Monday: The Holy Spirit and Inspiration
Inspiration is the term used to describe God’s influence through the work of the Holy Spirit in transmitting His message through human instruments. The work of the Holy Spirit in the process of inspiration is the reason we find a fundamental unity in all of Scripture in regard to truth. As the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, John 15:26, John 16:13), the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.
Read 2 Peter 1:21, Deuteronomy 18:18, Micah 3:8, and 1 Corinthians 2:9-13. What do these texts tell us about the biblical writers and about God’s involvement in the origin of the Bible?
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Being “carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21, NIV) is a strong affirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit in inspiration. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-13, the apostle Paul credits revelation and inspiration to the Holy Spirit. To us, he says, God revealed the hidden things that no eye has seen, which he mentions in verse 9. God revealed them through the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10). The apostles have received this “Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12, NASB). Then in verse 13 he moves to the work of inspiration, where he speaks of things “not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” (NASB). Paul had no doubt about the source and the authority of what he was proclaiming.
While many parts of the Bible are a result of God’s direct supernatural revelation, not everything in the Bible was revealed in that manner. Sometimes God used biblical writers in their careful personal investigation of things or in their use of other existing documents (Josh. 10:13, Luke 1:1-3) to reveal and communicate His message. Thus all parts of the Bible are revealed and inspired (2 Tim. 3:16). This is the reason Paul states that “whatever” was written, was written for our instruction, so that through “the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4, NASB). The God who speaks and who created human language enables chosen people to communicate in human words the inspired thoughts in a trustworthy and reliable manner.
“God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do His work. He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from Heaven.” – Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 26.
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The Lord is good and He is always ready to help us. He has our good at heart and has provided everything we need for our salvation. His spirit is with us to guide us into all truth. What a God we serve. Glory be to Him. Amen
What is the difference to say "His spirit is with us to guide ..." and to say The Holy Spirit is with us to guide ..... (now as a separate being from Go)
The first statement will imply that it is Gods Spirit and not a separate being but something God has (like an Active Force of God or his power = this is what JW define the Holy Spirit)?
If God chooses someone to communicate with through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, would they be aware? Would we be informed or biased in our opinions? A story of one of our young pastors some years ago was conducting bible studies with a charismatic young man not of our faith, and when the Sabbath question was proposed. The answer was, O I'm not ready for that. " I am waiting for the Spirit to tell me that, and He sure hasn't impressed me yet". The young pastor was stunned. Didn't know how to respond. I have omitted some of the story in order to save space and to show that we are not always as set in our ways and sure of our selves as one might think. Dr Ron E.M. Clouzet is that pastor.
feeble and frail as we are,we need God's influence in our lives through the Holy Spirit in order to stay on the course in this Christian journey and by faith we can all say "but we know whom we have believed and we're persuaded that He's able, to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day".
I take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and spirit-filled 2017.
"God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, through His Holy Spirit qualified men and enabled them to do His work.He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from heaven" Ellen G.White, Selected Messages, book 1,P.26.
This is a powerful statement which I believe is true, however, I cannot understand the reason there is so much confusion regarding the interpretation of the written word. Is it that the interpretation of scripture is not guided by the Holy Spirit? As far as I can see, all scripture is given by inspiration so the interpretation should be as clear-cut as the minds of these "earthen vessels" are guided by the Holy Spirit to interpret. What went wrong here? Whom do we believe?
we must understand that the devil also uses the same scriptures to deceive and mislead people. If he tried it on Christ what more with us? Secondly the scriptures have many different applications and one can draw different lessons from them, this should not be considered a confusion. But true, in some cases others do not have as much light and so wrestle with the scriptures to suit their belief. Look at the Sabbath question from Jesus' time to now. The same verse which you may use to defend the Sabbath another will use and try to obliterate the Sabbath. Of the two only one is being led by the Spirit of Truth there's another spirit that leads the other one yet using the same bible. In other words the confusion in the interpretation of scripture is a deliberate ploy by the enemy to make the word of no effect. Hold fast to what has been revealed to you.
For the first time studying aspects of the scripture this idea has been revealed to me. With regards to the Bible explaining its authority as being 'Holy Spirit garbed'. I have seen a miracle! It is actually a recommendation being given of its substance. Sometimes when studying or preparing spiritual material. I have sensed a presence of fear. Not a fear of wanting to run away and Hide, but one of 'Holy Awe'. Sometimes I have to stop the study, get up, walk about, pause and then restart. It is like a flame that comes within and the energy it gives has a weight more than me (this sometimes happen in prayer sessions too). At this point I subconsciously praise God (this I realize after a while). There are times when I openly question God or utter statements of amazement for eg. Why didn't I see this before now? have mercy! glory!... The question I therefore ask is, is the inspiration of the scripture an embedded recommendation of itself done by the Holy spirit? What I realize is, a regular letter of recommendation says these about an individual- positive, available, has influence,evokes integrity and specializes in good human relationship (John 14:26; 14:6; 14:16; 15:26; 16:7; 16:13; Acts 2:17).
"If God chooses someone to communicate with through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, would they be aware?" Which is more reliable, revelation or reason?"if the answer is Revelation ,how then or by what means do we filter such revelation?
A good question Freddie? There is a clamor of people claiming to be led by the Holy Spirit, even within the Seventh-day Adventist church and sorting out the messages takes wisdom, skill, and dare I say it, a bit of tolerance.
There are essentially three sources of communication:
1) The written word of God. ie the Bible
2) The interactive personal communication between you and God. ie prayer - particularly the listening bit.
3) The community of believers.
When you have the balance of all three you can be pretty confident that your faith is headed in the right direction. That does not mean that all things will become clear. Some issues we think are important may never be resolved, at least in this life. Learning to live with unanswered questions is part of the faith experience.
God is truly an amazing God He directs and He also reveals through is Holy Words truth and righteousness for our development. All glory to God amen.
Bible Inspiration: Many have told of the Bible writers being influnced or directed or guided or controlled by the Holy Spirit. What about the wordings and the styles, are there any elements of inspiration on the same?
Maurice the question from Freddie as well as mine has to do with verification of the Holy Spirit's communication. There was no doubt as to the presence of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-3. Sometimes we wonder, or are not totally certain, if the Holy Spirit is providing the information that we think. Can our imagination work overtime due to our doctrinal beliefs? John 8:32 and John 16:13 are relevant to our understanding of the "Truth" There are a number of issues and questions that will be brought out in the lessons this quarter. Hopefully the right answer will also be there.
The Holy Spirit is the agent of truthfulness. Therefore, God release him to be with us in order to guide us to do His will perfectly. Amen