THE SPIRIT’S SWORD

Who Gave Us The Bible?• God (2 Timothy 3:15-17); or• The Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21)?

1. The Scriptures were given by God2. The Holy Spirit gave the Scriptures3. The Holy Spirit is God

Inspiration?

• “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Tim 3:16).

• What does “inspiration” mean?

What “Inspiration” Is Not• Doesn’t mean that the Spirit just

motivated them or gave them reason to write:– Ex. Looking at a sunset “inspires me” to

write a poem

What “Inspiration” Is Not• Doesn’t mean that the Spirit gave them

general truths or ideas that they, after receiving, interpreted and wrote down in their own words based on the common beliefs of the day.

• 2 Peter 1:20

What “Inspiration” Is• What we learn from 2 Peter 1:20-21:

1. They spoke from God. He is the source of scripture.

2. Not only is what they spoke from God, but how they spoke it is controlled by the Holy Spirit.

What is “Inspiration”?• “which things we also speak, not in words

taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit…”

–1 Corinthians 2:13

What is “Inspiration”?• "When they arrest you and hand you over, do

not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11).

Inspiration = “God breathed”

• All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

– 2 Tim 3:16 (ESV)

The First “Written” Scripture

• The Ten Commandments– Exodus 31:18

• They were written by the “Finger of God”

"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt 12:28)

"But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Luke 11:20)

• Moses– Moses had the Spirit and wrote the law of God– The people rejected and provoked the Spirit

when they disobeyed the Commandments of Moses in the wilderness (Heb 3:7-11, Isaiah 63: 10)

"Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put

Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.”

(Num 11:17)

"You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them” -Neh 9:20

Men Who Spoke From God…

Men Who Spoke From God…

• David– David spoke by the Spirit of God (2 Sam 23:2)

“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; His word is on my tongue.” -2 Sam 23:2

"Then how does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying, 44 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET"'?

-Matt 22:43-44

Men Who Spoke From God…

• The Prophets– "Thus says the Lord" used over 400 times – "The word of the Lord came to…" is used over

100 times– Elijah and Elisha had the Spirit of God (2 Kings

2:9; 15)

"However, You bore with them for many years, And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets, Yet they would not give ear. Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.- Neh 9:30

“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.”

-1 Peter 1:10-11

Men Who Spoke From God…

• The Apostles– “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father

will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

– "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13)

Confirmation

• Present Confirmation: Miracles– Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4

• Future Confirmation Fulfilled Prophecy“And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?'-- 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”

-Deut 18:21-22

Without the Holy Spirit’s work in inspiring and confirming His word, where would we be?