1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Jan Feb Mar 2009 Adult Bible Study Guide Jan Feb Mar 2009

2. Dear User … This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, adjust font size, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. PLEASE USE AS IS. The Prophetic Gift An Appeal

3. Contributor Gerhard Pfandl Principal Contributor

4. The Prophetic Gift Contents 1. Heaven’s Means of COMMUNICATION 2. The Prophetic GIFT 3. SPIRITUAL Gifts and Prophecy 4. The Gift of Prophecy and God’s REMNANT Church 5. The INSPIRATION of the Prophets 6. TESTING the Prophets 7. The WORK of the Prophets 8. The AUTHORITY of the Prophets 9. The INTEGRITY of the Prophets 10. The MESSAGE of the Prophets 11. INTERPRETING the Prophetic Writings 12. The BLESSINGS of the Prophetic Gift 13. CONFIDENCE in the Prophetic Gift

5. The Prophetic Gift Our Goal {5} The real focus is on the Gift-Giver. We’ll learn about the Lord who loves this world so much He gave Himself, in the person of Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sins. That’s the God we serve, and that’s the God we seek to reveal in this quarter’s lessons.

6. The Prophetic Gift Lesson 5, January 31 The Prophetic Gift Lesson 5, January 31

7. The Inspiration of the Prophets Key Text 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

8. The Inspiration of the Prophets Initial Words {20} Christians have long debated the question, What does it mean when we say that the Bible is inspired? For Seventh-day Adventists, there is, in addition, the question of the inspiration of Ellen G. White.

9. The Inspiration of the Prophets Quick Look 1. Inspiration and Revelation (2 Peter 1:20, 21) 2. Inspiration and Literary Assistants (Jeremiah 38:1-4) 3. Inspiration and Other Sources (Luke 1:1-4)

10. The Inspiration of the Prophets 1. Inspiration and Revelation 2 Peter 1:20, 21 NKJV “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.”

11. 1.Inspiration and Revelation Their Relationship {60} 2 Timothy 3:16 says that the Bible is theopneustos (God-breathed). The Latin translation reads scriptura divinitus inspirata, from which we get the English word inspired. 2 Peter 1:21 says that “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (NIV). As a ship is carried along by the wind, the writers were moved by the Spirit.

12. 1.Inspiration and Revelation Their Relationship {60} Through visions and dreams, the Holy Spirit revealed truth to the prophets (revelation), and then ensured, through His guidance in the writing process (inspiration), that what the prophet wrote was in harmony with what God had revealed. Yet, the Bible is also a human book. It bears all the hallmarks of human authorship.

13. 1.Inspiration and Revelation Their Relationship {60} Authors in recording their own experience refer to themselves with personal pronouns. The customs and traditions are seen in the writings, and some of the psalms and proverbs reflect the literature and culture of the surrounding nations. Though inspired by the Lord, the Bible also reflects the humanness of its penmen.

14. 1.Inspiration and Revelation Two Theories of Inspiration {62} Verbal. The focus is on the words of the Bible rather than on the author. All words are inspired by God who chooses from the vocabulary and educational background of the writer. Only the original writings of the biblical writers are inspired, not the copies.

15. 1.Inspiration and Revelation Two Theories of Inspiration {62} Thought. The focus is on the writers, not the words. 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 words of the prophet become the Word of God.

16. 1.Inspiration and Revelation Visions and Physical Phenomena {64} 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 heavenly vision. Daniel wrote, “No strength remained in me”, and John said, “I fell at his feet as dead.”

17. Visions and Physical Phenomena Ellen White’s Experience {64} 1. Utterly unconscious of everything transpiring around her. 2. Does not breathe. 3. Muscles become rigid, and joints fixed, so far as any external force can influence them. 4. On coming out of vision, whether in the day time or a well-lighted room at night, all is total darkness.

18. The Inspiration of the Prophets 2. Inspiration and Literary Assistants Jeremiah 36:1-4 NKJV “This word came to Jeremiah from the L ORD, saying: ‘Take a scroll of a book and write … all the words that I have spoken to you….’ Then Jeremiah called Baruch … and Baruch wrote on a scroll of a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, all the words of the L ORD which He had spoken to him.

19. 2. Inspiration and Literary Assistants Scribes {66} Both Old Testament and New Testament writers used literary assistants or scribes to write down the messages God had given them. Prior to sending it, the author would go over the letter to make sure it conveyed to the reader what he wanted to say.

20. 2. Inspiration and Literary Assistants Ellen White’s Experience {66} 1. With formal schooling ending at the age of nine, she recognized her own limitations as a writer. 2. The great demand for her writings made it necessary for her to have literary help. 3. Most of her books were not written as books but were put together from previously written material.

21. The Inspiration of the Prophets 3. Inspiration and Other Sources Luke 1:1-4 NASB “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses…. it seemed fitting for me as well … to write it out … in consecutive order.”

22. 3. Inspiration and Other Sources Luke and Paul’s Example {68} Luke worked from what he had learned from others, all under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which ensured that what he wrote was in harmony with the historical events and God’s will. Paul received information from others and quoted from the writings of pagan authors (i.e. Acts 17:28) to teach inspired truth.

23. The Inspiration of the Prophets Final Words {69} Because God loves us so very much, He wants to give us all the help we need to live in a close relationship with Him. This includes the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy written by Ellen G White. There are times we may wrestle in our understanding of the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy. What should we do?

24. The Inspiration of the Prophets Final Words {69} 1. Pray for God’s enlightenment. 2. Consider the principle involved. 3. Consider the time and place of the writing and the writing and the writer’s culture. 4. Discuss the time and place with other Christians whom you respect spiritually. 5. Wait on the Lord to reveal the answer.