The Spirit Of The Lord: Purpose

Acts 7: 55

Q: How does God speaks through whomever He chooses, not according to their will, but according to God's will and purpose?

A: the Spirit of God.

[background]: David was anointed king over Israel after God rejected Saul as king for disobeying God's commands as revealed through Samuel the prophet.

When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s men, and they also prophesied. Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” 

“Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said. 

So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 

- 1 Samuel 19: 18-24

Notice that although Saul was previously told plainly by the prophet Samuel that God rejected him due to disobedience (1 Samuel 15), God still spoke through Saul via the Spirit at this time.

Notice not only did Samuel prophecy, being called to be prophet in Israel since childhood, but there were other prophets besides Samuel (whether only for a day like Saul, or in continual service to the Lord like Samuel).

Even the men sent to capture David (most likely military men - warriors) were used by the Spirit of God to prophecy that day.

Q: How does God protect those on earth He chooses to protect, and how goes God empower them according to His purpose?

A: by the Spirit of the Lord

Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. 

- Judges 14: 5-6

God endowed Samson with superhuman strength.

We are all uniquely endowed with certain gifts and talents, and we are all one in the Lord, God exemplifies unique qualities for certain purposes, for as seen through Samson, God can do similar with any one of us.

I don't think Samson, in his own mind, would have attempted to fight the lion.

I think this was because the Spirit of the Lord worked through Samson, with Samson as a vessel, perhaps previously willing but at the moment simply an instrument.

Consider what is mirrored in 1 Samuel 19 regarding how those men had no choice when God enacted His will through them.

Q: How does God use men as vessels to do His work, His will, and bring about His way?

A: the Spirit of the Lord / God's Spirit / the Holy Spirit.

The hand of the Lord was on me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” 

I said, “Sovereign Lord, You alone know.” 

Then He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I Am the Lord.’ ” 

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 

Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. 

Then He said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I Am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, My people, will know that I Am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’” 

- Ezekiel 37: 1-14

This passage is portrayed as a vision and/or spiritual experience the prophet Ezekiel had.

Q: Do you suppose God needs someone in order to speak to mankind or convey a message to others?

A: No.

We read many examples of God speaking directly to mankind in His own Image.

In the form of a Son of Man (human - man) revealing the glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 1: 27, 10: 20, Revelation 1: 14).

Other times in another visual reality, in full view of many people (Exodus 24: 9-11).

Q: If God doesn't need a human to reveal Himself, His will or His testimony, why then does God use men/mankind to convey messages or do His work and will?

A: Several reasonable answers.

One answer is that God chooses certain individuals for salvation in order to glorify Himself through us, as He did Himself as the Messiah.

The Holy Spirit is gifted to the believer for many reasons; salvation being one, participating in the divine nature another.

Q: What is God?...and what does God want from us?

A: God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth (John 4: 24).

Q: Does God live among us? How?

A: We are, ourselves, our bodies, the Temple of God's Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6: 19).

This is why God calls us to be holy, because He is holy.

It is glorious to be called by the Lord of hosts, the King of kings, the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Living One who is eternal and has revealed Himself, for our sake, in the Messiah.

Praise, glory and honor be to our Lord, our God; His Holy Name Yeshua!