The Holy Spirit - The Spirit in the Writing Prophets

Intro

Prophets. The Old Testament itself looks on prophecy as the chief activity of the Spirit of God among His people.

The prophets were the principal writers of the Old Testament Scriptures. Jewish tradition adds that prophets like Nathan helped write the books of Samuel and that Jeremiah finished writing the books of Kings.

In this lesson we will see how the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is no longer confined to a few chosen people, but the promise from Joel of the outpouring on all flesh broke down all barriers of race, age, sex, or nationality.

Many other prophecies, also, have been fulfilled since the first coming of the Messiah, and we are today experiencing the continuing fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

Sermon’s Outline. We will concentrate our study on:

Joel: outpoured on all flesh;

Micah: filled with the Spirit;

Isaiah: the Sevenfold Spirit;

Ezekiel: God’s Mighty Hand.

N.1 - Joel

1a. Outpoured on all flesh.

Joel 2:28–29 NIV

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

1b. Peter’s proclamation.

Acts 2:16–19 NIV

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

All the charismatic experiences we experience, to be genuine, must find a correspondence in the Word of God.

1c. Quiz.

For each of the following write the proper phrase in Joel’s prophecy that shows the limit was to be removed (Joel 2:28–29).

a) Restrictions as to age and sex: your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.

b) Cultural distinctions which gave age the precedence over youth: Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

c) Social restrictions between so-called upper and lower classes: Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

N.2 - Micah

2a. Filled with the Spirit.

Micah has hope:

Micah 7:7–8 NIV

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

Micah proclaims God’s judgment:

Micah 3:1–3 NIV

Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?”

Micah exposes false prophets:

Micah 2:6 NIV

“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. “Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”

2b. Quiz.

Which statements are true?

a) God filled Micah with great hope. yes

b) The chief purpose for which God filled Micah with the Spirit was to proclaim the blessing of God.

c) The chief difference between Micah and the false prophets was that Micah did not take money for his services.

d) God is still a good God even though He must sometimes send judgment. yes

e) False prophets encouraged the people to yield to their own desires. yes

N.3 - Isaiah

3a. The Sevenfold Spirit.

Isaiah 11:1–2 NIV

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

3b. Reflection.

Notice how each aspect of the sevenfold Spirit was seen in Jesus, as listed below, and provide some examples.

a) Wisdom: insight, application of truth to life, right choices

b) Understanding: comprehension, recognition of good and evil

c) Counsel: divine direction, right conclusions

d) Might: courage and strength to do God’s will

e) Knowledge: personal revelation of God and truth

f) Fear of the Lord: reverence, submission to His Lordship, worship

g) Spirit of the Lord: redemption, divine authority for purposeful living

N.4 - Ezekiel

4a. God’s Mighty Hand.

Ezekiel 3:14 NIV

The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me.

Actually, the Bible often uses “the finger of God” or “the hand of God” or “the arm of the Lord” to mean the power of God. The Hebrew would rather use a concrete term or picture word to describe the power of God than to use a word that is vague or abstract. As we have already seen, the power of God is manifest often through the Spirit of God. Thus, the hand or power of God may actually be manifest through the Spirit. Some prophets may use one term, some another, some, like Ezekiel, may use both. But the truth is the same.

4b. Quiz.

Which of the following are true?

a) The Bible has much to say about the Spirit as a mighty power. yes

b) Sometimes the power of the Holy Spirit on the prophets was so great they screamed and twisted as if in agony.

c) Ezekiel and Elijah were the only true prophets who never fell into a trance or a frenzy of excitement.

d) Ezekiel was made aware of the moving of the Spirit in his own experience. yes

e) The Spirit’s purpose in entering into Ezekiel and making him stand on his feet was to enable him to hear the message God had for him. yes

f) When the Spirit of God lifted and took hold of Ezekiel, his own spirit was completely subdued and in the background so it had no effect on what he did or the way he did it.

Questions

1 = D

2 = C

3 = D

4 = A

5 = B