Introduction to the Holy Spirit II
Introduction to the Holy Spirit II
(1) (a) Read the following scriptures. How do they describe the Holy Spirit? If you feel eager, there are many more passages that you can read. Feel free to do so.
Zech. 12: 10a - “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication
Matt. 3: 16,17 - After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is £My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
John 15: 26 -“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me
Rom. 1: 1-4 - Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4who was declared the Son of God with power £by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord
Eph. 4: 1-5 - Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
(b) Also read (1) Acts 5: 3, 4 - But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Here, Peter seems to equate lying to the Holy Spirit with lying to God
1 Cor. 3: 16 - Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Here, the Holy Spirit is again referred to as the Spirit of God.
Gal. 4: 6 - Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. A pledge of our inheritance
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Son (The Spirit of Christ)
(2) 1 Cor. 2: 10, 11 - For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God
The Holy Spirit is the revealer of God. He knows even the `thoughts of God”!
(3) Psalms 139: 7 - Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence? (Omni present)
(4) Heb. 9: 14 - how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Eternal)
Explain the significant of the characteristics of the Spirit as seen in these verse.
Godly Characteristics
The Holy Spirit is: The Spirit of God(Rom.8:9), the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8”9), Omniscient(1Cor.2:10,11), Omnipresent(Ps.139:7), The Spirit of the
Lord (2 Chron. 18:23), God's Holy Spirit (Ps. 51:11), God's Spirit (Ps. 104:30), God's good Spirit (Ps. 143:10), The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (Isa. 11:2), Spirit of the Lord God (Isa. 61:1), Spirit of grace and of supplication (Heb. 10:29;Zech. 12:10), Spirit of the Father (Matt. 10:20), the Spirit of truth (Jn. 14:17; 15:26). Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7). Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4), Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2), Spirit of life and peace (Rom. 8:6), Holy Spirit of promise (Eph. 1:13), eternal (Heb. 9:14), the Spirit of glory and of God (1 Pet. 4:14),
(2) After coming this far in our study have you learned anything that you did not already know? What are some mistaken ideas about the Holy Spirit in our churches today?
The Spirit is a He, not an it. He is the essence of God…..God on the Spirit. The essence of Christ. He possesses the qualities of God and Christ!
(3) What role did the Holy Spirit have in the writing of the Word?
1 Cor. 2: 4, 5 - my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
2 Pet. 1: 20, 21 - But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Matt. 22: 43, 44 - He said* to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him `Lord,' saying, `The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”'?
2 Tim. 3: 16, 17 - All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Rev. 1:10 - I was £in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches:
The Holy Spirit inspired the holy Wprd of God. There can be no doubt that we have but two choices: (1) Believe abd accept, or (2) Disbelieve and reject
(4) How can one have this Spirit in their life? What instructions has God left us concerning the Holy Spirit in relationship to His people?
The Holy Spirit was active in the book of Acts.
Read Acts 13: 2-6 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Acts 20: 23 the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
Acts 21: 4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.
Acts 1: 16 Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus
Acts 28: 25-27 And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26saying,
`Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
27 For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”'
The Holy Spirit spoke to the apostles in Acts. And the Scriptures had foretold by the inspiration of the Spirit of the betrayal of Judas and the rejection of Christ by the Jews. were fulfilled here in Acts. In Acts 13, often called the first mission, the Spirit `sent' Luke, Barnabas and Paul.
Read John 16: 7-14. What is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the non-Christian?
John 16:7-14 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
12“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
The Holy Spirit will and does convict the world concerning sin. The unrighteousness of sin is made evident by the work of the Holy Spirit in that: He sheds light on the darknes of sin………Sin can not hide! He reveals sin to the world and the Christian.
Christ's departure was necessary to the Comforter's coming. Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ's death, which was his going away. His bodily presence could be only in one place at one time, but his Spirit is every where, in all places, at all times, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name. See here the office of the Spirit, first to reprove, or to convince. Convincing work is the Spirit's work; he can do it effectually, and none but he. It is the method the Holy Spirit takes, first to convince, and then to comfort. The Spirit shall convince the world, of sin; not merely tell them of it. The Spirit convinces of the fact of sin; of the fault of sin; of the folly of sin; of the filth of sin, that by it we are become hateful to God; of the fountain of sin, the corrupt nature; and lastly, of the fruit of sin, that the end thereof is death. The Holy Spirit proves that all the world is guilty before God. He convinces the world of righteousness; that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ the righteous. Also, of Christ's righteousness, imparted to us for justification and salvation. He will show them where it is to be had, and how they may be accepted as righteous in God's sight. Christ's ascension proves the ransom was accepted, and the righteousness finished, through which believers were to be justified. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. All will be well, when his power is broken, who made all the mischief. As Satan is subdued by Christ, this gives us confidence, for no other power can stand before him. And of the day of judgment. The coming of the Spirit would be of unspeakable advantage to the disciples. The Holy Spirit is our Guide, not only to show us the way, but to go with us by continued aids and influences. To be led into a truth is more than barely to know it; it is not only to have the notion of it in our heads, but the relish, and savour, and power of it in our hearts. He shall teach all truth, and keep back nothing profitable, for he will show things to come. All the gifts and graces of the Spirit, all the preaching, and all the writing of the apostles, under the influence of the Spirit, all the tongues, and miracles, were to glorify Christ. It behoves every one to ask, whether the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in his heart? Without clear discovery of our guilt and danger, we never shall understand the value of Christ's salvation; but when brought to know ourselves aright, we begin to see the value of the Redeemer. We should have fuller views of the Redeemer, and more lively affections to him, if we more prayed for, and depended on the Holy Spirit.
(C) What did Jesus tell the disciples He would do after His ascension to be with His Father?
John 14: 16-26 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22Judas (not Iscariot) said* to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
25“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
(D) Read Acts 2: 37-47. 37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand £souls. 42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44And all those who had believed £were together and had all things in common; 45and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Also read John 3: 1-7. 1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4Nicodemus said* to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7“Do not be amazed that I said to you, `You must be born again.
How does a person receive the Holy Spirit? Not convinced?
Then read Titus 3: 5 and Rom. 6: 4, 5.
Titus 3: 5,6 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior
Rom. 6: 4, 5. 4Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Any doubts now?
(E) We will be talking about the work of the Spirit in our lives a little later. What other significance does the gift of the Holy Spirit have to the Christian?
Eph. 1: 13, 14 3In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory
2 Cor. 1: 21,22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
Eph. 4: 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The Holy Spirit is a promise that we belong to Jesus Christ and to God! Jesus asked the Father to send the Spirit as our Helper, but the fact that we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is evidence that we have given our lives to Christ. If by the Spirit, we bear the fruit of the Spirit, we are evidence that we belong to a Holy and Righteous Savior!
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