When darkness covered the earth and the Spirit of God brooded upon it, the Word of God went forth — “Let there be light.” The joint operation of the Word and the Holy Spirit brought forth light where there was formerly darkness and the creation of every other thing. (Gen. 1)

We need to recognize this truth as Christians. As a steam engine train needs steam and the rail tracks to move forward, believers likewise need God’s Spirit and the Word to make progress. One is not more important than the other; both are equally important.

Understanding and knowing God is beyond the human nature, meaning it is supernatural. Logic cannot identify God, neither can reason. Though man was made in the Creator’s image, the fallen nature lacks the ability to know God. (1 Cor 2:14). When we pick up the Bible to read, it is the Spirit of God that opens our eyes to understand so we can apply God’s Word. Since the Holy Spirit dwells in us and the is our way of understanding the will of God, the Spirit helps us know God’s will through the Word. By knowing the will of God, we can stay in fellowship with God and fulfil God’s purpose for our lives.
An inspired Word must always agree with the revealed Word. The revealed Word of God puts us in alignment with God’s will and Spirit so that when an inspired word comes, we can readily check the authenticity of the Word without necessarily making spiritual references. The more sure Word of prophecy Peter spoke about in 2 Peter 1:19 is actually the revealed Word — revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Bottom line, we cannot understand God’s Word without the Holy Spirit. “…for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life!”
(II Cor. 3:6)