THE WORK OF ILLUMINATION
Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10 (CSB)
The Holy Spirit carried out the work of inspiration in the lives of those who penned Scripture and continues to work in the lives of readers through the process of illumination. In the simplest terms, illumination is the shedding of light that brings to awareness what was previously hidden. To grasp this concept, consider a time when you were in a dark room and could not see anything around you. At a certain moment, you turned on a light and could finally see what was concealed in the darkness. This is how illumination functions in the life of the believer.
THE SPIRIT ILLUMINATES THE TRUTH
The Holy Spirit illuminates the truth found in the Word of God. Have you ever read a passage in the Bible that didn't resonate with you at the time? Later, when you read it again, you might discover a truth you had never recognized before. This is the work of the Holy Spirit revealing that truth to you. The illumination occurs at precisely the right moment and in exactly the right situation. Likewise, the Spirit can use the declaration of the Word as a catalyst to bring forth illumination as well. The key truth is that the illumination of God’s truth is a work of the Holy Spirit.
THE SPIRIT ILLUMINATES THE REALITY
The Holy Spirit illuminates truth from God’s Word while also shedding light on one’s condition. The Spirit works to illuminate the dark places of life. He reveals the intentions of the heart, the wayward actions of our lives, and the dynamics occurring around us. Our ability to navigate each of these with wisdom comes solely from the Holy Spirit and His work within us. The apostle Paul links spiritual wisdom to this working of the Spirit in us that provides the needed wisdom and discernment to navigate life.
THE SPIRIT ILLUMINATES THE NEED
The Holy Spirit reveals the necessary responses in our lives according to the will of the Lord. These necessary responses flow from the work of illumination, encouraging us to act in accordance with God’s leading and activity in our lives. Illumination may direct us to change our course in life or to seek repentance. It may also provide us with the discernment needed to respond with spiritual wisdom to the dynamics around us. The reality is that the Spirit is in the business of illuminating truth so that we can know the truth and live faithfully.
QUESTIONS
How would you explain the link between the illumination from the Holy Spirit and the spiritual wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit?
The illumination of the Holy Spirit comes from His work of searching everything, thus how does the searching of the Holy Spirit bring illumination into our lives?
