The Mystery and Work of the Holy Spirit (Danny Bawibikthawng)

By -

 The Mystery and Work of the Holy Spirit

(Danny Bawibikthawng)

The work of the Spirit of God is both deep and wide, transcending human wisdom and comprehension. Scripture reminds us that “The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Cor. 2:10). Such truth humbles us, for no human mind can fully grasp the boundless work of the Spirit. As John Calvin once wrote, “Without the Spirit, the Word of God is of no avail. Illumination by the Spirit is necessary for understanding.” If we have not personally experienced His work, it is dangerous to ignore it, and even more dangerous to pretend to understand it fully.

It is not sin to confess our limitations in understanding spiritual mysteries. Augustine observed, “If you understand it, it is not God.” Humility in the face of mystery is wisdom. Yet when we resist or criticize the work of the Spirit simply because we do not comprehend it, we place ourselves in spiritual danger. The Apostle Paul warned, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thes. 5:19-21). To quench the Spirit is to silence His fire by arrogance or unbelief.

Instead, we are called to immerse ourselves in Scripture, through which the Spirit teaches and shapes us. Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). Prayer and the Word are the Spirit’s chosen instruments to grant wisdom and discernment for daily living. As J. I. Packer emphasized, “The Spirit’s work is to make us understand, to awaken us to the reality of God, and to conform us to Christ.”

Yet in our age, many speak of the Spirit as if His work were their personal possession or as if His mysteries were easily mastered. We must remember that even the most educated cannot exhaust the Spirit’s wisdom. Paul declared, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him… but the spiritual person judges all things” (1 Cor. 2:14-15). True spiritual knowledge comes not through argument or mere intellect, but through reverent submission.

R. C. Sproul rightly observed, “The Holy Spirit remains the most mysterious of the three persons of the Trinity. We can define Him, describe Him, and to some degree understand His work, but we will never plumb the depths of His being or exhaust the riches of His power” (Sproul, The Mystery of the Holy Spirit, 1990). This truth calls us to humility and reverence rather than presumption.

Therefore, let us cultivate humility. Those who neglect Scripture and prayer ought not presume to speak with authority about the Spirit’s work. Rather, let us follow the counsel of Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” To humbly ask, to listen, and to learn from those who walk closely with the Spirit can bring revival to our own souls.

Finally, let us remember: those who are truly led by the Spirit of God do not boast in knowledge but walk carefully in truth. Paul says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). Spiritual people speak not with arrogance, but with reverence, sharing what they know and testifying to what they have experienced in Christ. We therefore work to cultivate humility as we speak, walk, and serve, doing all prayerfully and Spirit-led.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Neutrality Is Not an Option: Why the Church Must Use Its Resources to Defend Christian and Ethnic Minorities in Myanmar

By -
Image
When Neutrality Is Not an Option: Why the Church Must Use Its Resources to Defend Christian and Ethnic Minorities in Myanmar (Danny Bawibikthawng) Photo From Christiannity Today: Smoke and fire in Thantlang in Chin State caused by shelling from Junta military troops Introduction: A Moral Crisis for the Church The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has intensified a longstanding campaign of brutal oppression against the country’s ethnic and religious minorities. Christians, especially from the Chin, Kachin, and Karen ethnic groups, are being targeted through systematic violence, forced displacement, imprisonment, and the destruction of churches and entire villages. According to  Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2023 , more than 2.5 million people have been displaced, and hundreds of churches have been deliberately destroyed by the regime. What makes this crisis even more urgent is that many of the Christian immigrant congregations in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe, par...
Read more

The Strength to Forgive: Building Unity in a Divided Myanmar (By Danny Bawibikthawng)

By -
Image
The Strength to Forgive: Building Unity in a Divided Myanmar By Danny Bawibikthawng “The author of this paper is not a politician or a revolutionary, but a former citizen of Myanmar and an immigrant pastor in the United States. This reflection is written from the perspective of one who has closely observed the suffering, resilience, and hopes of his people—both in the homeland and in the diaspora. It is offered with the sincere hope that unity will emerge through forgiveness, and that Burma may one day flourish in peace, justice, and shared dignity among all its people.” Introduction Myanmar is a country rich in ethnic diversity, cultural heritage, and spiritual resilience. Yet, its history has been scarred by conflict, colonialism, military dictatorship, and deep internal divisions. The collapse of national unity cannot be attributed merely to external threats or oppressive regimes, but also to the fractures within. Today, as the nation suffers under renewed violence following the 202...
Read more

Mother’s Day: Honoring Our Mothers as a Sacred Pathway to God’s Blessing

By -
Image
  Mother’s Day: Honoring Our Mothers as a Sacred Pathway to God’s Blessing By Danny Bawibikthawng    Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, though the date may vary depending on country and tradition. In the United States, Canada, Australia, and even Myanmar, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May. While many see it as a modern holiday, the practice of honoring mothers goes back much further—rooted not in social custom alone, but in God’s Word. The Origin of Mother’s Day The modern celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States began through the efforts of a Christian woman named Anna Jarvis. In 1908, she organized a service in memory of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her mother had served faithfully as a caregiver during the Civil War, offering support and compassion to many. Although the U.S. Congress initially rejected the idea of a national holiday, Anna persisted in her campaign until Preside...
Read more