The Holy Spirit - The Inspirer of Scripture

Intro

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Bible

In the midst of the enlightenment, when deism was spreading rapidly, Voltaire proclaimed that within twenty-five years the Bible would be forgotten and Christianity would be a thing of the past. Forty years after his death in 1778, the Bible and other Christian literature were being printed in what had once been Voltaire’s very own home!

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Bible, Authority Of

Trying to destroy or defend the Word of God is like having two men push with toothpicks on opposite sides of the Rock of Gibraltar. While one is trying to push it over with his toothpick, the other is trying to hold it up with his. The rock is going to stay firm regardless of what either man does!

Sermon’s outline. Regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit we must necessarily begin by considering His role in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. In this regard we will consider:

Divine Endorsement of Scripture;

The Nature of Inspiration;

The Authority given by the Spirit.

N.1 - Divine Endorsement of Scripture

1A. An Objective Word needed

Read Ephesians 2:8–10 and John 3:3, 5, 15–16. Choose the correct answers:

a) We cannot save ourselves by our own good deeds or good thoughts(true)

b) We must understand the whole Bible in order to be saved.

c) We need an objective knowledge of the facts of Jesus’ death and resurrection to be saved (true)

d) All we need in order to be saved is to give mental assent to the truth of the facts concerning Christ’s death and resurrection.

e) God has given the Holy Spirit who helps us understand the truth and who gives us new life (true)

1B. Inspiring Words and Acts

The prophets who wrote down the Scriptures were first moved or led by the Spirit to obey God and actively help carry on His plan. They were themselves involved in many of the events they recorded.

What actions were inspired by the Holy Spirit in these passages?

a) Numbers 11:25: prophesying.

b) Exodus 31:2–5: craftsmanship in precious metal, wood and stone.

c) Judges 14:5–6: Killing the lion.

1C. Inspiring the Written Record

Read or quote 2 Timothy 3:16–17. In view of God’s purpose in giving the Bible, which is true?

a) The Spirit’s work ceased as soon as the Bible was written.

b) God gave the Spirit not only to inspire the writers of the Bible but also to illuminate the written Word so the purposes for which God gave it could accomplished (true)

N.2 - The Nature of Inspiration

2A. Active Cooperation

The English word inspiration may give the impression of God breathing into the Scriptures, but this is not its real meaning. The Greek of 2 Timothy 3:16 is better translated “All Scripture is breathed out by God.”

Some who do not believe in the supernatural inspiration of the Bible say inspiration is only a lifting of natural insight of men to a higher level where they begin to perceive truth.

They would make the inspiration of the Bible not very different from the “inspiration” of great literary works, such as those of Shakespeare.

Which of the following would you say is true?

a) The Holy Spirit inspired the writers and worked through them (true)

b) The Holy Spirit inspired the writings but not the writers.

c) The writings are inspired because they are the product of the Spirit working through the writers (true)

2B. Factual Truth

The Bible contains many kinds of information in addition to its spiritual truths. In it we find principles of law and good government, principles of hygiene and sanitation, truths of psychology and human relations, causes of the rise and fall of civilizations. It is not a science book but it contains many facts about nature. It records facts of geography as part of its historical records.

Read John 3:19–21. Does this suggest to you another reason some critics are always looking for mistakes in the Bible?

Answer: the real trouble with many critics is moral, not intellectual. If they admitted the Bible is true, they would have to admit they are sinners in need of a Savior, and that seems too humbling for them to do.

2C. Correct Interpretation

When Jesus took His disciples to the region of Caesarea Philippi in the shadow of Mount Hermon, He asked them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Read Matthew 16:13–17. Which statements are true?

a) Everyone agreed on the proper interpretation of who Jesus is.

b) There were many different interpretations of who Jesus is (true)

c) If people had found a wise enough man he would have been able to explain it to them.

d) It took a revelation from God to give the disciples the right interpretation (true)

e) We must have a special revelation from God if we are to be sure of any interpretations of the facts and truths recorded in the Bible.

f) The Bible records correct interpretations of many facts

and truths (true)

N.3 - The Authority given by the Spirit

3A. A Guide to right Belief

From what we have said so far, it should be clear that the inspiration of the Bible by the Spirit of Truth gives us assurance that the Bible is dependable and that it tells us the truth about God and Christ. It is therefore a guide to right belief and becomes our supreme rule of faith.

Read Matthew 24:35.

What is more permanent than heaven and earth?

Answer: Christ’s words. See also:

Luke 16:17 NIV

It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

3B. A Guide to right Conduct

Again and again the Bible shows that the Spirit who inspired the Word most often uses the Word to give us guidance. This is why it is important for every believer to spend time daily reading God’s Word with his heart open to the voice of the Spirit. ••Constant reading of God’s Word will also keep it in our minds so the Spirit can use it to give us guidance at critical times as well.

Look at Micah 6:8, and memorize the phrase that shows the source of the guidance given.

3C. The Letter that kills

The fact that the Bible is true has caused some to treat it as a mere book of rules that we can follow by using our own reasoning and interpretations. The Pharisees by doing this fell into a legalistic interpretation of parts of the Bible, and they completely ignored other parts.

In Matthew 12:1-8 the hungry disciples picked a few heads of wheat on the Sabbath and ate them. The Pharisees interpreted this as breaking the Sabbath. By picking the grain the disciples were accused of harvesting! By rubbing it between their fingers to remove the chaff, they were accused of threshing!

Actually, the Law permitted people who were really hungry to take something to eat from a field they might pass by (Deuteronomy 23:25).

Questions

1 = A

2 = B

3 = A

4 = B

5 = B

6 = B

7 = B

8 = B

9 = B