Sep 16, 2016 Words of Grace – The Holy Spirit and Scripture
“The Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David ” Acts 1:16
“What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matthew 19:6). Jesus was talking about marriage when he spoke these words. But they apply as well to the Holy Spirit and to Scripture.
Too often Christians think that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is unrelated to the Scripture. We create two categories in our minds. One is for the work of the Holy Spirit. This, we think, is the realm of subjectivity, of feelings and promptings that come to us by the Spirit to show us what to do in a given moment. The other category is for the Scripture. We think of this as using the mind to study written words that are going to be a challenge to obey. We tend to keep the Holy Spirit and the Scripture in two separate mental spaces. These categories are not helpful, nor accurate.
All throughout the Scripture itself we see that its inspiration, fulfillment, and ongoing accomplishment is because of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit inspired the men who wrote the Scripture (I Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). What the Holy Spirit spoke through those who wrote the Scripture must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). And the work of the Holy Spirit in the human heart leads to obedience to the Scripture (Ezekiel 36:27). The work of the Holy Spirit is for the recording, obeying, and fulfilling of the Word of God.
We find this conjoined ministry of the Holy Spirit and accomplishment of Scripture in the first chapter of Acts. The apostles understand that what was written in the Psalms by David was spoken by the Holy Spirit. And we see them acting in ways that, through their obedience, will accomplish what was written in the Psalms. The apostles understand that the Holy Spirit spoke what is in Scripture and led them to accomplish what is written in Scripture. They were not willing to separate the work of God’s Spirit from obedience to God’s Word.
This Sunday at Grace we will consider the Holy Spirit and the Scripture from the first chapter of Acts. This weekend I encourage you to read this chapter. As you pray for the work of God’s Spirit in your life and in our church, relate it to what is written by the inspiration of the Spirit for our obedience.
-Scott