In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets.
Hebrews 1:1
We believe that it is the Holy Spirit that speaks into our hearts. The Holy Spirit, the One who completes what is lacking in us, inspires our thoughts, and in the case of the clergy, inspires our sermons and our writings. We believe that the Evangelists who wrote the Gospels were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Same thing with the work of the Ecumenical Councils. Their work, including the Creed, was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
In all the ages between the Fall of mankind and the Incarnation of Christ, the Holy Spirit had spoken to prophets, inspiring their writings to encourage their audience to remain hopeful in the coming of the Messiah. In Hebrews 1:1, we read In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets. While it is people who wrote the Scriptures, we believe that all Scripture is inspired by the Spirit. A significant part of the Gospels is the reference to prophecies being fulfilled in the person of Christ. Here are a few examples from the Gospels (there are many more):
In relation to the Nativity-All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel.” Matthew 1:22-23, fulfilling Isaiah 7:14
After the visit of the Magi, King Herod decided to kill all male children around Bethlehem. An angel told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to avoid the slaughter of innocents-This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.” Matthew 2:15, fulfilling Hosea 11:1
After Jesus, Mary and Joseph had escaped to Egypt, Herod slaughtered 14,000 innocent children-Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” Matthew 2:17-18, fulfilling Jeremiah 31:15
The beginning of Jesus’ public ministry was Him reading from the book of Isaiah, a prophecy He was now about to fulfill-And there was given to Him the book of the Prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:17-21, fulfilling Isaiah 61:1-2
After the death of Jesus at the crucifixion, we read of the fulfillment of two prophecies-But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” (fulfilling Exodus 5, the preparation of the Passover lamb that was to be without blemish) And again another scripture says “They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced.” (Zechariah 12:10 is the Scripture that is fulfilled) John 19:34-37
The Holy Spirit speaks to us and through us today. The Holy Spirit is the fountain of wisdom and knowledge for each person. In I Corinthians 12:3, we read: Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.” Thus, when we confess Christ, when we come to the faith, that is the Holy Spirit working in us. The Holy Spirit makes our faith possible and kindles the faith that we have.
Each of us has “spiritual gifts”, in other words, gifts that we are given by the Holy Spirit. St. Paul writes about this in I Corinthians 12:4-11:
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (I Corinthians 12:4-7)
St. Paul will go on in this section and mention specific spiritual gifts, but the main point is that each of us has a manifestation of the Spirit that we are to use for the common good. Some have been given the grace to be healers, and others teachers, and others are good at designing things, or repairing things, others are organizers, some are helpers, some are parents, and a few are called to ministry. The idea is that all of these gifts are Spirit-inspired and are supposed to be used for the good of all. Each of us has been gifted a way to serve humanity, and each of us has been given a way to serve the Church and further the message of the Gospel. There is no one who is without a spiritual gift.
O All-Holy Spirit Who from the Father issues forth, and through the Son was indwelling in the unlettered Disciples, sanctify all who acknowledge You to be God, and save us.
Light is the Father, light the Logos, light is the Holy Spirit, which was sent to the Apostles in the form of fiery tongues, and though which the entire world is guided by the light to worship the Holy Trinity. (Exapostelarion, Orthros of Pentecost, Trans. by Fr. Seraphim Dedes)
The Holy Spirit spoke through the Prophets, foretelling the coming of Christ. The Holy Spirit inspired the Evangelists, the saints, those who have preserved and spread the faith, and everyone who has ever believed. The Holy Spirit still speaks to us today. The challenge is listening and hearing.
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