Jesus’ ministry was to glorify God. The Holy Spirit’s ministry was to glorify Jesus. To glorify means to honor and praise. Jesus’ message was to reveal God’s Word to the “chosen.” The Holy Spirit’s message was to reveal Jesus’ Word to the Believer. Jesus’ obedience to God’s Word brought honor and praise to His Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit brings glory and honor to Jesus by opening an understanding of the Word to the saints. When we speak, live, and display the Word, we honor not only Jesus but God as well.
Christians are not justified by hearing the Word, but by accepting and living the Word. There are a lot of Believers that have programmed themselves to listen to the Word, but have failed to actually understand the Word. The Word is validated in the Believer through action. God is not honored by our attendance in a worship experience, but by our attention to the Word. To hear the Word, and then do nothing with the Word, does not bring glory to Him. To stand in a worship service and praise the Lord, while failing to live the Word during the week, does not bring glory to God. What brings glory to God is being a living example of Jesus.
Hours before His betrayal Jesus prayed, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John 17:4) Jesus’ whole life was around being obedient to God’s Word. Believers are asked to do no less.
At the Last Supper, Jesus spent hours explaining what was going to happen in the lives of His disciples. Jesus told them that they were aware of the way He was to go. Thomas spoke up and told Jesus that they did not know where He was going, and how could they know the way? (John 14:4, 5) Jesus said that He was “The way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) He then told them that if they had really known Him, they would have known the Father. Philip spoke up and said, “Show us the Father, and it will suffice us.” Jesus responded by stating to Philip that He had been with him all those years, and yet he did not know Him? (John 14: 8, 9) Just before leaving the Upper Room for Gethsemane, the disciples reaffirmed their belief by claiming they believed that He came from God. Jesus then challenged their confession with the simple question, “Do you now believe?” In fact, He told them in just a few hours they would scatter and leave Him alone to face His oppressors. (John 16:32)
After Jesus’ crucifixion, the real truth of their belief was evidenced by their hiding behind a locked door. Thomas would even doubt three days later that Jesus actually rose from the dead. (John 20:25) When Jesus appeared to them, He “… upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart… ” (Mark 16:14)
One can listen to the Word, but not really hear the Word. The evidence of our hearing is what we do with the Word. Belief is action. Faith is obedience to the Word. Over three years the disciples walked and talked with Jesus, yet through their lack of understanding failed to truly grasp the Truth. It was not until they were filled with the Holy Spirit that Faith gave birth to action. We may know the address of a Scripture, but until we know how to address the Word, we have limited our spiritual walk.