Wk 2 - Spirit of Yahweh

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DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

We are reaching out to our family, friends, and neighbors as the body of Christ.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

Wk. 1 - Who is the Holy Spirit?…A person of the trinity referred to as “he” by Jesus…the Paraclete (helper/advocate).

WHY?…

TODAY: How does the First/Old Testament reveal the Holy Spirit?

Opening Scripture:

The first word picture for the Holy Spirit is wind.

In both Hebrew and Greek, spirit/Spirit derives from a word that also means wind.

Genesis 1:1–2 “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

Spirit (ruah) = breath or wind

Use a leaf blower to show the “wind” moving in incomprehensible ways

This word picture suggests that the Holy Spirit is always on the move in our lives, sometimes in incomprehensible ways (John 3:8),

From the N.T., The Holy Spirit moves us toward the goal of becoming mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28).

The work of the Holy Spirit is to manifest the active presence of God in the world.

In the Old Testament, the Spirit appears as Yahweh’s Agent…

1. Agent of revelation

Speaking of Joseph…Genesis 41:38 “38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?””

2. Agent of empowering certain leaders for specific tasks

Numbers 11:16–17 “16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.”

3. Agent of equipping certain individuals with special gifting

Artistic work…Exodus 31:3 “3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,”

Workmanship for artistry…Exodus 35:31 “31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship,”

4. Agent of inspiring and empowering the prophets

Saul in seeking to kill David…1 Samuel 19:23–24 “23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?””

The Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of people in the Old Testament was limited.

His role is limited to…

1. Coming upon people for a limited period of time to perform specific tasks

David… 1 Samuel 16:13 “13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

2. On rare occasion, to dwelling in someone

Joshua…Numbers 27:18 “18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.”

Joel prophesied of a day that The Holy Spirit’s role would be different.

The H.S.’s role in this limited OT scope prompted Joel to prophesy around 825 BC that the Christian messianic age would be distinctly different in that God will pour out [His] Spirit on all people

Joel 2:28–29 “28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”

Conclusion/Reflection:

The Old Testament anticipates a new era in which the Spirit will work among a greater number of individuals and different kinds of people to create a more faithful community of men and women serving God.

Apparently they will also be more mightily empowered.

The fulfillment of these promises in the New Testament conforms to the prophecy of the Old Testament.

Example of anticipation: Christmas, road trip, etc.

Do you live with anticipation for the Holy Spirit’s work?

Talk It Over

How does the imagery of the Holy Spirit as wind in the Old Testament influence your understanding of His movement and activity in your life today?

In what ways did the Holy Spirit function as an agent of revelation, empowerment, and inspiration in the Old Testament? How do these roles compare to the Holy Spirit's work in the New Testament?

Why do you think the Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of Old Testament individuals was often temporary and specific? How does this contrast with the more permanent indwelling of the Spirit in the New Testament?

Joel prophesied that the Holy Spirit would one day be poured out on all people. How do you see this prophecy being fulfilled in the New Testament and in the life of the Church today?

Reflecting on the Old Testament's anticipation of a new era of the Spirit, how can you live with greater anticipation and openness to the Holy Spirit's work in your own life?

Footnotes

Both Isaiah and Ezekiel also help develop this theme. “Notice that the promise is not a change of activity or of the quality of the activity of the Spirit of God. A change in the quantity or scope of the activity is prophesied” (Mark McLean, The Holy Spirit in Horton, op. cit., pg. 383).

Blomberg, Craig, Holy Spirit in Elwell, Walter (Editor), Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 2000 printing, pg. 345.

Because in the Old Testament the Spirit does not emerge as a clearly defined personality, but more as God’s “life-force,” the NRSV will frequently translate the spirit of the Lord where the TNIV translates, the Spirit of the Lord (i.e., 1 Kings 18:12). Because the meaning of the Hebrew noun ruach (like the Greek, pneuma) can also mean “wind,” note the NRSV—a wind from God swept over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2)—as compared to the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (TNIV).

Grudem, op. cit., pg. 634.

This is often seen as a close analogue to the New Testament provision of spiritual gifting. The Spirit is also said to have been present to empower for rebuilding the Temple (Haggai 2:5; Zechariah 4:6).

King David’s famous—do not take Your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:11)—is best understood as a request that Yahweh’s Spirit not be withdrawn in terms of equipping him for kingship. It is not to be interpreted in terms of withdrawing Him as an indwelling Person, as He would be withdrawn from the life of a New Testament apostate.

For an excellent discussion of the Holy Spirit at work in Old Testament saints, see Grudem, op. cit., pp. 637 and 770-771.