Miquéias 3

Miquéias 3

Murray - if Pentecost is not repeated, neither is it retracted. This is the era of the Holy Spirit. John Stott - Before Christ sent the church into the world, he sent the Spirit into the church. The same order must be observed today. Paul echoes Micah in his first letter to the Corinthians... My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (dunamis), (1Cor 2:4) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (1Cor 2:12-13) A Summary of the Holy Spirit's work in the Old Testament... 1. Presiding with God over the act of creation (Ge 1:2, Job 26:13-14KJV, Isa 40:12, 13) 2. Authoring and interpreting Scripture (Mic 3:8; Amos 3:8; Zech 7:12; cf. Acts 4:25) 3. Convicting and illuminating people’s hearts (Neh 9:30–32) 4. Regenerating God’s people (Ezek 36:26–27; John 3:5–8) 5. Indwelling and giving spiritual renewal to God’s people (Ps 139:11–12; Isa 63:10–11; Hag 2:5; Zech 4:6) 6. Sealing the relationship of the faithful with God (as perhaps in the oath of adoption; cf. Josh 4–5; Jer 31:33) 7. Filling people for ministry, enabling them, gifting them for service (Ex 28:3; 31:3; Num 11:25; Jdg 13:25; 1 Sam 16:13) Scofield's Summary of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: (1) The personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit appear from the attributes ascribed to Him and from His works. (2) He is revealed as sharing the work of creation and, therefore as omnipotent (Ge 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Ps 104:30); omnipresent (Ps 139:7); striving with men (Ge 6:3); enlightening (Job 32:8); enduing with constructive skill (Ex 28:3; 31:3); giving physical strength (Jdg 14:6,19), giving executive ability, and wisdom (Jdg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25); enabling men to receive and utter divine revelations (Nu 11:25; 2Sa 23:2); generally, empowering the servants of God (Ps 51:12; Joel 2:28; Mic 3:8; Zech 4:6). (3) He is called holy (Ps 51:11); good (Ps 143:10); the Spirit of judgment and fire (Isa 4:4); the Spirit of the LORD, of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, the fear of the LORD (Isa 11:2), of grace and supplication (Zech 12:10). (4) In the OT the Holy Spirit acts in free sovereignty, coming upon men and even upon a dumb beast as He wills; nor are conditions set forth (as in the NT) by compliance with which any one may receive the Spirit. The indwelling of every believer by the abiding Spirit is a NT blessing consequent upon the death and resurrection of Christ (John 7:39; 16:7; Acts 2:33; Gal 3:1 - 6). (5) The OT contains predictions of a future pouring out of the Spirit upon Israel (Ezek 37:14; 39:29), and upon "all people" (Joel 2:28-29). The expectation of Israel, therefore, was twofold - of the coming of Messiah-Immanuel, and of such a pouring out of the Spirit as the prophets described. And with justice and courage - These are the Spirit enabled, holy "armaments" of a prophet. The justice of the God's prophet countered and overcame the gross injustice of the leaders (Mic 3:9). His courage enabled him to fearlessly rebuke people for their sins and impending judgment.