The Prophet as God’s Mouthpiece
1. Read Exodus 4:10–16, the dialogue between God and Moses. What happened here, and what can we learn from this exchange about how prophets are called and how they operate?
Ex. 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Ex. 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Ex. 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
Ex. 4:13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
Ex. 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
Ex. 4:15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
Ex. 4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
ANSWER:
See verse 12 –“I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say”
See verse 15 –“Thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth…will teach you what you shall do”
See verse 16 –“He shall be thy spokesman unto the people”
OBSERVATION:
Prophet’s role is to be God’s spokesman
God guides the mouth of His prophet
God teaches the prophet what to say
God put words in His prophet’s mouth
God teaches the prophet what to do
CONCLUSION:
The authority of the prophets is based upon the fact that God speaks through them.
The Authority of the Incarnate Word
1. What do the following texts tell us about Jesus’ authority? Matt. 7:28-29, Mark 1:21-27, Luke 8:22-25, John 5:25-27.
ANSWER:
Matt. 7:28-29 – Jesus has authority over the word of God
Mark 1:21-27 – Jesus has authority over the unclean spirits
Luke 8:22-25 – Jesus has authority over the nature
John 5:25-27 – Jesus has authority to execute judgment
OBSERVATION:
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Since Jesus has the authority to over all things, He could give authority to His disciples to teach. Therefore we can believe the teachings of His disciples.
Authority of the Written Word
1. Compare these two responses to God’s Written Word: 2 Kings 22:10–13; Jeremiah 36:22–31.
ANSWER:
2 King 22:10-13 – The king rent his clothes
Jer. 36:22-31 – The king burn the book
APPLICATION:
You may burn the book but you cannot burn the truth.
You may ignore the writing of the Spirit of Prophecy but you cannot destroy the truth contain in the Spirit of Prophecy.
The Authority of the Spoken Word
1. What effect did the spoken Word of God have on people in the following passages? Jer. 38:1–4, John 3:1–10, 6:51–66, Acts 16:25–34.
ANSWER:
Jer. 38:1–4 – They wanted to kill Jeremiah
John 3:1–10 – Nicodemus felt something was missing in his life
John 6:51–66 – They walked no more with Jesus
Acts 16:25–34 – The keeper of the prison want to be saved
OBSERVATION:
The spoken Word of God has dramatic effect on the hearts of the people. Either negative or positive, strong desire to reject or accept, God’s spoken word has power to cause people to make a strong decision.
The Spirit of Prophecy has similar effect on the hearts of the reader. Perhaps this is the reason why many people do not want to be exposed to the truths contained in the Spirit of Prophecy. Because they know they cannot have neutral response to the message.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
Do you enjoy reading the Spirit of Prophecy?
Do you purposely avoid reading the Spirit of Prophecy?
Why do you ignore the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy?
Do you wish to believe that the Spirit of Prophecy does not have the authority of God?
The Authority of Non-canonical Prophets
1. What authority did extracanonical prophets have? 2Sam. 12:1–4, 1Kings 11:29–39, 14:2–18, Luke 7:28.
2 Sam. 12:1-4 – Prophet Nathan
1 Kings 11:29-39, 14:2-18 – Prophet Ahijah
Luke 7:28 – John the Baptist
OBSERVATIONS:
None of the above prophet wrote anything that included in the Bible
However it is clear that they spoke with the authority from God
DISCUSSIONS AND QUESTIONS:
We know that Ellen White’s writing cannot be considered as an addition to the Bible although it is truly inspired by God. So then what is the purpose of her writing?
What was the purpose of those extracanonical prophets in the Bible?
2 comments:
just want to know more about the greater light and the lesser light.
i personally believe that both bible and SOP are the lesser light, both are inspired by God, they all are prophets.
the only greater light is JESUS.
so,Bible & SOP both are to lead people to the greater light which is JESUS.
but many people believe that Bible is the greater light and SOP is the lesser light!!!
may i know about your view?
hope to hear you soon...
May God bless you
Dear Reader,
It is true that Jesus is the greater light.
However observe the following statements from EGW.
GREATER AND LESSER LIGHT:
1. Bible is the greater light and the writings of Ellen White are a lesser light:
The Lord has sent his people much instruction, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light, to lead men and women to the greater light. O, how much good might be accomplished if the books containing this light were read with a determination to carry out the principles they contain. There would be a thousandfold greater vigilance, a thousandfold more self-denial and resolute effort, and many more would now be rejoicing in the light of present truth. {SW, February 2, 1904 par. 1}
2. John the Baptist was a lesser light and Jesus was a greater light.
John was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater light. He was to shake the confidence of the people in their traditions, and call their sins to their remembrance, and lead them to repentance; that they might be prepared to appreciate the work of Christ. God communicated to John by inspiration, illuminating the prophet that he might remove the superstition and darkness from the minds of the honest Jews, which had been, through false teachings for generations, gathering upon them. {RH, April 8, 1873 par. 15}
The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations. As God's representative he stood forth to show the relation of the law and the prophets to the Christian dispensation. He was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater. The mind of John was illuminated by the Holy Spirit, that he might shed light upon his people; but no other light ever has shone or ever will shine so clearly upon fallen man as that which emanated from the teaching and example of Jesus. Christ and His mission had been but dimly understood as typified in the shadowy sacrifices. Even John had not fully comprehended the future, immortal life through the Saviour. {DA 220.2}
3. Old Testament and the New Testament:
With the first advent of Christ there was ushered in an era of greater light and glory; but it would indeed be sinful ingratitude to despise and ridicule the lesser light because a fuller and more glorious light had dawned. Those who despise the blessings and glory of the Jewish age are not prepared to be benefited by the preaching of the gospel. The brightness of the Father's glory, and the excellence and perfection of his sacred law, are only understood through the atonement made upon Calvary by his dear Son; but even the atonement loses its significance when the law of God is rejected. {ST, August 25, 1887 par. 9}
Based upon above statement you may come to your own conclusion. However I do observe the following.
1. Ultimately Jesus is the grater light above all lights.
2. New Testament teachings of Jesus is greater light then the Old Testament teachings.
3. John the Baptist is consider the lesser light and Jesus is the greater.
4. When you compare the Bible and the SOP, you can see that SOP reflects the Bible. In this sense, the Bible is grater light and the SOP is a lesser light. Not less important or less inspired. In Genesis the sun is the greater light and the moon is a lesser light. The moon reflects the sun and the moon does not have it's own light.
-- Peter Gregory
Post a Comment