Holy Spirit, In Revelation In The Dispensations

The Holy Spirit In Revelation in the Dispensations

Holy Spirit Lesson #3

Introduction: In the first lesson we dealt with the nature and person of the Holy Spirit. This was to understand that the Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead, a person and not just a thing or an influence. Lesson number two dealt with the Holy Spirit in the physical and spiritual realm. Hopefully we understand that the laws of nature do not change from day to day but are stagnate. God’s spiritual law, the Law of Christ, does not change from day to day but is the same today as it was in the first century.

In this lesson we want to understand the way God has revealed Himself and the Holy Spirit’s work in that revelation.

The work of the Holy Spirit can be seen in both the Old and New Testament. At a conference in Rutgers University “Bible Scholars” came together to examine the Book of Mark. They were to judge what in Mark is attributed to Jesus and how much Jesus actually said. They decided that of 111 statements only 1 was absolutely said by Jesus. This is nothing new as supposed Bible scholars have cast dispersions on different Bible passages.

On the other hand some people claim the Holy has talked to them and told them things different from the scriptures. People often give more credence to the Gospel of Thomas or the lost books of Christ than they do the Bible.

Has revealed Himself to man and if so how? In particular we want to understand the Holy Spirit’s role in that revelation.

I) Dispensations

A) A dispensation is a rule or form of government.

1. In the Bible we have the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensation.

2. Another way is the Father, Christ, and Holy Spirit. See Hebrews 1.1-2

a. God has always revealed His will to man.

b. There was not a time when man was not under God’s rule or law.

B) The Holy Spirit role has been to reveal the will of God.

1. The word reveal and revelation are closely connected. That which was hidden, the word of God, was to be disclosed or revealed.

a. Described as a mystery in Ephesians 3.9-10

2. Remember the words of Daniel as he is called in to reveal and interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel 2.27-28

3. See this revealing in the building of the temple, 1 Chronicles 28.11-12

4. See this influence in the workers and the building of the altar, Ex. 31.1-3

II) How Was the Word of God revealed?

A) Prophecy – to speak forth the word of God, to foretell

1. Other ideas of prophet is one who speaks for, as Aaron was a mouth piece for Moses. To spring forth as water from the ground

2. Called a Seer in 1 Samuel 9.9

3. The prophets did not determine the message or the timing of the message.

a. Balaam wanted to curse Israel but blessed them instead, Numbers 22.12; 24.2

b. There were “oral prophets” and written prophets. David, 2 Samuel 23.2; Moses wrote the Pentateuch.

4. In the New Testament we have the Apostles and prophets, Ephesians 4.11

a. Oral prophets included Philip’s daughter’s in Acts 21.8-9; and Agabus in Acts 11.27; 21.10-11

b. Being a prophet did not always means the person was a “godly” person. Caiaphas prophesied, John 11.49-51

B) Visions

1. Ezekiel 11.24-25

2. Dreams and visions in the New Testament, Acts 10.9-16; 11.5; 16.9

C) Angels

1. The words means messengers of God.

2. Abraham had three messengers to come and promise him a child in Genesis 18.1-3, 9-10.

3. In the New Testament we read of the seven angels sent to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 &3.

a. They were at the tomb of Jesus in John 20.12

b. Released Peter from prison in Acts 12.7-10

D) The written word

1. God never had an angel to record His will but man.

2. Indeed the only way we know about prophecy, visions, and angels is through the written word.

a. The Bible is a permanent and complete record of God’s revelation to man, for man, and was made through man. The Holy Spirit, page 72.

b. Revelation is the word of God expressed in human language, revelation is the result of inspiration. The Holy Spirit, page 70.

3. Twenty 23 of the 39 books of the Old Testament makes a direct reference to the Holy Spirit. Terms used: the Spirit, the Spirit of God, Spirit of Jehovah, Spirit of the Lord, and Holy Spirit.

4. In the N. T. 264 references to the Holy Spirit. Matt. 12 times; Mark 6; Luke 17; John 24, Acts 57. Only three books in which the Holy Spirit is not directly referred to, Philemon, 2 & 3 John.

***Note: All of revelation had a common purpose, to reveal. “When you read you may understand” Ephesians 3.4

III) Proofs of the Revelation

A) Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream

1. Pharaoh told what he had dreamed but how could Joseph had known its meaning?

2. Genesis 41.16, 28-30 God was speaking through Joseph.

B) How did Agabus know about the famine in Acts 11.27-28

C) The restoration of Israel as spoken in Jeremiah

1. Who would have guessed that after 70 years of captivity Israel would reappear.

D) The Christ, Isaiah 7.14

1. Fulfilled in Matthew 1 and Luke 2.

Conclusion: We have the product of inspiration which is the Bible. Revelation is that which has been revealed, illumination is when that which has been revealed is understood. Do you understand what you are reading? Next lesson the Holy Spirit and Christ.

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