Transcript SS Lesson 5 for January 31, 2009 The Inspiration of the Prophets SS Lesson 5 for January 31, 2009 The Inspiration of the.

SS Lesson 5 for January 31, 2009
The Inspiration of the Prophets
SS Lesson 5 for January 31, 2009
The Inspiration of the Prophets
Memory Text: “All
Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and
is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for
instruction in
righteousness” 2
Timothy 3:16.
Icebreaker
Quotes on the word Inspiration
“Enthusiasm is the inspiration of everything great. Without it no man
is to be feared, and with it none despised.“ Christian Nevell Bovee
“Inspiration arrives as a
packet of material to be
delivered.” John Updike
“You can't wait for
inspiration. You have to
go after it with a
club.” Jack London
“In life you need either
inspiration or
desperation.” Anthony
Robbins
Inspiration
“Inspiration is like picking up one of those blinky things in a video
game that makes you invincible for awhile. You can do anything, go
anywhere, and you don’t have to worry about it. Those blinky things
exist in real life too. It may be a picture, or some words, or a sound, or
a idea, or a mistake, or a moment. Whatever it is, pick it up and run
with it. Run with it like you stole it. You can’t bottle up inspiration. You
can’t put it in a ziplock, toss it in the freezer, and fish it out later. It’s
instantly perishable if you don’t eat it while it’s fresh… It’s true. I do
my best to accommodate inspiration when it shows up. Fortunately, I
get inspired easily. Unfortunately, it’s rarely about something that my
employer would like me to be inspired about. I’m still trying to figure
out what to do about that.”
“Technique is what you fall back on when you run out of
inspiration.” Rudolf Nureyev
“Method is much, technique is much, but inspiration is even
more.” Benjamin Cardozo
“Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the
momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration
you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down
the street.” Ben Nicholas
“Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique,
who ask 'how', while others of a more curious nature will ask
'why'. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to
information.” Man Ray
“Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day
for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the
principles which nature has used in its domain.” Frank Lloyd
Wright
“No one was ever great without some portion of divine
inspiration.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Inspiration could
be called inhaling
the memory of an
act never
experienced.” Ned
Rorem
“Inspiration may be
a form of superconsciousness, or
perhaps of
subconsciousness –
I wouldn't know.
But I am sure it is
the antithesis of
self-consciousness.”
Aaron Copland
“Scholars may quote Plato in their studies, but the hearts of millions will quote the
Bible at their daily toil, and draw strength from its inspirations, as the meadows
draw it from the brook.”
How was the inspiration of the bible possible?
"Written in different ages, by men who differed widely in rank and occupation,
and in mental and spiritual endowments, the books of the Bible present a wide
contrast in style, as well as a diversity in the nature of the subjects unfolded….. And
as several writers present a subject under varied aspects and relations, there may
appear, to the…. careless, or prejudiced reader, to be discrepancy or contradiction,
where the thoughtful, reverent student, with clearer insight, discerns the underlying
harmony.” 1SM 25
"One writer is more strongly impressed with one phase of the subject; he grasps
those points that harmonize with his experience or with his power of perception and
appreciation; another seizes upon a different phase; and each, under the guidance of
the Holy Spirit, presents what is most forcibly impressed upon his own mind--a
different aspect of the truth in each, but a perfect harmony through all. And the
truths thus revealed unite to form a perfect whole, adapted to meet the wants of
men in all the circumstances and experiences of life.” 1SM 25
"God has been pleased to
communicate His truth to the world by
human agencies, and He Himself, by
His Holy Spirit, qualified men and
enabled them to do His work. He
guided the mind in the selection of
what to speak and what to write. The
treasure was entrusted to earthen
vessels, yet it is, none the less, from
Heaven. The testimony is conveyed
through the imperfect expression of
human language, yet it is the testimony
of God; and the obedient, believing
child of God beholds in it the glory of a
divine power, full of grace and truth."
1SM 26
Full of revelation and inspiration—
Sunday
Sunday
Revelation-Inspiration
Let us review some
synonyms of the words
revelation and inspiration.
Inspiration: motivation,
stimulation, brainwave,
flash, insight,
encouragement, flicker,
spark, burst, blaze.
Revelation: eye opener,
disclosure, exposure,
discovery, experience,
contact, coverage, spotlight,
finding, breakthrough,
unearthing.
The bible uses the following texts to define the type of revelationinspiration this is.
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness”,
2 Peter 1:20-21 “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy
never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”.
1 Corinthians 2:13 “These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the
Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the
word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God,
which also effectively works in you who believe.” Whether it would be Verbal or Thought Inspiration-Monday
Monday
Verbal or Thought Inspiration
“Inspiration acts…. on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost,
is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind.
The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human
mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the Word of God.”—Ellen G.
White, Selected Messages p. 21. David wrote, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
and His word was on my tongue” 2 Sam. 23:2. This indicates that inspiration not only
imparted thoughts but ensured that the Written Word accurately conveyed God’s
thoughts.”
“Thought Inspiration. The focus here is on the writers,
not on the words. Primarily the thoughts, not so much
the words of the Bible, are inspired , except when the
words of God or an angel are quoted or when God
speaks directly through a prophet. The writer receives
the vision, dream, or thought and puts it down in
writing in his own words; the Holy Spirit ensures that
the words used convey God’s truth correctly. The
Bible, therefore, is declared to be the infallible
revelation of God’s will.”
The method of inspiration used, revealed sometimes
radical Visions and Physical Phenomenas—Tuesday.
Tuesday
Visions and Physical Phenomena
Daniel 10:17-18 "For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my
lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left
in me. Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me
and strengthened me.”
Acts 9:3-5. “As he journeyed
he came near Damascus, and
suddenly a light shone
around him from heaven.
Then he fell to the ground,
and heard a voice saying to
him, "Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?" And he
said, "Who are You, Lord?"
Then the Lord said, "I am
Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. It is hard for you
to kick against the goads."
To stand in the
presence of a
heavenly being can
be a powerful
experience. Daniel,
Saul (Paul), and
John all fell to the
ground when they
received a heavenly
vision. Daniel
wrote, “no strength
remained in me”,
and John said, “I fell
at his feet as dead.”
Ellen White describes
her experience with
these words: “As
inquiries are
frequently made as to
my state in vision, and
after I come out, I
would say that when
the Lord sees fit to give
a vision, I am taken
into the presence of
Jesus and angels, and
am entirely lost to
earthly things. I can
see no farther than the
angel directs me.”—
Selected Messages,
book 1, p. 36.
“At times I am carried far ahead into the future
and shown what is to take place. Then again I
am shown things as they have occurred in the
past. After I come out of vision I do not at once
remember all that I have seen, and the matter
is not so clear before me until I write, then the
scene rises before me as was presented in
vision, and I can write with freedom.
Sometimes the things which I have seen are hid
from me after I come out of vision, and I cannot
call them to mind until I am brought before a
company where that vision applies, then the
things which I have seen come to my mind with
force. I am just as dependent upon the Spirit of
the Lord in relating or writing a vision, as in
having the vision. It is impossible for me to call
up things which have been shown me unless
the Lord brings them before me at the time that
He is pleased to have me relate or write them.”-Spiritual Gifts (1860), vol. 2, pp. 292, 293.
In 1868 her husband, James White, gave the
following description of her physical
appearance while in vision: “1. She is utterly
unconscious of everything transpiring
around her; 2. She does not breathe. . . .
[This] has been repeatedly proved by
pressing upon the chest, and by closing the
mouth and nostrils; 3. Immediately on
entering vision, her muscles become rigid,
and joints fixed, so far as any external force
can influence them; . . . 4. On coming out of
vision, whether in the daytime or a welllighted room at night, all is total darkness.
Her power to distinguish even the most
brilliant objects, held within a few inches of
the eyes, returns but gradually.”—Life
Incidents (Battle Creek, Mich.: Steam Press,
1868), p. 272.
What ultimately must be the final test of
Ellen White’s prophetic calling? Does having
Literary Assistants make a difference?
Wednesday
Inspiration and Literary
Assistants
From Old Testament, writers
used literary assistants or
scribes to write down the
messages God had given
them.
Jeremiah 36:4 “Then Jeremiah
called Baruch the son of
Neriah; and Baruch wrote on a
scroll of a book, at the
instruction of Jeremiah, all the
words of the LORD which He
had spoken to him.”
From New Testament times we know
that at times scribes used a wax
tablet to take down the gist of what
the author wanted to say before they
wrote a good copy of the letter. Prior
to sending it, the author would go
over the letter to make sure it
conveyed to the reader what he
wanted to say.
Romans 16:22 “I, Tertius, who wrote
this epistle, greet you in the Lord.”
Colossians 4:18 “This salutation by
my own hand--Paul. Remember my
chains. Grace be with you. Amen.”
Ellen White also used literary helpers.
Here’s why:
1.) With formal schooling ending at age 9,
she recognized her own limitations as a
writer. “I am not a grammarian. I will try, if
the Lord will help me, at forty-five years old
to become a scholar in the science. God will
help me. I believe He will.”—Ellen G. White,
Selected Messages, book 3, p. 90. Thus,
some of her assistants functioned as her
copy editors.
2.) The great demand for her writings made
it necessary for her to have literary help.
“After my husband's death, faithful helpers
joined me, who labored untiringly in the
work of copying the testimonies and
preparing articles for publication.”—Ellen
G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 50.
3.) Because most of her books were not
written as books, but were put together from
previously written material, she needed
special assistance in their production. Marian
Davis was Ellen White’s bookmaker. “She
takes my articles which are published in the
papers, and pastes them in blank books. She
also has a copy of all the letters I write. In
preparing a chapter for a book, Marian
remembers that I have written something on
that special point, which may make the
matter more forcible. She begins to search
for this, and if when she finds it, she sees
that it will make the chapter more clear, she
adds it. The books are not Marian's
productions, but my own, gathered from all
my writings.”—Ellen G. White, Selected
Messages, book 3, p. 91.
Refuting Reports of Changes in the Writings.
“My copyists ….do not change my language. It stands
as I write it. . . .” 3SM 90.3
”My work has been in the field since 1845. Ever
since then I have labored with pen and voice.
Increased light has come to me as I have imparted
the light given me. I have very much more light on
the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which I shall
present to our people.”-- Letter 61a, 1900. 3SM 90.4
”I read over all that is copied, to see that
everything is as it should be. I read all the book
manuscript before it is sent to the printer. So you can
see that my time must be fully occupied. Besides
writing, I am called upon to speak to the different
churches and to attend important meetings. I could
not do this work unless the Lord helped me”.--Letter
133, 1902. 3SM 90.6
Just like God helped prophets of ancient history, like
Luke.
Thursday
Inspiration and the Book of Luke
Luke 1:1-4 “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things
which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses
and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had
perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most
excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were
instructed.” In writing his Gospel, Luke doesn’t seem to have relied on dreams or visions.
Neither was he an eyewitness to the events he describes. Instead, he worked from what he
had learned from others, all, no doubt, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit,
which ensured that what he wrote down was in harmony with the historical events and God’s
will.
In our Bible, we might ask, Why need Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the
Gospels, why need the Acts of the Apostles, and the variety of writers in the Epistles,
go over the same thing? 1SM 21.4
”The Lord gave His word in just the way He wanted it to come. He gave it through
different writers, each having his own individuality, though going over the same
history. Their testimonies are brought together in one Book, and are like the
testimonies in a social meeting. They do not represent things in just the same style.
Each has an experience of his own, and this diversity broadens and deepens the
knowledge that is brought out to meet the necessities of varied minds. The thoughts
expressed have not a set uniformity, as if cast in an iron mold, making the very
hearing monotonous. In such uniformity there would be a loss of grace and
distinctive beauty. . . .” 1SM 21.5
Conclusion
“….Many of you declare it to be merely the opinion of
Sister White. You have thereby insulted the Spirit of God.
You know how the Lord has manifested Himself through the Spirit of
prophecy. Past, present, and future have passed before me. I have
been shown faces that I had never seen, and years afterward I knew
them when I saw them. I have been aroused from my sleep with a
vivid sense of subjects previously presented to my mind and I have
written, at midnight, letters that have gone across the continent, and
arriving at a crisis, have saved great disaster to the cause of God. This
has been my work for many years. A power has impelled me to
reprove and rebuke wrongs that I had not thought of. Is this work of
the last thirty-six years from above or from beneath? In these letters
which I write, in the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that
which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in the
paper, expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has
opened before me in vision—the precious rays of light shining from
the throne.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 27.
“The Lord speaks to human beings in imperfect
speech, in order that the degenerate senses, the dull,
earthly perception, of earthly beings may comprehend
His words. Thus is shown God's condescension. He meets
fallen human beings where they are. The Bible, perfect
as it is in its simplicity, does not answer to the great
ideas of God; for infinite ideas cannot be perfectly
embodied in finite vehicles of thought. Instead of the
expressions of the Bible being exaggerated, as many
people suppose, the strong expressions break down
before the magnificence of the thought, though the
penman selected the most expressive language through
which to convey the truths of higher education. Sinful
beings can only bear to look upon a shadow of the
brightness of heaven's glory.”--Letter 121, 1901. P.23
1SM. No man is to pronounce judgment on God's word.
"What voice will you acknowledge as the voice of God? What power has the Lord in reserve to
correct your errors and show you your course as it is? What power to work in the church? If
you refuse to believe until every shadow of uncertainty and every possibility of doubt is
removed, you will never believe. The doubt that demands perfect knowledge will never yield
to faith. Faith rests upon evidence, not demonstration. The Lord requires us to obey the voice
of duty, when there are other voices all around us urging us to pursue an opposite course. It
requires earnest attention from us to distinguish the voice which speaks from God. We must
resist and conquer inclination, and obey the voice of conscience without parleying or
compromise, lest its promptings cease, and will and impulse control.” 1SM 27.3 We should not
“….despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good” 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21, our
memory text for next week. Lesson 6 is called “Testing the Prophet.”