By Joel Comiskey, The Spirit-Filled Small Group
In Matthew 22:29, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, saying:
“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
We need both God’s Word and God’s Spirit. The Word reveals God’s character and will; we must teach and apply it faithfully. But knowledge of Scripture alone isn’t enough.
God’s Spirit brings the Word to life. Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Spirit to remind them of His words (John 14:26). The doctrine of illumination teaches us that we cannot truly understand God’s Word apart from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ day, some had memorized large portions of Scripture but were not illuminated by the Spirit to see that the Scriptures pointed to Jesus (John 5:39). Instead, they wanted to kill Him.
Last month, we focused on God’s Word. This month, we’re looking at the other side of the coin—God’s Spirit. As A.W. Tozer famously said, “If you have the Word without the Spirit, you dry up. If you have the Spirit without the Word, you blow up. But if you have both, you grow up.”
The Spirit empowers believers, confirms that Jesus is truly alive, and leads us into all truth, even in areas not directly confirmed by Scripture. Without the Spirit, the Word can become dry orthodoxy, legalism, and pride. But the Spirit without the Word can lead to emotionalism, error, and subjective “truth.” Together, they produce maturity, discernment, power, and fruit.
How can we apply this to the cell church?
For June, we’ll write twenty-five blogs about the Holy Spirit and cell church ministry. If you’d like to receive these blogs in your daily email, click here. We’ll cover:
- June 1–7: Word and Spirit — Both are essential; one without the other is incomplete. The Holy Spirit illuminates God’s Word.
- June 8–14: Empowered Preaching — Micah 3:8: “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” We’ve discussed the importance of God’s Word in preaching, but how does the Holy Spirit guide the pastor to apply God’s Word to the congregation?
- June 15–21: The Holy Spirit’s Presence in the Cell Group — The best cell groups are simply channels of the Holy Spirit. How are you inviting His presence into your group? Let’s discuss prayer, worship, and allowing His gifts to move.
- June 22–28: Cell Structure vs. Holy Spirit Leading — I often picture walking on the beach in Myrtle Beach and seeing a large kite lying on the sand. I wondered why it wasn’t flying—there was no wind. The application: without the wind of the Holy Spirit, the cell structure goes nowhere.
- June 29–July 5: Revival—Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes God taking Israel’s dry bones and bringing them to life. Let’s discuss how the Holy Spirit can renew our vision and restore our cell ministry.