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the  Preachers  blog

Blogs are posted every Wednesday, except in July and August

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament – Late Prophecy

9/20/2023

 
September 17th – Les Kovacs   

Last week, Rev. Kim stated that it was the Lord who raised up the prophets of old and anointed them to carry out His work in calling the people of Israel back into a righteous relationship with Himself as they struggled with the temptations of the pagan cultures around them.  Rev Kim pointedly affirmed that these select individuals were not self-appointed prophets.  In my sermon from this past Sunday, I asked a rhetorical question about who the modern-day prophets were that could speak to God’s people in today’s culture, and I indicated that we as Christians, we can all be prophets.  Notice that I was careful to say that we can all be prophets, not that we are all prophets.  These two assertions, that the Biblical prophets of old were not self-appointed but anointed by God, and that we (modern Christians) can be prophets, are both correct.

In the Old Testament, God would send His Holy Spirit on specific individuals whom He had called to prophecy to His people.  They would communicate His will, His warnings, and His promises to His people.  We are familiar with these prophets through the various recorded writings in Scripture attributed to them and about them.  The Old Testament also mentions numerous false prophets who were not anointed by God and did not speak for Him, such as Noadiah found in Nehemiah 6:14, or Hananiah found in Jeremiah 28, and several others.  They were proven wrong by the actual anointed prophets of God.

In the Gospel according to John, we read about Jesus telling His disciples that He after He left, He would ask the Father to send them another advocate.  He would send the Spirit of truth, which is the Holy Spirit who would dwell with them and in them (John 14:16-17).  All those who know and love the Lord Jesus have the Holy Spirit within them.  The Holy Spirit is a direct connection to the Father, and He can speak to you just as He did with the prophets of old, except now He doesn’t need to “come upon” you as He did in the Old Testament, he is already within you.  And being God, He will always speak the truth – always.

I also said that just because someone says they have a word from the Lord, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are right, or that they are being prophetic.  Sometimes our thoughts are just that, our thoughts.  Just as in days gone by, if you or someone else thinks they have a word from the Lord, it must be tested.  All the prophecies from the Biblical prophets listed in the Old Testament were proved correct and were scripturally sound.  If you believe you have a message from God, you must test it thoroughly (1 Thessalonians 5).  Pray for confirmation; ensure it aligns with scripture; seek advice from mature Christians.  The Holy Spirit who lives within you will not lead you into sin; He will not contradict Scripture; He will not promote division; He will not glorify Himself; and He will not lead to confusion.  If the message fails any of these tests, it is not from God, and we are not being prophetic in that instance.  However, just because one message might prove to be not from God, doesn’t mean that the next one might not be either.  Any message you believe is from God must be tested and if it passes, it may be prophetic, and you could share it with your Pastor or with whomever God leads you.

Questions:  Have you ever felt a message from God that proved to be prophetic?  How did you prove it?  Did you act on it?  What was the result?

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St Aidan’s Anglican Church
274 Campbell Street | Winnipeg, MB R3N 1B5
Phone: 204.489.3390 Email: [email protected]
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
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  • Give
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2025 Videos
    • 2024 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2023 Videos
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
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  • Christianity 101