“Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21). God called Moses to go to Egypt and bring Israel out, but Moses said that he was not a good speaker. God said that He would speak to Moses, and Moses would pass the words to Aaron, who would talk to the people Exodus 3 and 4. When God called Isaiah, he replied, “I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips.” As a man too sinful to speak God’s words, God sent an angel to cleanse Isaiah’s mouth (Isaiah 6:1-7). Jeremiah used the same reasoning as Moses. “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak”… Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:4-9).
The chosen disciples, hand-picked by the risen Christ, had been with Jesus since His baptism in the Jordan by John. They still had doubts and much to learn, and as Christ prepared to return to heaven, He told them, “not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, Which, He said, you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4-5). He emphasized the promise before His arrest this way. “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; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you” (John 16:13-14).
Fifty days after the Passover came the Day of Pentecost. The law instructed a count of seven sabbaths then the next day would be Pentecost, always on the first day of the week. The apostles were gathered together in Jerusalem, and finally, the wait was over. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. “And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” (Acts 2:2-4). Jesus had said that the Spirit would baptize them. The Spirit completely submerged them. It descended upon them and filled them, allowing them to present the gospel message that even the Son of God Himself could not teach. “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Many believe the gift of the Holy Spirit is “speaking in tongues,” but the gift is the result of understanding and obeying the Spirit. Referring to the Spirit, Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63). After the events of Acts 2:2-4, all truth is now available through the apostles just as Jesus promised (John 16:14). So as Jesus said, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28). And after the Gospel was fully revealed, Paul wrote, “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The commissioning of Moses, Isaiah, and Jerimiah is in many respects, similar to the commission given to Christ’s apostles. The Spirit will deliver the exact words necessary at the time they are needed. Over time, the Spirit disclosed the complete volume of truth. And just as God gave Moses three signs so Israel would know that God sent him (Exodus 4:1-9), the apostles worked signs. “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe, and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles” (Acts 2:43).
Years after the events on Pentecost, the Spirit caused someone to write the Hebrew letter. Notice the first words of that letter. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to continue speaking Christ’s message through the apostles and other inspired men. We have those words today in our Bible.
Have you read the whole truth in the Bible?
