02.11 - The Holy Spirit the Inspiring Agent

(11) The Holy Spirit the Inspiring Agent The Holy Spirit, the special promise of the Father, was the source and spirit of inspiration to the Apostles. The inspiration, secured to them by the abiding presence and gracious activity of the Spirit, imparted to them a quickening, invigorating power of understanding, knowing, and proclaiming the truth, exercising the judgment, discernment, and insight into divine things, which enabled them to be true, faithful, and efficient witnesses of Christ, of the facts of His death and resurrection, and of the truths founded upon them. While the Holy Spirit was the promise of Christ to His Church and people as a whole, He was the special promise and gift of the Father to the Apostles, for the special work for which they were commissioned. So that while a dispensation of the Spirit was given to every man to profit withal a dispensation or gift suited to the various duties and purposes belonging to each officer and member of the Church to the Apostles, whose work was the most significant and important, was given a dispensation proportionate to their calling and needs. “And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed” (Mark xvi. 20). u Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness “ (Acts 28:31). The Apostles were specially and supernaturally prepared by the Holy Spirit to know and teach and record those facts and truths which concern the Gospel and Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Their inspiration was the work of the same Holy Spirit that was given to the Church generally, and Who was the source of light and life to all them that believe: yet in nature and purpose it differed from that, and had specific reference to the revelations and visions of God which came to them as the Apostles of Jesus Christ, and to those spiritual gifts and powers which belonged to them as witnesses of Christ and of His resurrection from the dead. As compared with the inspiration of the Prophets it was less outward, less emotional and physical; it was not so sudden and occasional as that which came to them, but was more ethical, religious, and spiritual, was more gradual and continuous, and was in accord with the higher truth they had to receive and teach, and the deeper spiritual life and work they had to fulfil. It was therefore larger and fuller in its measure and scope, in its spiritual judgment and insight, in the uncovering and disclosing of divine purpose and meaning, just as Christianity, as a system, was superior to Prophetism and Judaism. That enduement to the full the Apostles claimed to have received. Paul says: “ We received the Spirit of God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth. “ 1