Crunch. Crunch. Whoosh! In the early days of film, Foley artists created sounds to support the story’s action. Squeezing a leather pouch filled with cornstarch made the sound of snow crunching, shaking a pair of gloves sounded like bird wings flapping, and waving a thin stick made a whoosh sound. To make movies as realistic as possible, these artists used creative techniques to replicate sounds.
Like sounds, messages can be replicated. One of Satan’s most frequently used techniques is that of replicating messages in spiritually dangerous ways. Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” Paul is warning us about false teachers who turn our attention away from Jesus Christ and the message of His grace.
Jesus said that one purpose of the Holy Spirit living in us is that “when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). With the help and guidance of the Spirit, we can find the safety of truth in a world of counterfeit messages.
We need You, Holy Spirit, to help us discern truth from error. We can be easily deceived by others or even by our own hearts. May we be open to learn from You and not be led astray.
The Holy Spirit is our ever-present Teacher.
John 14 and 16 contain the most comprehensive record of Jesus’ teaching on the Holy Spirit. The Father sends the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ place to be our parakletos, which means “one called alongside to assist.” This word is translated as “Helper” in today’s passage (v. 7); other Bible translations use the words “Comforter” (KJV) and “Counselor” (NIV). He is also the Spirit of truth (v. 13) who illumines the Scriptures so we may understand the meaning of Jesus’ works and words (vv. 13-14).
