Topical Bible: Prophecy: They Who Uttered: Spoke by the Holy Spirit

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Prophecy, as understood within the biblical context, is the divinely inspired declaration or revelation of God's will and purpose. Those who uttered prophecies in the Scriptures were often referred to as prophets, individuals chosen by God to deliver His messages to His people. The Bible affirms that these prophets spoke by the Holy Spirit, ensuring that their words were not of human origin but divinely inspired.

Old Testament Prophets

The Old Testament is replete with examples of prophets who spoke by the Holy Spirit. Moses, considered the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, received direct communication from God. In Numbers 11:25, the Spirit of the LORD rested upon the seventy elders, and they prophesied. This event underscores the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling prophetic utterance.

Isaiah, another major prophet, is described as being led by the Spirit. Isaiah 61:1 states, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor." This passage highlights the Spirit's role in empowering Isaiah to deliver God's message.

Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," also spoke by the Holy Spirit. In Jeremiah 1:9, the LORD touched his mouth and said, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." This divine act signifies the Spirit's involvement in Jeremiah's prophetic ministry.

Ezekiel, a prophet during the Babylonian exile, frequently experienced the Spirit's influence. Ezekiel 2:2 records, "As He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me." The Spirit's entry into Ezekiel enabled him to receive and proclaim God's messages.

New Testament Prophets

The New Testament continues the theme of prophecy through the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). His prophetic ministry prepared the way for Jesus, emphasizing repentance and the coming kingdom.

Jesus Christ Himself, though more than a prophet, spoke by the Holy Spirit. In Luke 4:18, Jesus reads from Isaiah, declaring, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor." This declaration affirms the Spirit's role in His earthly ministry.

The apostles, after Jesus' ascension, were empowered by the Holy Spirit to prophesy and teach. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon them, enabling them to speak in various tongues and proclaim God's mighty works (Acts 2:4). Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered a powerful sermon, interpreting the event as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (Acts 2:16-18).

The apostle Paul, a prolific writer of the New Testament, frequently spoke of the Spirit's role in prophecy. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, he lists prophecy as a gift of the Spirit, given for the common good. Paul himself experienced prophetic visions and revelations, guided by the Holy Spirit in his missionary journeys (Acts 16:6-10).

Role of the Holy Spirit in Prophecy

Throughout the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is the divine agent who inspires and empowers prophets. The Spirit ensures that the messages delivered are accurate reflections of God's will. In 2 Peter 1:21, it is written, "For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." This passage encapsulates the essence of biblical prophecy: it is not a product of human will but a divine communication facilitated by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit's involvement in prophecy underscores the reliability and authority of the prophetic word. As believers, the recognition of the Spirit's role in prophecy calls for a reverent and obedient response to the messages conveyed through God's chosen vessels.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 1:16
Men and brothers, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 11:28
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 28:25
And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet to our fathers,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Miracle of Tongues.
... In the first place; Christ's prophecy is general: "They ... Luke writes: "They began
to speak with other tongues, as ... in Balaam, whose vocal organs uttered words of ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxviii the miracle of tongues.htm

Not Nullified by Prophecy.
... And the holy Spirit of prophecy taught us this, telling us by ... took this from the
prophet Moses and uttered it ... or doctrines of the like kind, they have received ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xliv not nullified by prophecy.htm

Our Lord Himself Spoke of his Return in the Language of Imminency.
... At the time our Lord uttered the parable His followers were ... the space of two years;
so that all they which dwelt ... The Son of Man;" yet, like all prophecy it has ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/1 our lord himself spoke.htm

Of the Thorough Harmony of the Evangelists in the Different ...
... again, that the words which were uttered by Jeremiah on ... to understand, by revelation,
that a prophecy of the ... testimonies of the prophets, when they are reduced ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter vii of the thorough harmony.htm

The Prophetic Theme. Rev. Gervase Smith.
... coming, and the predictions which they themselves uttered, had some ... For the prophecy
came not in old time by the ... to man, and not merely that they spoke to men ...
/.../the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/the prophetic theme rev gervase.htm

He Proceeds to Discuss the views Held by Eunomius
... but the evangelist John refers the prophecy to our ... divine vision, every theophany,
every word uttered in the ... Hence when David says, "they provoked God in the ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 14 he proceeds to.htm

Messiah Derided Upon the Cross
... This prophecy was fulfilled when He hung upon the cross. ... They jested upon His words;
when He uttered His dolorous ... They spoke and sinned against the Holy Spirit ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xxi messiah derided upon.htm

Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
... these reasons demand the reference of this prophecy to Christ ... The Lord then said
to Moses, "They have well ... Zechariah, who was unjustly slain, uttered when dying ...
/.../christology of the old testament/balaams prophecy numb xxiv 17-19.htm

Treats of the Same Subject and of the Way God is Sometimes Pleased ...
... any rate in this mansion, are not uttered direly by ... in the way of the accomplishment
of the prophecy. ... words, their effects, and the assurance they carry with ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter iii treats of the.htm

The Credibility of Scripture Sufficiently Proved in So Far as ...
... The celebrated prophecy of Daniel ... It is, moreover, probable, that they were intimately
acquainted ... which Jacob, under Divine inspiration, uttered concerning his ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 the credibility of.htm