Introduction

Greetings to everyone. Time flies. We have now reached the fifth sermon in our series, Grace and Truth. Throughout these five sessions, many brothers and sisters have been set free. This has far exceeded my expectations. Why? Because we previously lacked a proper grasp of the truth. What, then, is truth? Truth is the underlying law governing the operation of the spiritual realm. Grace is a vital, indispensable aspect of this truth. Today, we address Part 5 of Grace and Truth: The Spirit of Truth.

In our past pursuit of truth, I may have inadvertently misled you. We made it seem as though scaling the heights of spiritual truth was an agonizing, painful ordeal—as if listening to my sermons required sweating blood and shedding tears enough to fill a water bottle. Let me apologize to you today. I communicated the wrong impression. Climbing the peak of spiritual truth does not depend on human strivings; it depends entirely on the Holy Spirit.

There was another area where we took a detour. Do not let your confidence be shaken by these adjustments. Some might say, "He makes mistakes, corrects them, and takes us on a long detour." There is no need to worry. While many remain idling at the foot of the mountain, we have already scaled significant heights and are continuing upward. Do you understand? Taking an occasional detour is entirely normal. Why? Because that is precisely how the Spirit of God leads us—step by step, adjusting our course along the way.

I received a second vital realization. We used to assume there was only one single path up Mount Everest. In reality, multiple routes lead to the summit. The issue is simply whether you possess the capability and guidance to ascend. Most people find one path, reach the top, and consider it a monumental achievement.

How much do we truly understand about a mountain as vast as Everest? Very little. The mountain holds many mysteries, just as the heights of divine truth do. Truth fills every level. God's truth fills the earth just as the waters cover the sea.

We must not indulge in premature celebration simply because we reached a certain height via one route. Every level is vast and packed with divine truth. I realized that it is the Holy Spirit who leads us. Why do we avoid the trap of judging good and evil? Because the Spirit guides us systematically along the path. Beyond that, there are countless rooms and doors, each requiring its own key.

Open one door, and you gain insight; open another, and your understanding expands. On every level, there are thousands of rooms, each containing valuable spiritual weapons and principles. Thank God that I possess a sober assessment of myself. What we know today is merely a drop in the ocean. Our current understanding remains surface-level; vast territory lies ahead. The Holy Spirit must guide us into all truth. Therefore, do not drive yourselves to a nervous breakdown trying to figure everything out by human effort. It is the Holy Spirit who leads us into truth. The church has reached a stage where we suddenly realize the immense power of grace and truth. Though we emphasize grace, within grace lie countless spiritual treasures.

Why have so many brothers and sisters experienced deliverance recently? Because we proclaimed a fundamental truth: the truth of grace. Grace and truth are formidable weapons. Truth sets men free. Yet grace—including the Holy Spirit guiding us into truth—is entirely the Spirit's work. It is not your personal merit; it is the achievement of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, everything is grace.

It is easy to utter the phrase "everything is grace," but to summarize it so concisely requires divine illumination. Were it not for God's grace and the Spirit's guidance, how could we reach such clarity? Previously, I might have felt self-satisfied with my insights. But what is there to boast about? We must remain humble. Without God's direct leadership, could you understand any of this? Absolutely not.

Therefore, do not be anxious. Regardless of your current spiritual stage or where you stand on the mountain of truth, you and I must continue relying on the Holy Spirit to understand God's word more deeply. Let this grace increase continuously. Recently, demonic spirits have begun to manifest openly. Through these manifestations, we came to understand the spiritual laws governing demonic exposure.

Make no mistake: if a demon does not manifest, it cannot be cast out. When Jesus Christ was an infant, Mary brought Him into the Temple. An elderly man named Simeon saw Jesus—a mere babe who could not yet speak—and declared, "My eyes have seen your salvation!" He added a crucial insight: "This child is appointed for the falling and rising of many... so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

How are these hidden thoughts revealed? People place immense weight on physical comfort, such as sleep. A person comes to me and says, "Pastor, I cannot sleep." I reply, "If you cannot sleep, then do not sleep." They panic: "If I do not sleep, my heart races and my body shakes!" Look at that: the hidden reliance of the heart is immediately exposed.

What do we do once these hidden motives are exposed? I explain the truth to them, but they grasp it only vaguely. The next day, the struggle repeats. I realized the root cause: there was no genuine faith inside. Previously, when serving others, they spoke eloquently for hours. But when insomnia struck, their true spiritual condition was laid bare. When a basic physical function fails, human effort is utterly useless. You cannot force it by sheer willpower.

Do you understand? Can you force yourself to sleep or perform basic bodily functions through human exertion? No. You spoke impressively while ministering, and people thought you were strong. Now you see your limitations. Yet, even with these flaws, when you ministered, God still worked through you.

Thus, we must understand that demonic manifestation is a spiritual reality. When manifestations occur, it is a positive development! Why? Because the demon can no longer remain hidden. The enemy then whispers inside: "You cannot sleep because you are pampering your flesh." The person panics, falls into religious striving, and loses sight of the truth.

They spend an hour crying out, "I must put my flesh to death," becoming more agitated by the minute. Is that truth? No. It is the Holy Spirit who puts to death the misdeeds of the body. Furthermore, God grants you grace even before your flesh is fully subdued. If you must perfectly crucify your flesh before you can sleep, you might as well wait until you are in a coffin.

That is utter nonsense. Since when was putting to death the deeds of the body your own self-generated task? That is the work of the Spirit. Tell the demon: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." When the devil insists you must achieve perfection first, counter it with God's word. The demon will collapse, and you will sleep soundly—even before you are fully perfected.

It is the Holy Spirit’s work. He is actively dismantling your worldly logic. If you were comfortable, eating and sleeping without trouble, how could your worldly mindset be exposed and destroyed? Do you see the logic now? This is truth. I thank God for His revelation; His word is effective.

Why? Because I speak God's word: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." When the devil tempts you to worry about sleep or food, stand firm. One sister told me, "I need to eat to have strength to fight demons." What absurdity! Jesus fasted forty days; spiritual warfare is not fought on physical calories.

This past week, relying on the Holy Spirit, truth, and grace, we achieved decisive victories in spiritual battles. Enemy forces fell one after another. When demonic spirits groaned during prayer, I made it clear: that is the enemy whimpering in defeat.

From our spiritual vantage point, we understand that manifestation is key to deliverance. Without it, how can spiritual maturity occur? Despite physical ailments, people remain prideful. But when troubles manifest, it breaks that pride. I do not mock people in their distress; I celebrate their impending deliverance and the defeat of the devil.

Look at how many misconceptions we held. People say, "Pastor, when I pray, my head aches, and the pain shifts around." That is progress! Were it not for the Holy Spirit at work, would the demon be unsettled and moving?

We have powerful scriptures: "Man shall not live by bread alone," and "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." These render the enemy powerless. How do we gain this discernment? By the Holy Spirit. I am not impressive in myself, but I seek Him, and the Holy Spirit is mighty.

Everything is grace. Scaling spiritual heights, crucifying the flesh, discerning truth, and casting out demons all require the Holy Spirit. Scripture states it clearly: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord."

In ministry, my focus is clear: reliance on the Spirit of God. Praying merely for sleep or physical relief yields no result. We must seek the Spirit of Truth, who guides us into all truth.

Truth acts as a key unlocking spiritual doors. Seeking worldly benefits—sleep, healing, wealth, or career success—is pointless. The key is a genuine desire to observe and obey God's word.

Jesus said plainly: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

I once struggled on the lowlands of judging good and evil. But the Spirit led us to higher ground. Standing on the spiritual peak brings immense clarity. When demons encounter us, they crumble because God's word dwells within us.

Seeing believers set free brings deep satisfaction. This is Part 5 of Grace and Truth: The Spirit of Truth. Stop relying on human toil. It is not your blood and sweat, but the Holy Spirit's guidance and the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Scripture

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. (John 14:15-24)

Prayer

Lord, grant us Your grace today, and bestow upon us the Holy Spirit of truth. This is an immense grace—to lead us into truth, to help us comprehend Your Word, and to understand how supremely valuable Your truth is. We know that You are our way, our truth, and our life.

God, pour out the Spirit of truth today. Let us navigate continuously in this ocean of truth, and let us scale its highest peaks. Enable us to truly grasp Your Word and Your divine will, so that we may strictly observe and obey them. God, we long to know You more deeply. Lead us today. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Context of the Scripture

Consider the old apostle John. He lived a long life, well into his nineties. Age brings experience. He personally witnessed the spiritual decay of the Jerusalem church under the stewardship of James and Peter. He also witnessed how the churches established by the Apostle Paul steadfastly adhered to the pure gospel. He saw all manner of church dynamics—many of which were chaotic and misguided.

In his twilight years, Peter was dead, Paul was dead, yet old John remained on this earth, holding high the banner of the Gospel and pressing forward. His body was old, but his mind remained sharp. He observed that people’s understanding of grace had deviated to an absurd degree. Do not assume that everything was ideal during John's time. The devil’s work began with Adam, Eve, and Cain, continued through Moses, through Jesus Christ, and through the Apostle Paul. It has never ceased its attempts to corrupt the church and corrupt mankind. John saw that the moment people grasped grace, they discarded truth; the moment they grasped truth, grace vanished. The devil is thoroughly deceptive. Then, whenever they wanted the Holy Spirit, they would engage in dramatic prayers, assuming that emotional frenzy equaled power. That is a complete delusion.

Let me be frank with you: when I see the absurd practices regarding speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues in many churches, it is sheer nonsense. What on earth are they doing? John’s heart ached because people twisted everything out of shape. Have you noticed how easily people deviate from the right path when left to their own devices? It is deeply concerning.

Reflecting on all this in his old age, John sat down to write his Gospel. Long after Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written, in his late years, John finally recalled the words Jesus had spoken to them. Why didn't they understand at the time? They heard it all. When Jesus asked, "Do you understand?" they answered, "Yes, we do." Jesus said nothing and merely looked at them, knowing full well they understood nothing.

Why are the accounts in Matthew and Luke so completely different from the Gospel of John? Because the disciples listened back then without truly understanding. Why does John’s record differ from the first three Gospels? Because John was articulating a gospel "full of grace and truth." Many of the confusion and problems plaguing the early church were addressed explicitly and clearly in the Gospel of John.

Do we need grace? Of course we do. Do we need truth? Absolutely. Grace comes through Jesus Christ. But do you think you can find truth simply by burying yourself in a library? That will not work. Truth comes through the Holy Spirit of truth. Our Heavenly Father promised to send a Counselor—the Spirit of truth. Thus, John systematically clarified both truth and grace.

In recent times, we have consistently emphasized grace and truth, and today we address the Holy Spirit of truth. Is understanding truth your own achievement? No, it is the work of God. What is there to be arrogant about just because you know the truth? Do not stick your tail in the air. It is the Holy Spirit who guided you. Ultimately, it is all by grace.

Look at the real consequences: emphasize only truth, and people drift into legalistic self-righteousness; emphasize only grace, and they indulge the flesh. Total distortion. By John’s time, healing and deliverance in the church had lost their power. But if we preach according to John’s teaching, I assure you, the power to drive out demons will be immensely strong. John recalled key events and wrote his Gospel. In truth, John explained the concept of loving God with absolute clarity. John frequently emphasized whether one genuinely loves God. Grace and truth are God's divine initiatives, but the core question is: Do we truly love God? You do not come to church merely to seek wealth. God brings you here because you hunger for His truth. Get this clear.

John recalled an event omitted by the other Gospels. Only John’s Gospel records the dialogue between Jesus and Peter. Why didn't the others write it down? Because Peter was still alive at the time. Out of respect for Peter, they spared him the embarrassment. But in John's later years, Peter had died. John no longer needed to protect Peter's ego, so he recorded the story where Jesus asked, "Do you love me?"

Do you know why? Because Peter was acting foolishly. After Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them, Peter led the brothers right back to fishing! He thought: forget the gospel, forget the Kingdom of God, forget the resurrection—let us go back to fishing, we need to eat tomorrow! He fell in love with fish again. Years prior, Jesus said, "I will make you fishers of men." Peter discarded that and decided to stick to catching fish.

When you abandon your calling, God ensures you catch nothing. Is this not like many of our brothers and sisters today? They love money obsessively, only to end up broke. Falling in love with fish—what kind of logic is that? You cannot build a relationship with a fish! They fished all night in complete defeat. If they had caught netfuls, they would have rushed to the fish market the next morning. They preferred the foul stench of the fish market to Jesus.

Yet they caught nothing, which infuriated Peter: "I am a professional fisherman, why are the fish swimming away from me?" If God commands the fish to scatter, what can you do? Then Jesus stood on the shore and said, "Cast the net over there." That single cast brought in 153 large fish. Jesus grilled fish for them and then asked, "Peter, do you love me more than these?"

Just moments before, Peter was in love with fish, calculating how to sell them at the market and take the guys out for a meal. Jesus felt the tragedy of it. As John looked back at Peter’s life, it was vividly clear. John was right there; he knew Peter’s limitations inside out. So he documented it.

"Peter, do you love me more than these fish?" "Lord, You know I love You." In His heart, Jesus must have thought, "Nonsense. If I hadn't stopped you from catching fish, and then given you this catch, who knows where you would be now?" "Do you love me?" Jesus asked a second time. "Lord, You know I love You." Jesus asked a third time, "Peter, do you love me?" Peter said, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Honestly, Peter would have been better off staying silent. Our brothers and sisters must realize this: if one day the Lord Jesus asks you, "Do you love me?" that is a solemn question. Your response should be: "Lord, my love is lacking, please help me." Do not play hypocritical games.

Peter was a seasoned practitioner of hypocrisy; even in Paul’s era, Peter was still putting on a show. John saw all this clearly. He knew their senior leader had a habit of saying pleasing things that were not genuine. That kind of disingenuous behavior is detestable.

Therefore, John resolved these theological confusions once and for all. The foundation must be a genuine love for God. Do you love God? If you want life, come to Jesus. If you want to walk a glorious path, Jesus is the way. If you want to reflect God's image, Jesus holds the truth. If you want an honorable, glorious life—a life like God’s—Jesus is the source of life!

In Jesus, there is also the grace of the Holy Spirit. Let me be pragmatic with you: when God's Spirit departs from a man, his life becomes miserable. Look at King Saul—once the Spirit left, torment followed. Therefore, love God all your life. If you say to God, "Lord, I love You," mean it. When Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" do not let your tongue outrun your brain with a quick "Lord, I love You."

If you truly loved Him, why would He need to keep asking? We must constantly examine ourselves: "Do I truly love God?" To whom is the Holy Spirit given? The Spirit of truth guides those who love God. Never assume a pastor plants a church purely out of love for God; that is not necessarily true. He might just love the "fish"—converting those fish into cold, hard cash at the market. Today, far too many people love money. It is a terrible plight.

What is the background of this scripture? Old John witnessed these human failures, remembered the Lord Jesus' profound teachings prior to the crucifixion, and documented them with absolute clarity. What was that teaching? Our Heavenly Father will grant the Holy Spirit of truth. Not to everyone indiscriminately, but specifically to those who love God. In the early days of my church planting, I learned a vital lesson from Paul.

Paul said, "I pray in tongues more than all of you." Recently, I found that active ministry drastically increased my prayer volume. In those early days, I had no money, no staff, no resources—I only had time. So I knelt and prayed. We all knelt on prayer pads, seeking God just as the early church did. The most obvious challenge then was a lack of understanding. I read Genesis and could not comprehend it. Many read it and naively thought they understood, just like the disciples who told Jesus, "We understand," only for Jesus to know better. I read Genesis and knew every individual word, but putting them together, I had no idea what it really meant.

I asked myself: What is this talking about? "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." After reading it, I was stumped. Why? Because I genuinely loved God and wanted to figure out how to observe and obey His words. I wanted to put it into practice. If I could not even apply the very first sentence of the Bible, I was finished.

So I prayed. The Spirit of God—the Spirit of truth—came and guided me into truth. It became a real dialogue! I was shocked. Those who heard my early lectures know how that dialogue went, but for completeness, let me reiterate.

I said, "God, I don't understand! I know every word, but I don't know how to practice this." That was a critical question, because loving God means keeping His commands. God's word came to me: "This sentence is actionable. You are created in My image, so what I do, you do also."

I asked, "Surely I cannot recreate the heavens and the earth?" He replied, "What I do, you do. I do it on a grand scale; you do it on a smaller scale." I asked, "How?" He said, "People often face situations of emptiness and chaos. You must let My Spirit hover there, open your mouth, and decree light and hope—and light will be there."

My goodness! The revelations in chapters one through five of Genesis are absolute treasures. If you master what I taught on those chapters, you will be on solid ground. To whom does the Holy Spirit reveal these things? To those who earnestly desire to practice God's Word.

If you love God, you will keep His commands and desire to act on His word; God will then grant you the Spirit of truth. It was then that old John realized: "Ah, Peter never really understood Genesis either, because he was illiterate." John began to see the full picture. The Spirit of truth is not for the worldly; it is for those who hunger to observe and obey His Word.

When I look at the deliverance work in our church and the struggles of our brothers and sisters, I often weep in my heart. Why? Because I know what God requires of us: to act justly and love mercy. Recently, I experienced a massive breakthrough myself. Do you know what real breakthrough is? I realized I must rely on the Holy Spirit; my impatience changes nothing—I must work together with God. As a result, during our series on "Grace and Truth," many found complete deliverance. The Holy Spirit teaches us all things and reminds us of what Jesus Christ said.

I tell you, the Gospel of John stands on a far higher plane than the Synoptic Gospels. The Lord Jesus set the supreme example for us. What did He say? He said, "I love the Father, and I do exactly what the Father has commanded me. Arise, let us go from here." And He went straight to the cross. That is true conviction. Love God, and whatever He commands us to do, we do. That is the core truth old John brought back to light.