwelling in my heart and for helping me to know and love Jesus. Speak to me and build up my faith, so I can honor Jesus in all I do. I ask this in His great name. Amen.
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Pastor Mike Mirakian
