How I Used Truth - Lesson 11 - Annotation 6
What is the "Spirit of truth"? What is its purpose?
6. The "Spirit of truth" is God as the Holy Spirit or the movement of God to fulfill His plan or will for creation. Truth is the steadfast fulfillment of the divine intention or promise, the will or plan of God for man and all creation. (See How I Used Truth Lesson 8 Annotation 2 and How I Used Truth Lesson 10 Annotation 1). Thus God's plan (will, intention, promise) is brought into expression and manifestation through the Breath of God, or the Holy Spirit. We see this Spirit of truth working as the instinct of the bird, animal, insect, and the ability of growing things to reproduce "after their kind." The plan for each species is revealed at its particular level of intelligence. The "Spirit of truth," or the Holy Spirit, reveals the plan or will of God in man. This is done through intuition or the "inner voice" (How I Used Truth 108) referred to in our Scripture as the "still small voice" (I Kings 19:12).
"Through the Spirit of truth God moves the whole creation; hence any man may constantly increase his understanding of the source and relation of all things by claiming his unity with the Spirit of truth" (Jesus Christ Heals 196).
The architect must finish or complete his plan in the ideal before the builder may start the actual manifest structure. The plan is at hand for the builder so that he may refer to it and adjust anything that is not in order. Likewise, God's plan is completed in the ideal and is always available to us. As we pray we can make contact with it through the "Spirit of truth" (Holy Spirit). If our affairs are not in accord with the divine plan, we will be guided in adjusting ourselves to it as we pray. We will be inspired to take the steps necessary that God's will (plan) of good may be done in our life. In very definite words, Jesus tells us what our goal is:
"Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48).
The purpose, then, of the "Spirit of truth" or Holy Spirit is to "guide you into all the truth . . . and . . . declare unto you the things that are to come" (John 16:13). The "Spirit of truth" will let us know whatever we need to do to make manifest the divine plan of our life. This Spirit will "speak" to us as the movement of divine ideas in our own mind so that we are guided in doing the things at hand, no matter how insignificant they may seem. The "Spirit of truth" will also reveal to us the good that is to be made manifest ("things that are to come") in our life as well as give us directions for what we have to do.
If we are faced with an appearance of lack in our affairs, we will, if we "ask in prayer, believing" (Matt. 21:22), receive revelation and inspiration that God is the source of our good, that it is your "Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). When contacted in the silence, God as the "Spirit of truth" will reveal the divine ideas that we can use in order to correct our thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting. When the "Spirit of truth" makes this revelation to us, we feel at peace within. There is never any hurt, as there might be were another human being to tell us what is wrong or what it is that we need to change in our living habits. The "Spirit of truth" says to us, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isa. 30:21); for the "Spirit of truth" or Holy Spirit is the "inner voice" which we are told can give us "the highest form of teaching, which alone can open the eyes of our spiritual understanding" (How I Used Truth 108).
As intuition, the "Spirit of truth" is the Teacher within us, tutoring, or teaching us in all ways. It guides, protects, and cares for us. The "inner voice" is the breath or inspiration of the Almighty. This "voice" of the "Spirit of truth" does not have to speak in such a way as to be audible to our physical ears. Yet it may convey its message in this or any other way. Actually the "inner voice" is more an impression in consciousness. This is brought about by the movement of ideas through thinking, or as a feeling that prompts us to some action. Sometimes the leading is called a "hunch" (which Webster's dictionary says is a colloquial way of referring to "a strong, intuitive impression that something will happen").
The "inner voice" is best heard when we are mentally poised, so that our mind is consciously, calmly receptive to something beyond the human. In order to hear the "Spirit of truth" there must be relaxation but still an alertness to recognize the "inner voice." Finally there must be willingness to obey the guidance that comes to us in this way. No matter what we may be guided to do, back of all that the "Spirit of truth" tells us is the primary Truth of "oneness with God."
"The Holy Spirit or Spirit of truth is man's one sure guide in his spiritual ongoing. An outpouring of the Holy Spirit always brings peace and infinite faith" (Mysteries of John 136).
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Preceding Entry: What is meant by "conscious oneness with the Father" (text, page 106)? What changes come about through this realization?
Following Entry: What does it mean to "wait" on God (text, page 108)?
