“THE HOLY SPIRIT IN REVELATION” By: Jim Hill, Evangelist If there is anything that disturbs and upsets me in the realm of religion it is this thing of God working and making known His revelation outside of the inspired Word. This silly idea of people trying to get others to believe that GOD SPEAKS DIRECTLY to them, the HOLY SPIRIT gets in the car and tells them what he wants done, CHRIST STOPS them in the middle of their message and declares to them what He wants said! If you can believe that, you can believe that I am an airplane pilot, and I can’t fly and their teaching won’t fly either. Let us get down to the basics of this message. One of the most rewarding studies in the Bible is that of the Holy Spirit’s work in revealing salvation to man! Yet most of the discord, strife, division and confusion stems from an ignorance of that work! Though they Spirit did not come to glorify Himself, yet He did reveal His work in revealing the terms of pardon. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) Remember that God, the Holy Spirit, and Man are all beings that talk. Before sin came, God talked face to face with man. But after the fall, sin caused a barrier, and man could no longer look upon the face of God. It was necessary for God to use an agent in revealing His will. To this end, God used the Holy Spirit, and spake through chosen men. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” (Heb. 1:1,2) God spoke by prophets; but the prophets had sinned, even as the people. So it provided the work of the Spirit. David explains: “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” (2 Sam. 23:2) The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets who then spake to Israel, so they could say, “And now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.” (Isaiah 48:16). The Levites knew this divine arrangement, and prayed, “Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in the prophets.”” (Neh. 9:30). It was commonly known that God used the Spirit to direct Israel, and it was through this means “that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Rom. 3:2). Man received God’s word as the Spirit spake by their prophets. But the prophets could not command the Spirit; rather, the Holy Spirit commanded the prophets as to when and what to speak! “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:20-21). It is interesting to note that those prophets could not delve into the salvation prophesied! “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (I Peter 1:10-12). The prophets didn’t understand prophecies they spake, but the prophecies had to be fulfilled. Peter said, “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke.” (Acts 1:16). This steadfast rule had no exception: all the inspired prophecies had to come to pass! Paul mentions this: “And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.” (Acts 13:29). It is by such fulfillment that we have faith in the word of God! The Holy Spirit was even more closely allied with Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth. From the first, the Spirit associated with His work and teaching. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice out of heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17). The very next verse relates that Jesus was led of the Spirit to be tempted. From that time, Jesus was constantly attended and guided by the Spirit. Performing miracles, signs and wonders, Jesus was set apart from all others. Nicodemus recognized this: “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2). John verified this, saying, “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” (John 3:34). All this only strengthens what Jesus claimed as he taught: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he that anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight of the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Handing the book again to the teacher, Jesus concluded, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:18-21). Thus Jesus plainly declared the Holy Spirit spake by Him! Jesus declared, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). The words, which are Spirit inspired and life giving, are authoritative and demand obedience! He warned, “He that rejected me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” Then He gave the reason: “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” (John 12:48-49). The Spirit gave the Son God’s word of salvation, and He in turn gave it to us. It was promised long before: “I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). Thus Jesus stands forth as God’s premiere prophet, having His divine approval: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:5). Just before leaving the earth, Jesus promised His disciples: “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” “But the Comforter, whom the Father shall send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” “He shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning.” (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27). Now, let us analyze that. Jesus promised the Spirit as “another” Comforter to them that had Him as a Comforter during His ministry. The promise was not for the world, but to those who now had the Spirit with them. The Spirit would soon be in them. The Spirit was to bring all He had said to their remembrance (apostles only). The promise was for them that had been with Christ from the beginning of His ministry. This promise did not embrace the world! Not then, not today! ! Jesus later said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:7, 13). Herein He promised the apostles the Holy Spirit that would fully inspire them that they might reveal the gospel to the world! The fulfillment of Christ’s promise of the Spirit is not hard to find! Jesus told His disciples: “And behold I send the promise of the Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49). Immediately before ascending, He said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). In the very next chapter is the fulfillment of this. They were in Jerusalem on Pentecost as directed, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit gave utterance to the apostles who spake as the Spirit directed. Peter explains it: “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh.” (Acts 2:16-17). Even as the Spirit had been promised, He had come! The Holy Spirit delivered God’s word to the apostles, but it was still necessary to get it to all men. This work is shown by Paul: “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when you read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:3-5). This fearless apostle affirms that his writing is as inspired as his oral proclamation of the mystery of the gospel. So he said, “For we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. . .which none of the princes of this world knew. . .but God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (I Cor. 2:7-10). The Spirit revealed it, Paul wrote it, we can understand it, and thus be saved! Peter was led to exclaim: “We have a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well to take heed.” (2 Peter 1:19). Don’t treat lightly the Spirit-inspired word of the gospel! The scriptures offer a transcript of the Divine Mind, for the Bible is the inspired word of God! Through that revelation Christ speaks today, and that word can’t pass away. He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35). By faith in this revelation, we can become children of God, and trust in the Spirit’s witness to that: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16). By the Spirit’s revelation, and our obedience to it, we are assured we are His children! Our spirit agrees with His Spirit! Many misunderstand the Spirit’s work in the process of conversion. Just what does the Spirit do? Jesus gave a part of the answer: “And when he [HOLY SPIRIT] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11). This was fulfilled on Pentecost, when Peter reproved them of unbelief; of righteousness by Christ’s ascension; of judgment because of sin. They asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:14-37). Peter (still speaking as the Spirit gave utterance) said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38). Notice the result of the work of the Spirit in reproving them, and in Peter’s answer: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:38-47). The work of the Spirit has been made clear with the events of Pentecost. The Spirit gave the revelation to the Apostles, and they spake as the Spirit gave them utterance. The people believed the words the Spirit gave; and in faith, were led by the Spirit to obey what was taught them. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). The Spirit brought God’s word for us to believe, and the Spirit through that word tells us what to do! The same is still true in this day - God speaks to us through the word! Jesus taught, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). There are two elements in the new birth: water and Spirit. It is by the Spirit [working in God’s word] that we have faith in Christ. The Spirit confirmed the word to that end. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:30-31). No man could have saving faith in Christ without the work of the Spirit revealing Him. And when one hears the inspired word which the Spirit has brought, he must then believe sufficiently to obey! One is not saved by faith only; but by an obedient faith that submits to Christ. One’s conversion must parallel that of early saints. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:26-27). They became children by faith which was produced by the word of the Spirit! Then, because they believed, they were born of water and of the Spirit by being baptized into Christ! Faith led them to be baptized! Baptism naturally follows when folk have trusting faith in Jesus Christ. He said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16). Now, if you believe in Christ, you also believe what He said. And if you believe what He said, you will readily be baptized! This is shown in the examples of conversion. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.” (Acts 2:41). “But when they believed Phillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Christ, they were baptized both men and women.” (Acts 8:12). The Ethiopian eunuch wanted to be baptized, and was told, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” Because he believed, “they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:35-38). Because Saul of Tarsus believed, he was told, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16). And to reduce this to its simple form: “Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8). The same holds true today: when one hears the inspired word which the Spirit revealed, and believes in Christ as the Son of God, he will be baptized into Christ for remission of sins; thus being born of water and of the Spirit. The same then (33 A.D.) will do the very same today! All we need is for people to get down to business with God’s word and stop fooling around with all this mess in the religious world! “HEAR YE HIM,” my friends! ++++++++++++++++++++ “Since baptism is a condition the gospel demands the sinner to meet in order to be saved by the gospel, when the sinner is baptized he thereby acknowledges his faith in the gospel and in Him who is its author.” +++++++++++++++++++ Faith grasps a hold on God’s resources and appropriates them. Man sins and repents. God forgives and receives. One encounter with Jesus can change your life. No matter who you are, it does matter what you are. Minor questions are answered when we answer the big question rightly. Do you measure the quality of your life by God’s standard or by yours? Good example has twice the value of good advice. Are you devoted only when other Christians are watching? Our faith can be summed up in two words - believe and behave. The wrong road, not matter how right it seems, leads to the wrong place. Those who deserve love the least need it the most. Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will cost you more than you want to pay, and it will keep you longer than you want to stay. Will your path take you where you want to go? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + I Am A Member of the Church of Christ Because ---- Her foundation is firm - a rock. Her creed is infallible - the Bible. Her name is appropriate - the name of the Bridegroom, Christ. Her mission is divinely appointed - preaching the Gospel. Her system of giving is Biblical. The baptism she administers symbolizes The burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. She spreads the Lord’s supper on the Lord’s day. Her hope is immortal ---------- Destiny everlasting!
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:24:19 +0000
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