HolySpirit-04-BeforeNT2

HOLY SPIRIT

II - RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD'S PEOPLE
BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN

Prophecy

The word translated "prophesied" in the Old Testament is from the Hebrew word "naba" and means to abundantly utter or POUR OUT uncontrollably.� We will see how "pouring out" is associated with both God's Spirit and God's Salvation.

A marvellous example of "pouring out" is Jeremiah who was made the laughing stock of Jerusalem and lost all his friends for predicting Jerusalem's fall.� He wanted to quit talking about it (prophesying), then wrote:

"But if I say, 'I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,'

his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.

I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot!"

Jeremiah 20:9

Numbers 11:25�� God provided proof to the 70 elders that the Spirit was now on them by making it possible for them to do what? ________________________________

Numbers 11:26-29�� Was Moses jealous when the 70 began POURING OUT the knowledge of God? ________

Deuteronomy 34:9�� The greatest prophet in the infancy of the Jewish nation was who? _____________

I Samuel 10:1, 5-7�� When Samuel anointed Saul the first king of Israel, God sealed it with a sign.� What was it? _____________________________

NOTE:� The word translated "changed" is from the Hebrew word "haphak" meaning to be overturned.� It is used where Moses' staff turned into a snake and Moses turned the waters of the Nile into blood (Exodus 7:7, 17); also leprosy turning the skin white (Leviticus 13:17) and various friends becoming enemies of someone.

I Samuel 16:13�� When Samuel anointed the next king of Israel, the Spirit came on him also.� In fact, the things he wrote down became part of our Old Testament, for God _______________ through the ___________ of David (Acts 4:25).

I Samuel 18:9-12�� Although God no longer endorsed King Saul (15:28), sometimes Saul did what? _______________________

NOTE:� The word translated "evil" is from the Hebrew word "ra" meaning troubling or torturing.� Samuel had already told him God no longer endorsed him as king.� His prophecy may have been that David would be the next king, since right after his prophecy he tried to kill David.� King Saul knew David would be the next king (20:31).

Sometimes King Saul's head OVERFLOWED with the knowledge of God even when he was afraid of God, and he could not hold it in.

I Samuel 19:18-20�� Whenever King Saul sent soldiers to capture David, who was hiding with the great prophet Samuel, the soldiers would start prophesying ~ it just POURED OUT ~ and did not capture David.� How many times did this happen?� _________________

NOTE:� There was a movie out a few years ago called "Liar Liar" wherein Jim Carey could not refrain from telling the truth no matter how badly he wanted to lie.� This seems to be how the Spirit affected people when they prophesied.

I Samuel 19:23-24�� When King Saul went himself, he too began to prophesy, and he could not stop its FLOW.� Once more King Saul knew that the Holy Spirit was on David's side.� How long did he prophesy?

II Kings 2:5,15,17�� There was a large group of prophets living in or near Jericho.� How many did they send from their group to look for Elijah after he suddenly went to heaven? ______

NOTE:� I Samuel 19:20 says Samuel was the leader of a group of prophets.� He was probably their teacher.� Samuel, Elijah and Elisha were all leaders of prophets.

Nehemiah 9:30�� The Spirit warned the people through the prophets over and over; the prophecies just POURED OUT.� But it was to no avail.� For how long did they do so? ____________________________

Hosea 9:7�� God?s prophets ran into snares and __________________ even in the very house of God.

Does that happen to us today sometimes?� Has it happened to you?� In what way?

Hosea 9:8�� God's prophets, even in the Temple ("church building") ran into what? _______________

Joel 2:28-29�� It was prophesied that a time would come when god would POUR OUT his Spirit onto who? ___________________________________

Introducing that era will be prophets from which gender of people?� ___________________________________� (see more in Acts 2 below)

Micah 3:8, 12�� Most of the Old Testament prophets did not perform miracles.� Yet their words from the Holy Spirit were miraculous.� Did the prediction of Jerusalem becoming a heap of rubble ever come true (see Lamentations 1:1)? ________

Zechariah 7:11-12�� Even though God POURED OUT his concern for his people by sending prophets to warn them, give five ways the people responded to them:

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LOOK OVER YOUR ANSWERS ABOVE.� WHAT ABOUT PROPHECYING STANDS OUT MOST IN YOUR MIND? ______________________________________________________________________________________

Luke 1:63,67�� When Zechariah's wife became miraculously pregnant in her old age, Zechariah could no longer talk.� So, when his son was born and he named him (John the Baptist), God opened his mouth.� After nine months of silence, what POURED OUT OF HIM?

Acts 2:17b�� Eight centuries earlier Joel (2:28-32) prophesied this:� "Your sons and daughters will prophesy...."

�� Luke 1:5, 67 - What descendant [son] of Aaron prophesied about Jesus? __________________

�� Luke 2:25-35 - What other "son" of the Israelites prophesied about Jesus? ________________

�� Luke 1:5, 41-45 - What descendant [daughter] of Aaron prophesied about Jesus? ____________

�� Luke 2:36-38 - What other "daughter" of the Israelites prophesied about Jesus? ____________

When was the last time before Jesus that anyone had prophesied?� Malachi 1:1, about 400 BC.� Who was he? _____________________ So no one could mistake the most recent prophecies with old ones.

Acts 2:17c�� "....your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams...."

�� Luke 1:20-23 - What young man dreamed a dream? ____________________

�� Matthew 2:12 - What old men dreamed a dream? ______________________

�� Luke 1:11f, 22 - What old man saw a vision? __________________________

When was the last time before Jesus that anyone had seen a vision or dreamed a dream?� Daniel 10:1 about 525 BC and 7:1 about 550 BC.� Who was the vision and dream? ________________ So no one could mistake the most recent dreams and visions with old ones.

Acts 2:18�� "....Even on my servants, both men and women, I will POUR OUT my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy."�

It is interesting that the Holy Spirit being poured out always involves prophesying.� And this pouring out does not involve "anointing of the Holy Spirit" ~ a phrase that is not in the Bible.

Acts 11:27-28�� This is the first occasion of prophesy by anyone in the Christian era besides the Apostles.� Where were the Apostles living at that time (8:4)? _________________________� Where did these prophets come from? _________________________________

Acts 19:1-7�� Since these men did not even know there was such a person as the Holy Spirit, who gave the Spirit to them separately from their baptism? ____________� What title in the church did he have (14:14)?� __________________� As proof that they had indeed received God's Spirit, what outward manifestation suddenly POURED FORTH from them? ________________________________________________� What was the title of the man who gave them this power to prophesy? _____________________

Acts 21:8,10�� Where was Paul at this time? ___________________� This city is in today's Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea.� At that time, it was the political capitol of Palestine (Jerusalem was the religious capitol).� A prophet named Agabus came from what province in Palestine?� __________� Since the Temple was in Jerusalem (Ezra 5:8), and the Apostles were in Jerusalem, Judea, these prophets would have been close enough to who to give Agabus the gift of prophecy? ____________________________

Acts 21:9�� Philip had four daughters who prophesied.� Did he have ties with Jerusalem (6:2, 5)? _____

It's interesting, though, that the women prophets never prophesied in public.� But they were well known.

Romans 1:2-4�� The great prophets of the Holy Scriptures (Old Testament was all that was written at this time) all had one thing in common.� They prophesied about who? ________________________________

I Corinthians 1:1, 6-7�� Who confirmed his message about Christ by giving the new Christians at Corinth spiritual gifts? ______________� What was his title? ________________

I Corinthians 12:7,10�� Why was the gift of prophecy given? ____________________________________

I Corinthians 13:8�� But what some day was going to happen to prophecies? _____________________

NOTE:� Paul is saying that love will never stop.� But prophesying God's will, speaking in foreign languages miraculously, automatically knowing the mind of God will all stop.� Why?� Because it will finally all be written down in what we call the New Testament.

Considering the list of what will stop what would be a way to prove whether prophesies have ceased (II Timothy 3:16)? _________________________________________________________________

I Corinthians 14:1�� What was the most desirable spiritual gift? _____________________________

I Corinthians 14:29-31,37-38�� Who were the early Christians to compare a prophet's teaching with in order to know the teaching was valid?� (See especially v. 37) ______________________________________________

I Peter 1:10-11�� Whose Spirit told the Old Testament prophets that Jesus would come some day? ____________________� But these prophets searched ____________________, trying to find out the circumstances of his coming.

II Peter 1:19-21�� Considering verse 16, the word of the Apostles was more certain because they were _____________ witnesses.

Did the prophets always know how to interpret what they said?� _________� (Hence the need for those who prophesy in languages to have an interpretor ~ I Corinthians 14:6 ~ a word meaning commentator.)

Prophets spoke from God as they were ________________ along by the Holy Spirit.

NOTE:� The word translated "carried" here is translated "moved" in the KJV.� It comes from the Greek word "phero."� It was usually translated "brought along."� Interestingly, it was translated "rushing" (KJV) and "blowing violently" (NIV) in Acts 2:2 when the house where the Apostles were was engulfed with the Holy Spirit.

I John 4:1-3�� People denying Christ's divinity abounded in the first century.� It abounds today too.� North America is the last stronghold for Christianity in the entire world.� Even in Europe only about 10% of the people attend church.� Others accept Christ, but put him along side equally with Buddha, Mohammed, the sun goddess, etc.� This is called the New Age Movement.� Have you met anyone who thinks all world religions are equal?� You will.� Just ask around.

Revelation 19:10�� Here is a great definition of New Testament prophecy.� the ___________________ of _____________________ is the spirit of prophecy.

LOOK OVER YOUR ANSWERS ABOVE.� IN WHAT WAY WAS PROPHECY IMPORTANT BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN DOWN COMPLETELY? _____________________________________

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Speak

NOTE:� God's Word was Jesus and revealed by Jesus (John 1:1, 14).� God's Word was then Spirit and was revealed by Prophets and Apostles (John 14:17; 17:17).

That's a relief.� So many people say we need to do special things to have the Spirit in us.� But it's simple after all ~ if we'll just do it.� Just read the Bible.

Matthew 10:1a, 19-20�� What did Jesus tell his twelve Apostles the Holy Spirit would do for them whenever they were taken before courts to defend their beliefs in Jesus?� ________________________________________ _________________________________.� Was their SPEECH from the Spirit jibberish?� ______� How do we know? ___________________________________________________________

Matthew 22:43-44�� David was _________________ by the Spirit.� This is a quote from Psalm 110:1.� Is Psalms considered scripture (see Acts 1:16)? ___________

Mark 16:17-18�� Does this scripture say the believers would perform these signs, or the signs would accompany them? __________________

People in nations worldwide who believed would do so largely because their teachers would miraculously SPEAK what language to them (see Acts 2:6)? ________________________________

Luke 2:25-27�� Simeon knew the long-awaited Messiah had arrived because it had been _____________ to him by the ____________________.

John 3:34-35�� Jesus SPOKE the _____________ of God.

If someone acts very holy and says how much s/he loves God but does not SPEAK what God said (different from the Bible) even after being shown, are they trying to impress people or God?� _________________� Has God really sent them?� ______� Would you consider them harmless? _______

Acts 1:16�� ___________________ had been SPOKEN through David.

Acts 2:1-4�� The Holy Spirit enabled the twelve Apostles to SPEAK in other _____________________.

Acts 2:6-7, 14�� Were their words jibberish and/or unknown? __________

Acts 10:19-20�� When the Spirit SPOKE to Peter, could he understand what He was saying?� _______

Acts 10:44-46�� The Spirit enabled what nationality of people (Jews or Gentiles) to SPEAK instantly in a foreign language in order to prophecy (pour forth God?s Word)? ____________________________________

When was the last time this phenomenon of people SPEAKING in languages had occurred (Acts 2:1)? _________ ___________.� Who was it given to at that time (Acts 2:14)? Jewish __________________

Acts 10:7,8; 11:12�� The Spirit gave Peter an instruction.� Briefly, what was it?� ________________________

Did he knew He said that because the Spirit SPOKE to him in jibberish or a language Peter understood? _______________________________________

We seem to be starting to see a pattern here.� People obviously were hearing in their own language.� Even God didn't speak in those odd sounds that no one understands.� And, as we think back, the angels who appeared to people didn't either.� The expressing SPEAKING IN TONGUES is taking on a whole new meaning, isn't it?.

Acts 11:15�� What beginning (Acts 2:1-4)? ________________________________

�� What started that day (2:41-KJV)? ___________________________

�� Who was the "us" (Acts 2:14)? ____________________________

Acts 14:3�� Who did Paul SPEAK for? _________________________� How did he prove his message was really from God and not just made up? _________________________

Were Paul and Barnabas Apostles (14:14)?� ____________________

Acts 23:6,9�� Paul was being tried because of his hope in the ___________________________.� Those who believed him said perhaps who had spoken to him to reveal this? _______________________________________

Romans 9:1�� Everything Paul SPOKE about Christ was _____________________ in Christ.� How did he learn this truth (Galatians 1:11-12, 18)? _______________________________________________

Romans 15:18-19�� Did Paul ever preach hear-say or what others had witnessed? ___________� What was it that Paul said and did that convinced Gentiles to obey God? _____________________________________________� Where did he get that power? _______________________

What was Paul's title in the church (Romans 1:1)? _______________

I Corinthians 2:12-13�� The writer of this portion of the bible said he SPOKE words ________________ by the Spirit.

I Corinthians 12:3�� People who truly believe and then tell others that Jesus is Lord are doing so through Who? ___________________� How (Romans 10:14-17)? _____________________

However, when people say it, do they/we always mean it?� Is Jesus Lord of our Life?� Jesus stipulated over and over that the proof of our making him Lord is what (John 14:15)? ________________________________� If we discovered a new truth in this or some other Bible study, or private reading, would we follow the Bible or keeping doing/believing what we have in the past?� _____________________________

I Corinthians 12:8-10�� Some first-century Christians were given the __________________ of wisdom and the ____________________ of knowledge; others were given the ability to prophesy, and still others the ability to SPEAK in _____________________________________________________, and others to interpret what they.� Does this say they spoke unknown tongues or different kinds? __________________________

NOTE:� The word translated "interpretation" means an explanation, a commentary, not just transposing a word from one language to another.� It is the same word translated "explained" in Luke 24:27 when Jesus met the men on the way to Emmaus after his resurrection.

How can we interpret the scriptures today in order to help others?� (Hint?� The scriptures always interpret themselves.)� _________________________________________________

Ephesians 5:18-19�� In their worship services, they were to SPEAK to one another at least sometimes how? ________________________________________________________.� Did it say a special group should to their SPEAKING for them?� ___________

I Peter 1:10-12�� The prophets SPOKE ______________ this _____________.� What they SPOKE they also wrote down.� And what they wrote down was later preached and called the ___________________.

The O.T. prophets spoke in generalities of things to come, but in the days of the Apostles they were SPOKEN of in specifics as guided by the Holy Spirit sent from ______________________.

How lucky and blessed we are!� Not only did the O.T. prophets not fully understand, the angels didn?t either!

Revelation 2:7,11,17,29�� The book of Revelation was what the Holy Spirit SPOKE to who? ________________

LOOK OVER YOUR ANSWERS ABOVE.� IN WHAT WAY WAS BEING GUIDED TO SPEAK BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IMPORTANT IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN? ______ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Message

Acts 10:44-46�� The Holy Spirit was poured out, even on the __________________.� This occurred to those who heard ______________________ MESSAGE.

Acts 14:3�� Who was the subject of Paul?s and Barnabas'message? _______________________

Acts 15:3,7,8�� Once Paul and Barnabas returned to Palestine, they told the Jewish believers how the _________________ had been __________________.� the Gentiles had heard from Paul's _____________ the MESSAGE of the ________________________.

I Corinthians 2:4�� From previous verses and the definition below, in what way was Paul's MESSAGE demonstrated by the Spirit?s power? __________________

NOTE:� The word translated "power" is from the Greek word ?dunamis? which is also translated "might works" and "miracles."

I Corinthians 12:8�� What two kinds of MESSAGES did the Holy Spirit give the early Christians before the New Testament was written down?� _________________________________________________________

Chapters 1 and 2 says "wisdom" 16 times.� According to 2:13 what is spiritual wisdom?� ___________________ _________________________� Who taught them? ________________________________

According to 2:12, spiritual knowledge is the understanding of what?� _________________________________� What is that gift (Romans 6:23, 24)?� _____________________________

Would these spiritual gifts be needed at a time before the New Testament was completely written?� _________

I Thessalonians 1:6�� Even though the hearers knew they would be persecuted by their friends, what did they do about the MESSAGE anyway?� ______________________________� How? ______________________� Was the MESSAGE or was the JOY given by the Holy Spirit, or both of them?� _____________

LOOK OVER YOUR ANSWERS ABOVE.� IN WHAT WAY WERE THE MIRACULOUS MESSAGES GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IMPORTANT IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS COMPLETELY WRITTEN? _____________________________________________________________________

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RECOMMENDED READING:� Healing:� A Doctor in Search of a Miracle by William A. Nolen, M.D., Random House, New York. Also our series on Hard Questions You Have Asked.

"We have renounced secret [cultic] and shameful ways;

we do not use deception,

nor do we distort the word of God.

On the contrary,

by setting forth the truth plainly

we commend ourselves to every man's conscience

in the sight of God."

II Corinthians 4:3-4

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