The Spirit of Truth Reveals Plans and Ownership

David W Palmer

(John 16:13–15 APE) “... he shall speak whatever he shall hear and he shall reveal the future to you. And he shall glorify me, because he shall take that which is mine and shall show you. Everything that my Father has is mine, therefore I said to you that he shall take that which is mine and he shall show you.”

In this passage, Jesus brings out important revelations about the Holy Spirit—God’s Spirit of Truth—and what he is sent to do. Like Jesus, he will speak only what he hears. Also like Jesus, he will “reveal” the future—God’s intentions and plans.

Jesus says that the Spirit of Truth will “show” you—bring revelation to your inner man. This is his language—the way he communicates his amazing truths and messages to us. This will put us into the same advantage Jesus had when he was operating here:

(John 5:19–20 NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. {20} For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does …”

The Father “shows” the son his intended actions; the son sees them in his spirit, and then he “does” them “in like manner”—or imitates what he sees with his Father. In a similar way, Jesus said that the Spirit of Truth will “reveal the future to us. In other words, he will show us Jesus’s intentions about what he wants done.

Jesus also said that the Spirit of Truth “shall take that which is mine and shall show you.” When he says, “That which is mine,” what does he mean? Thankfully, he gives a very broad and all encompassing answer when he says: “Everything that my Father has is mine.” This is limitless:

(Hebrews 1:1–2 NKJV) “God … Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”

Father God appointed Jesus as the inheritor of all things. To put it simply, our Lord and Savior owns everything. Jesus is both man and God; he owns heaven and the earth—without reservation. When we are in him, we share in this ownership:

(Romans 8:32 NKJV) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

(Romans 8:17 NKJV) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

(1 Corinthians 3:21–23 NKJV) Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: {22} whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. {23} And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

In this amazing list, Paul says that, in Christ, “all things are yours”; this includes “the world.” However, at the end of the list he reminds us that Jesus not only owns everything—including heaven and earth—he also owns us (See also: 1 Cor. 6:20 NKJV).

What Jesus was explaining to his apprentice / friends at the Last Supper was the role of the Spirit of Truth in bringing the revelation of this ownership to us. What’s more, like Father did with Jesus, the Holy Spirit reveals it to us with the intention of having us possess it, receive it, or do it. Let’s look at the Holy Spirit’s own explanation of this through the apostle Paul:

(1 Corinthians 2:9–12 NKJV) But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” {10} But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. {11} For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. {12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Notice that this amazing passage concludes by saying that God gave the Spirit of Truth to us, so that “we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

God supplies for us from the inheritance we share in Jesus. This provision enables us to fulfill the assignments, callings, and missions God plans for us. When the Holy Spirit shows or reveals things to us—whether they are instructions, encouragements, promises, the working of miracles, or provisions from the inheritance—we can then possess them. Even though we are joint-heirs with Jesus, and that “all things” are ours in Him, we don’t need them all at once here and now; we need supply and provision for the things God shows us to do. In Jesus, via the revelations of the Holy Spirit, God shall supply all your need (Phil. 4:19).

Yet, thankfully, when we are talking about a loving, benevolent Father, he supplies for our desires and fun as well. This is potentially limitless, and would only be restricted or unwise for us if it would get in the way of our assignment in God.

Today I encourage you to maintain your focus on Jesus, Father, and the wonderful Spirit of Truth. Let’s get to know him in intimate fellowship; let’s open our hearts to all that he shows us—our assignments, his provision, and his overwhelming desire to give us the desire of our hearts. What is your desire? Why not have a deep intimate conversation with him right now about it; after all, in Jesus, all things are yours. The wonderful, limitless Spirit of Truth will show you what’s to come your way.

(John 16:13–15 APE) “... he shall speak whatever he shall hear and he shall reveal the future to you. And he shall glorify me, because he shall take that which is mine and shall show you. Everything that my Father has is mine, therefore I said to you that he shall take that which is mine and he shall show you.”

When you see, do, and receive the things that Jesus has prepared for you, this will bring glory to him. Day 27 – Permanent Joy Follows the Pain of Labor

(John 16:16-18 NLT) “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” {17} Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? {18} And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

These seem like reasonable questions for Jesus’s inquisitive disciples. They wanted to know more about Jesus, his intended actions, and their outcomes. Wanting to learn more about Jesus is always a good idea. Let’s see how Jesus responded:

(John 16:19-20 NLT) Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. {20} I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.”

Jesus’s answer and explanation seemed to start with some more mystery. He hinted strongly at his impending death, but introduced new ideas: “you will weep and mourn,” “the world will rejoice,” and “grief … suddenly turn to wonderful joy.”

The Lord’s apprentices seemed slow at grasping the fact that he was talking about his looming death. After all, it’s not normal for a healthy life-filled person—especially one who had recently raised dead people to life on numerous occasions—to talk openly about dying so soon. However, this is exactly what Jesus was doing. He explained further with a simile:

(John 16:21 NLT) “It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.”

Jesus likened to the labor pains of birth what he was about to undergo. The indescribable pain of giving birth to something new is eventually eclipsed by the “joy” of bringing new life “into the world.”

Our Savior was obviously talking about his arrest, false trial, torture, and crucifixion. But he revealed to his friends that this was no ordinary death. Jesus wasn’t just going to die; he would simultaneously be bringing something fresh to birth—something that would bring new life to the whole world.

Jesus’s disciples could not possibly have grasped the significance of what was about to happen; that’s why they would initially weep and mourn. And naturally they would have their grief suddenly turned to wonderful joy when they realized he resurrected. However, to fully appreciate, understand, and appropriate everything he achieved in those three days, would require supernatural revelation from the Spirit of Truth—followed by diligent mind renewal with what he revealed.

Perhaps, the apostle Paul was the first one to really grasp the depth and power of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection:

(Galatians 1:11-12, 15-18 NLT) “Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. {12} I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. … I did not rush out to consult with any human being. {17} Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. {18} Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.

When Paul met Jesus, he invested three years alone with the Spirit of Truth in Arabia. This is how he received the amazing revelations and truths he disclosed in his letters—which make up over half of the New Testament’s books. As we read them, the same Spirit of Truth that inspired them can bring revelation to us. We can then receive his truths, meditate on them—ingesting them into our spirits until they form our perceptions and create a rock-solid foundation within us.

(1 Timothy 4:13 APE) “Until I come, be diligent in reading, in prayer and in teaching.”

For us, the process of denying our old self, taking up the cross of study, learning, mind-renewal and devoting ourselves to reading, prayer, and teaching is like a micro experience of Jesus’s death and resurrection. The putting off of the old life, denying its thinking patterns, learning new truths, and renewing our minds is a bit like the pain of dying. But the joy that is coming is indescribably good, and it is permanent.

(John 16:22 NLT) So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

I encourage you today: Although Jesus underwent the horror of mockery, false trial, torture, and crucifixion, he rose completely victorious over it all. We can now experience the joy of meeting him in person and receiving the hope of being included in his eternal kingdom.

Meanwhile, to follow in his steps completely, I urge you to keep going with study, with learning the Scriptures, and with renewing your mind. No matter how hard this is on your flesh, keep it up; no matter how challenging it is for your mind, persevere. Eventually, you will have completely put off the old and have on the new man that was created with Jesus when he rose from the dead. Not to mention that you will then experience eternal joy.

(Hebrews 4:11 KJV) “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

(Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV) That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, {23} and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, {24} and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.