Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23 NKJVI am not a big proponent of touting a specific formula or certain number of steps to freedom. However, in this verse I see a clear path towards enlightenment. Let’s look at it together.
Step 1: Turn at my rebuke.
In other words, agree with God about our sin. Romans 3:23 says “all have sinned” and Psalm 14:3 says “They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.” It’s hard to acknowledge we are not good, but the truth is we are sinful. That sin prevents us from knowing and loving God. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death”. However, the rest of Romans 6:23 says “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. While we may be sinful, there is a way out – belief in Jesus Christ. When we trust Jesus to take away our sins we are made new creations. The old is gone and the new has gone (2 Corinthians 5:17). But the benefit of coming to Christ is not just about cleansing us from sin.
Step 2: Surely I will pour out my spirit on you.
Why do we need God’s Spirit? God’s Word is spiritual but the natural man is not. First Corinthians 12:14 says “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Therefore, man can not understand the things of God without some help. Thankfully God does not leave us to figure it out all alone. No, He gives His Spirit to anyone who turns at His rebuke. First Corinthians 2:12 says “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.”
Step 3: I will make my words known to you.
One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to help us grasp what we’ve received in Christ through understanding God’s truth. John 16:13 says “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” As God’s Word is the source of truth, it is reassuring to have His Spirit enabling us to recognize and understand it all.
So what do we conclude? God’s Word is truth. This truth can not be known by the natural man. If we choose to agree with God about sin, He will send His Spirit to reveal His truth to us. With the Holy Spirit’s help we will understand the glorious gift given to us through Jesus Christ and His Word.
Lord, thank you for your Spirit who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and judgment to come. Thank you for cleansing us from all unrighteousness and giving us your Spirit to guide us into all truth. Open our eyes to your truth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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