We read in Eph. iii. 3-5, R. V., “_By revelation_ was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, _as it hath now been revealed unto His holy Apostles and prophets in the Spirit_.” The Bible contains truth that men had never discovered before the Bible stated it. It contains truth that men never could have discovered if left to themselves. Our heavenly Father, in great grace, has revealed this truth to us His children _through_ His servants, _the apostles and the prophets_. The Holy Spirit is the agent of this revelation. There are many who tell us to-day that we should test the statements of Scripture by the conclusions of human reasoning or by the “Christian consciousness.” The folly of all this is evident when we bear in mind that the revelation of God transcends human reasoning, and that any consciousness that is not the product of the study and absorption of Bible truth is not really a Christian consciousness. The fact that the Bible does contain truth that man never had discovered we know not merely because it is so stated in the Scriptures, but we know it also as a matter of fact. There is not one of the most distinctive and precious doctrines taught in the Bible that men have ever discovered apart from the Bible. If our consciousness differs from the statements of this Book, which is so plainly God’s Book, it is not yet fully Christian and the thing to do is not to try to pull God’s revelation down to the level of our consciousness but to tone our consciousness up to the level of God’s Word.
3. _The revelation made to the prophets was independent of their own thinking. It was made to them by the Spirit of Christ which was in them. And was a subject of inquiry to their own mind as to its meaning. It was not their own thought, but His._
We read in 1 Peter i. 10, 11, 12, R. V., “Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: _searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto_, when it (He) testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. _To whom it was revealed_, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the Gospel unto you _by the Holy Ghost_ sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.” These words make it plain that a Person in the prophets, and independent of the prophets, and that Person the Holy Spirit, revealed truth which was independent of their own thinking, which they did not altogether understand themselves, and regarding which it was necessary that they make diligent search and study. Another Person than themselves was thinking and speaking and they were seeking to comprehend what He said.
4. _No prophet’s utterance was of the prophet’s own will, but he spoke from God, and the prophet was carried along in his utterance by the Holy Spirit._
We read in 2 Peter i. 21, R. V., “For _no prophecy ever came by the will of man_: but men spake _from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost_.” Clearly then, the prophet was simply an instrument in the hands of another, as the Spirit of God carried him along, so he spoke.
5. _It was the Holy Spirit who spoke in the prophetic utterances. It was His word that was upon the prophet’s tongue._
We read in Heb. iii. 7, “Wherefore _as the Holy Ghost saith_, To-day if ye will hear His voice.” Again we read in Heb. x. 15, 16, “Whereof _the Holy Ghost also is a witness_ to us: for _after that He had said_ before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord. I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”