Category: Theology 101
The Work of the Holy Spirit (Cont'd)
The Revelation, Prophecy, and Words of the Spirit
God's Spirit was behind the words of men who revealed God's will, plans, and judgments.
At the announcement of the birth of Jesus, the Spirit filled Zacharias and Elizabeth to extol the majesty and mercy of God in sending the promised Messiah and giving their child a special role in His kingdom (Lk. 1:39f., 67f.). After the Child was born, when Joseph and Mary carried out the required acts of circumcision and purification, a man named Simeon was directed by the Spirit to the temple where he beheld the promised Boy. The Holy Spirit had specifically informed Simeon that he would live to see the Christ (Lk. 2:21f.). John the Baptist, the forerunner of Messiah who boldly proclaimed the justice of God and the arrival of the King to the people of Israel, had been filled with the Spirit of God from his mother's womb (Lk. 1:15).
When the Lord Jesus sent the twelve apostles to proclaim the advent of God's kingdom to the children of Israel, He gave an ominous forewarning of the kinds of persecution they would experience. They would be arrested, beaten, tried, etc., but they did not need to prepare their testimonies ahead of time because the Spirit of the Father would fill their mouths with His words (Mt. 10:16f.). Likewise it was the Spirit who spoke through King David when he predicted that the son of David would be his Lord (cp. Ps. 110:1 with Mt. 22:41f.). And the Spirit moved David's pen to explain the treacherous actions of Judas and the subsequent need to replace him (Acts. 1:15f.).
On the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit appeared in flaming tongues of fire and settled on each of the apostles thereby bestowing the ability for them to preach the gospel in languages foreign to their own. This was in fulfillment of the prophet Joel's words which had declared that one day God would pour out His Spirit abundantly in dreams, visions, and prophecies. Peter revealed that the Spirit would be granted to everyone who repents and is baptized (Acts 2:1-42). When Peter and John were called to give an explanation for their miracles and beliefs, the Spirit-filled Peter responded with a bold defense of Christ (Acts 4:5f.). Later when Ananias and Sapphira attempted to deceive the apostles about a financial matter, the Spirit revealed to Peter their lie and predicted their immediate death as a result (Acts 5:1f.).