Nevertheless, I Tell You the Truth

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

It was easy for the disciples as long as they had Jesus to go to. He answered all their questions; they did not bear any responsibility for decisions if only they were obedient. This is how people like to have it. They gather around one person and let him make all the decisions so they don’t have to bear any responsibility, and so they choose for themselves teachers according to their own desires. 2 Tim. 4:3.

In this way, men with new doctrines arise, and they arouse many people who flock around them. When their leader passes on, the flock is helpless and is scattered. Or if there is a religious leader with life and spirit who establishes a movement, he organizes it, and when he passes on, the organization holds the flock together, but the life and spirit of it dies out. They no longer have a great person they can look up to who can make decisions for them. This results in strife and division. Acts 5:36-39.

This is not how Jesus worked, and this is not how God’s true servants work. He was to give them the Mediator, the Holy Spirit, and He was to guide them into all truth. They themselves were to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. It would have been extremely cumbersome for the apostles when they were in various places and came up against all kinds of situations to have to seek out a person and ask for guidance. It was totally different after they had received the Holy Spirit into their hearts who could guide them in the present moment. The Spirit forces no one. He can lead only those who have given up their self-will, leading them into oneness in Christ, for He takes from Jesus and declares it to them. That is why things really began to progress after Jesus had left them.

Most believers are busy with the world; consequently, they cannot hear the voice of the Spirit. They have to have someone who can say everything to their natural ears. Such people can be guided and kept in place by a person whom they esteem or by an organization with rules and regulations; and so they do what is required to be a member, but for everything else they live for themselves.

This is why money matters are always a big problem. How much should a person give to God’s cause, and how much should he keep for himself? They have to be put under the law because they cannot hear God’s voice, and they themselves think it is quite in order to be told to give a certain amount. When they have given that amount, they feel free and can use the rest for themselves with a good conscience. The religious leaders put them under the law of the tithe. This is what they had to do in the old covenant because they did not have the Spirit, yet this is how many believers who are not Jesus’ disciples live today.

Jesus said that no one can be His disciple unless he forsakes everything, takes up his cross daily, and denies himself. In other words, they have to be offered up. Then they can be sealed with the Holy Spirit and be led by Him instead of being under the law. The law gives them firm rules that apply in given situations, but those who are born of the Spirit are as unpredictable as the wind. John 3:8. They are sacrificed and seek nothing for themselves; therefore they can live under the guidance of the Spirit in faith, and from one moment to the next they are led to the whole truth. They do not need to be anxious for what they should say when they have to appear in court. It will be given them in that same hour, for it is the Spirit of their Father who speaks in them. Matt. 10:19-20.

Those who are not a sacrifice do not act like that. They require something for themselves, yet they also want to serve God. Such people ask constantly: “Is it sin? Can’t I do that if I am a Christian?” etc. They live in the world and have to have commandments and rules (Col. 2:20), performing many dead works to soothe their consciences. Heb. 9:14.

There is constant strife and division among those who are under the law, and in our days God’s people are divided into many denominations; there is even strife within these denominations. They seek their own, which is why they are not guided by the Spirit; they live legalistically according to their understanding. Phil. 2:20-21. They collide with each other as they serve God, resulting in envy and division.

Those who are a sacrifice do not seek their own. The Spirit can lead them into all truth. They are joined and knit together in serving (Eph. 4:16) as a matter of course when the Spirit leads them. A body arises in which each one individually receives a ministry and the lowliest receives the greatest honor; and if one suffers, they all suffer. 1 Cor. 12:25-27. This was the work of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and this has been the work of the Spirit throughout all these years. This is also the work of the Spirit in these days that the church—the body of Christ—is developing and is edified. All of us who are experiencing the truth of this work of the Spirit are rejoicing. We are part of this: “And His wife has made herself ready.” With this in mind, hope and joy fill our hearts with the result that “in all our afflictions we are not afflicted.”