The idea of the prophets or God’s chosen in the Old Testament was a new thought for me, when I realized it. I really never assumed that the people that lived before Christ Jesus were saved and had the indwelling Spirit, the Holy Spirit inside them. Now I cannot imagine it the other way.
I am going to start out with an incident I had that was a bit “peculiar” and shows the truth of the Bible in it. Besides the consequences speak for themselves:
I was attending a mega church and the Pastor was excited about starting this experiment with the adherents of the church who wanted to take part in a ministry and had none. I was energized by it because I had been praying for a ministry. I was feeling useless, just coming off a bout with spiritual depression. It was a forty day prayer; however it could happen any time. In order for you to participate, you were asked to read the Bible evry day, and your walk with God should be in good standing. So, I knew I fit the criteria, so I intended to pray every day the prayer laid out for us, and it goes like this;
“God, I am asking you to double my influence, double my effectiveness at home, at work and wherever I go. Double my sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s voice and my awareness of His working in and through me. Double my wisdom, Joy, and blessing from you. Double the growth of my Church and my ability to give and expand’s God’s Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Now you might be puzzled about this prayer like I was. So, when I got home I looked up the corresponding scriptures and sure enough they were there. So, I decided to try the prayer that first night and wouldn’t you know it, I had a waking vision of me patting the back of an ederly woman.
I shared it with my friend right away, and when I got to her house, she was tearing apart her her office. As she was doing that she told me she was looking for a calling card when she was at the VA. They struck up a conversation and found out Pastor Dan Roney, Sr. was doing work with the ederly. Subsequently, the only thing I could do was pray that she find that card. She then found two, one for a friend and we both laughed.
The rest is history. I called him on the spot and started helping him that Thursday. I went and didn’t even know what I was going to be doing. We would start out every Thursday at 9am and go to mobile home parks with bags of potatoes, tomatoes, and squash. When we started it was 27 bags, I will never forget it . We went to two mobile home parks at the time, and gave, without strings to the elderly/needy.
This blossomed into a 200 bag operation for five parks before Dan and I got sick. I needed a major operation in my hand/wrist and he was having problems with his neuropathy in his feet. But a three year stint! Going in all kinds of weather every Thursday, because we knew there were people out there that needed the food and we watched our Church grow.
Since then I have made sure I haven’t lost touch or had some kind of ministry going. I will say this alot, it gives me “joy unspeakable” when I stay close to God.
Subsequently, when I got home and did some research in the scriptures, this is what I found:
1Ki 19:15-16 MKJV “And Jehovah said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. (16) And you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to bing over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”
As you can see, Elijah was told by God himself that he should seek out Elisha for his replacement.
1Ki 19:9-10 MKJV “And he came there to a cave and stayed there. And behold, the Word of Jehovah came to him, and He said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? (10) And he said, I have been very zealous for Jehovah the God of Hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away.”
1Ki 19:19-21 MKJV And he left there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he was plowing; twelve pairs of oxen were before him, and he was with the twelfth. And Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. (20) And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, Please, let me kiss my father and my mother, and I will follow you. And he said to him, Go back again, for what have I done to you?” (21) And he turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. And he arose and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.”
You see, Elisha was more than willing to go.
2Ki 2:9-11 MKJV And it happened when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha. Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken away from you. And Elisha said, please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. (10) And he said, You have asked a hard thing, but if you see me taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be. (11) And it happened as they went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire came, and they separated between them both. And Elijah went up in a tempest into Heaven.”
This is a rendering of Elijah’s coat or “mantel.”
Note: Prophets were known by the mantels or cloaks that they bore.
The attributes of the Holy Spirit can be found all over the entire Holy Scriptures. Did you know, however, the exact phrasing “Holy Spirit” is only used twice found in the King James Version ? Nevertheless, there are many ways that He is referred to other than “Holy Spirit.”However, it is unmistakable in fact who He is.
David escpecially used several terms for the Holy Spirit in his Royal Psalms. Case in point; “The Prayer of a Contrite Heart.”
Psa 51:6-11 MKJV Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom.
Remember, David wrote this. It was his first step to attain his salvation. But notice the so-called hidden part, which we know as the Holy Spirit. David already knew he went against the Holy Spirit by laying out on the rooftop and watched Bathsheba bathe. He was in contrast going against his own conscience.
(7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Sound familiar. How many times do we read in the New Testament, that we are washed white by Jesus blood. David knew about what would happen if he confessed his sins.
(8) Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which You have broken may rejoice.
The “broken bones” are a metaphor for God’s displeasure, then comes redemption.
(9) Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Doesn’t it sound like Jesus /Jehovah laying down his life so our sins would be blotted out.
(10) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
What spirit do you think he’s talking about?
(11) Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
The Holy Spirit, this is one of the two place you will find the term “Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit was in David and he was pleading with God not to take the Spirit away from him. So, how can you not have something and pray for The Lord not to take it away. Don’t forget the background in this Psalm. David is confessing his sin against God, (adultery with Bathsheba, and her husband’s death )needs redemption and the Holy Spirit to put him right.
Psa 51:12-13 MKJV Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (13) Then I will teach transgressors Your ways; and sinners shall be converted to You.
What Do I Know? 