Lesson 213 – When the Spirit Moves to Speak Prophecy

2 Peter 2:20-21

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

This is one of the Bible's pivotal verses which explains how the Spirit's touch is what makes one a true prophet of God, and in particular, one of the prophets who brought us the Holy Scripture.

There is a sense in which everyone who forth tells the words of Scripture is a prophet. And in some, there is found a Spiritual gift of prophecy which is given to the church for God's glory. The Lord raises up some with the gift to teach the things of God, filling both men and women for his purposes.

While the gift of prophecy is this sense is widely seen in the church today, these verses concern a different sense of prophecy, that being those whom the Lord used to bring forth the words of the Bible. They too were moved by the Spirit's touch, not just in teaching God's word as is today, but in hearing and sharing God's revelation of himself for the first time.

We call this the inspiration of the Spirit. Men were inspired to speak and write God's word, even in their own languages and personal styles, bringing forth God's word in a special way for the church to know today. The Spirit touched these people to be used in a unique way which is not known in the church today. Our prophets are teachers and preachers, but the prophets of old were literally God's voice.

One of Satan's primary methods of attacking the Bible word is to question the authenticity of its authors. This attack is so successful that most people wrongly believe the Bible is filled with contradictions, even if they can't name one! People today don't know the Bible is without error through and through, and that its 66 books fit together perfectly to tell God's story, culminating in Christ's sacrifice for sins and the beginning of the church. And the way God did all of this was through the Spirit's touch.

I've made it the claim of my life to trust that the God who sent his Spirit into my life for salvation is powerful enough to have brought his word into this world through prophets and preserved it just the way he wanted it to be kept, even to this day.

LORD JESUS

Lord, I thank you for the guiding presence of your Spirit to speak your word into existence for the church today. May we be faithful in heading your Scriptures, making them the source and guide for our lives. Amen.