THE HOLY SPIRIT
A first word
The Trinity consists of God the Father, God
the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
For some reason we as Christians give honor,
praise and worship to God and Jesus Christ,
but we leave
out the Holy Spirit, because He is considered an IT and not a PERSON.
This study is to identify the work and purpose of
the Holy Spirit
and to show that He is a Devine Person.
He was Promised
- First of all the
coming of The Holy Spirit was a promise by Jesus Christ to the
believers.
- He said He would not
leave us as orphans. - to wait for the promise – They did; and He came
- The Good News is we
no longer are waiting for the Holy Spirit – He is waiting for us.
- We have the seal
of God’s ownership, powered by the promise of the Holy Spirit who
made a deposit that guaranteed our inheritance with the Son.
- The Greek word is parakletos occurring five times
in the NT meaning “helper”- “one who comes along side”. – The Divine
Paraklete.
John 16:5-7 – The Holy
Spirit was promised
5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet
none of you asks me, `Where are you going?'
6 Because I have said these things, you are filled
with grief.
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good
that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but
if I go, I will send him to you. NIV
John 14:18 – Jesus will not leave us as orphans.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to
you. NIV
Acts 2:1-4 – They waited
and The Holy Spirit came
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all
together in one place… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. NIV
Eph 1:13 – We are sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit
13 And you also were included in Christ when you
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you
were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, NIV
2 Cor 1:22 – His seal of ownership is a deposit on what is to come
22 He set his seal of ownership on us, and
put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. NIV
2 Cor 5:5 – The Spirit is
a deposit guaranteeing our redemption.
5 Now it is God who has made us for this very
purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is
to come. NIV
Eph 1:13 -14 – We are marked by Him with a seal of the promise
13 Having believed, you were marked in him with
a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to
the praise of his glory. NIV
He is a Person
- Webster:
Person;
Someone who is actually present as distinguished from a thing. - A self being; has personality expressed
by physical and mental activities with qualities and characteristics.
- A person has personality, possesses knowledge, feelings, emotions
and a will.
He has Knowledge
- Scripture bears out
that the Holy Spirit not only helps us to understand truth, but “Knows”
truth Himself – He has knowledge.
1 Cor 2:10 -11 - Knowledge
10 God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The
Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a
man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the
thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. NIV
He has a Will
- Scripture shows that
the Spirit works in man according to “His
Will”.
- Man does not
manipulate the Holy Spirit according to what he thinks is right.
- The Holy Spirit
operates in us through “His will” so that our actions will be blessed. -
The Holy Spirit has a “Will”.
1 Cor 12:11 – His Will
11 But one and the same Spirit works all
these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. NKJV
He has Intelligence and
Goodness
- In the Old Testament
the Holy Spirit is shown with the characteristics of Intelligence and
Goodness.
Neh 9:20 – Intelligence - Goodness
20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct
them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them
water for their thirst. NIV
He has Emotions, Feelings,
Sensitivity
- In Romans we find
that the Spirit knows the mind of
God and intercedes for us.
- Webster says that “Mind”
is; thinking, feelings, reasoning and emotions.
- He knows our feelings
and thoughts and hears every word we speak. – He knows when our actions
are impure or selfish, false and this grieves Him.
- So the Spirit has
feelings, emotions, sensitivity and can be grieved
Eph 4:30 - Grieve
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption NIV
Rom 8:27 – He Reasons
27 He that searches the hearts knows what
is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints
according to (the will of) God. ASV
He is Separate, but Equal
- The Holy Spirit is in
“equal” relationship to
God and our Savior Jesus Christ – For some this will be hard to accept,
but it is written in the book. – It was not God the Father, nor God the
Holy Spirit that died on the cross, it was God the Son.
- He is a “separate” and a distinct
person from the Father and The Son, but has a mutual relationship.
- He is “subordinate” to the Father
and the Son. He takes on their
names; Spirit of God and Spirit of Christ. “The son” is also subordinate to the
Father. Clearly there are three
separate persons, but all with the same mind.
His Characteristics
- Webster;
Devine
– is to be like God and further defines God as “Immortal” - In Hebrews we
find that the Holy Spirit’s divine nature is “Eternal”.
- The
Holy Spirit has
the same attributes as God.
- He is Omni-present – He is everywhere all
at once. – There is no where that we can go that the Spirit is not
present.
- He is
Omniscient
– He knows the hearts of man and searches the deep things of God.
- He is
Omnipotent-
The power of the Holy Spirit will over shadow you. He is All powerful.
Acts 5:3 – The Spirit is
Devine - Holy
3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that
Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit NIV
Heb 9:14 – He is eternal
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the
living God! NIV
Ps 139:7-8 – He is
omni-present
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where
can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I
make my bed in the depths, you are there. NIV
1 Cor 2:10 -11 – Knows the thoughts of man and God
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a
man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the
thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. NIV
Rev 19:6 – He is all powerful - Omnipotent
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great
multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering,
saying, alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent
reigns. KJV
Luke 1:35 – He has the
power of the most high God
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So
the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. NIV
John 14:26 – Teach you all things
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind
you of everything I have said to you. NIV
John 16:12 -13 – Guide you into all truth
12 "I have much more to say to you, more than
you can now bear.
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he
will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak
only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. NIV
His Names
- One could read the
scriptures and conclude that there are many Spirits of the Father… Not
So. He just has different names…
Sometime we have to go back to the Greek and Hebrew to get translations of
words such as “breath”
or “wind” which is
translated “Spirit”.
- Just think of it; God
breathing the “Spirit” of life into you. – Jesus breathed on the disciples
and said “Receive the Holy Spirit”.
- Some of
His names;
The Holy Spirit - Spirit of Jehovah - Spirit of Counsel and Might - Spirit
of Wisdom and Understanding - Spirit of Knowledge - Spirit of Jesus -
Spirit of Christ – Spirit of God - Spirit of Truth – Spirit of Holiness –
Spirit of Judgment - The comforter – The Councilor
- The
Spirit of Jehovah is a reminder of the Old Testament Covenant
- The
Spirit of the Lord Jehovah reminds us He is a covenant keeping spirit.
- The
Spirit of the Living God makes God personal
- The
Spirit of Christ reminds us that the spirit is a
- The
Spirit of Jesus Christ is the relationship to the Spirit of Jesus
- The
Spirit of His Son testifies of God’s Son.
Gen 2:7 – The breath of
the Spirit is Life
7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the
ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the
man became a living being. NIV
John 20:22 – Jesus breathed on the disciples – The Holy Spirit
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on
them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: KJV
John 3:8 – The breath of
the Holy Spirit
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You
hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So
it is with everyone born of the Spirit." NIV
Matt 28:19 – Make
disciples; Baptize - Different names
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, NIV
2 Cor 13:14 – Different names – Grace, love and fellowship
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all. NIV
1 Cor 12:4-6 – Same Spirit
– Same Lord – Same God
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the
same Spirit.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the
same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but the
same God works all of them in all me NIV
Heb 9:14 – The Eternal Spirit
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? NKJV
Luke 11:13 – The Holy Spirit
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" NKJV
Gal 4:6 – Spirit of His
Son
6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the
Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ASV
Isa 11:2 – Spirit of
Jehovah
2 And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of
Jehovah. ASV
Isa 61:1 – The Spirit of
the LORD Jehovah
1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon
me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he
hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening (of the prison) to them that are bound; ASV
1 Cor 3:16 – Spirit of God
16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God ASV
2 Cor 3:6 – Spirit of the
living God – The Spirit is personal
6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the
new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life. NKJV
Rom 8:9 – Spirit of Christ
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful
nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
NIV
Acts 16:7 – Spirit of
Jesus
7 When they came to the border of Mysia , they tried to enter Bithynia
John 16:13 – Spirit of truth
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak
only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. NIV
Acts 1:4 – Spirit of
Promise – the Gift
4 "Do not leave Jerusalem
Rom 1:4 – Spirit of
Holiness
4 and who through the Spirit of holiness
was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead:
Jesus Christ our Lord. NIV
Isa 4:4 – Spirit of
Judgment – Spirit of burning
4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the
daughters of Zion Jerusalem
John 6:63 – The Spirit of
Life
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the
flesh profits nothing. NKJV
Heb 10:29 – The Spirit of Grace
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose,
will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted
the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and
insulted the Spirit of grace?
NKJV
John 14:26 – The Comforter
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, KJV
John 15:26 – The Comforter
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I
will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedes
from the Father, he shall testify of me: KJV
John 14:16 – “Another” Counselor – He is separate
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Counselor to be with you forever-
NIV
John 16:7 – The Counselor
is separate from Jesus
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good
that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to
you; but if I go, I will send him to you. NIV
Luke 3:21-22 – Holy Spirit
separate from Christ
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus
was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in
bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son,
whom I love; with you I am well pleased." NIV
Acts 2:33 – Separate from God
33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has
received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured
out what you now see and hear. NIV
John 16:14 – Subordinate to Jesus
14 He will bring glory to me by taking from
what is mine and making it known to you. NIV
John 7:18 – Subordinate to God
18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor
for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a
man of truth; there is nothing false about him. NIV
Holy Spirit Metaphors
- On the Sermon on the
Mount, Christ used words like “Salt” and “Light” which are unseen forces
that operate silently and unobtrusively in the life of the believer.
- Salt prevents decay
and Light dissipates darkness.
Matt 5:13-14 – Salt and
Light
13 "You are the salt of the earth”
14 "You are the light of the world”. NIV
He Speaks to men
- The Holy Spirit
speaks to us although some do not have an ear to hear Him.
Rev 2:7 – He speaks
7 He who has an ear let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches. NKJV
He Leads, Teaches, Witness’
- When we have His
Spirit within us, He bears witness of Jesus Christ, teaches us
truth, leads and guides our path.
- He FREELY anoints us
with knowledge and truth and reveals mysteries.
- The Lying
god of
this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that is why the Holy Spirit
is called “the Spirit of Truth”.
- The world cannot
accept Him because they cannot see Him nor know Him.
1 John 2:20 – Anoints with knowledge and truth
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy
One, and all of you know the truth. NIV
Neh 9:20 - Instructs
20 Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct
them, and withheld not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water
for their thirst.
John 16:13 – Guides and tells us things
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,
he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from
himself; but what things soever he shall hear, (these) shall he speak:
and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. ASV
John 14:26 – Teaches all spiritual things
26 But the Comforter, (even) the Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and
bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. ASV
John 15:26 – Bears Witness of Christ
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will
send unto you from the Father, (even) the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from
the Father, he shall bear witness of me: ASV
Rom 8:14 - Leads
14 Because those who are led by the Spirit
of God are sons of God
1 Cor 2:9-10 – God reveals
mysteries through the Holy Spirit
9 However, as it is written: "No eye has
seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared
for those who love him"- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
NIV
1 Cor 2:11-12 – The
understanding is freely given
12 We have
not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we
may understand what God has freely given us.
2 Cor 4:3 – The lying god
of this age has blinded men
4 The god
of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot
see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. NIV
John 14:17 – The world cannot accept the Spirit of Truth.
7 The Spirit of truth. The world cannot
accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. NIV
He Calls, Appoints, Retrains
- The Spirit calls men
to work in the service of the Lord and appoint others to oversee the body.
- He has the authority
to hold us back and to change our direction.
Acts 13:2 – He Calls
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,
the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the
work to which I have called them." NIV
Acts 20:28 – Appoints overseers
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the
flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds
of the church of God
Acts 16:6-7 – Restrained –
Changed directions
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the
region of Phrygia and Galatia Asia .
7 When they came to the border of Mysia , they tried to enter Bithynia
He Resides -Intercedes – Comforts
- Jesus promised a
gift; a Devine Person that would take His place – This great
dispensation that was promised was the “Paraclete”, the one who comes along side – The comforter.
- The Holy Spirit
resides in our hearts, interceding and calling out to God, bearing
witness that we are His children.
Acts 1:4-5 – The Promise
of the Holy Spirit
4 "Do not leave Jerusalem
5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." NIV
John 14:16 – The Comforter
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; KJV
John 16:7 – He is the
Comforter
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. KJV
Rom 8:26 – Intercedes for us
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes
for us with groans that words cannot express. NIV
Heb 7:25 – Lives to intercede for us
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those
who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for
them. NIV
Gal 4:6 – Lives in our
hearts – Calls out to God
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit
of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,
Father." NIV
John 14:17 – The Spirit of Truth dwells within us
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for
he dwells with you, and shall be in you. KJV
1 John 2:1 – Speaks in our
defense
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that
you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the
Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. NIV
His Work
- Creates all things that are the
invisible realm and in the physical realm including man.
- Maintains our Spiritual life
as well as our physical life
- Convicts men of sin; pricks their hearts and
makes them aware of there need of a savior and provides the opportunity to
accept or reject Christ.
- Regenerates man’s life giving
him a New Nature – The
Holy Spirit buries our old nature that desires adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, witchcraft, hate, wrath, strife, envy, murder and the like.
- Renews
our mind
so that our thoughts line up with God’s thoughts. – There is a new fruit that is
observable by our actions and reactions – In due season people will
observe in our lives the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
- We cannot bear fruit
apart from the Holy Spirit. – We will be known by our fruits. – True love
is shown in our actions. – When temptation raises its ugly head, we will
be instantly in prayer, calling on the Holy Spirit almost before we are
even aware of the need.
- The results of a renewed mind
are observed in our character, our deeds, our growth and the growth of
others we witness to.
- He Satisfies us like an eternal
well of fresh water. When all else around
us fails, the Holy Spirit will still refresh us with a satisfaction that
is independent of what the world has to offer. – When we abide in Him, He
abides in us.
16 For by him were all things created, that
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were
created by him, and for him: KJV
Ps 33:6 – The Breath; The
Spirit of God Created the heavens
6 By the word of the LORD were the
heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. KJV
Job 33:4 – The Spirit made
men
4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the
breath of the Almighty hath given me life. KJV
Ps 104:29-30 – He Maintains
us
29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when
you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and
you renew the face of the earth. NIV
John 16:8-11 – He Convicts
us of sin
8 When he comes, he will convict the world
of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
9 in regard to sin, because men do not
believe in me;
10 in regard to righteousness, because I am
going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
11 and in regard to judgment, because the
prince of this world now stands condemned. NIV
Acts 2:36-37 – Pricks our
heart
36 "Therefore let all Israel
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to
the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what
shall we do?" NIV
Rom 12:12 – We instantly go to Him in prayer
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer; KJV
Titus 3:5 – The Spirit
renews
5 not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, NKJV
John 3:5 – The Spirit
regenerates man
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no
one can enter the kingdom of God
John 6:63 – The words of
the Spirit are life
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for
nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
NIV
2 Cor 3:6 – The Spirit
gives life
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new
covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life. NIV
1 Cor 2:14 -15 – Gives spiritual discernment
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and
he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all
things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: NIV
Gal 5:19-21 – Buries the
old nature
19 The acts of the sinful nature are
obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred,
discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions,
factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies,
and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will
not inherit the kingdom of God
Gal 5:22-23 – All make up one
fruit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Ps 1:2-3 – The fruit of
the Spirit will appear in due season
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and
on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which
yields its fruit in season NIV
John 15:4 – You cannot
bear fruit without the Spirit
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch
can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear
fruit unless you remain in me. NIV
Matt 7:20 – We are known by the fruit of our spirit
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. NIV
1 John 3:18 – Our love results in actions
18 Dear children, let us not love with
words or tongue but with actions and in truth. NIV
John 4:14 – Will never thirst again
14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will
never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of
water welling up to eternal life." NIV
John 7:37-38 – Streams of
refreshing water
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast,
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come
to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams
of living water will flow from within him."
1 John 4:13 – He abides in us and we abide in Him
13 By this
we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of
His Spirit. NKJV
He Gives Life
- He makes the desert a
fertile field and the barren to become a multitude. - Old Testament
scriptures are teaming with the power of the Holy Spirit bringing life to
dead wombs
- Zechariah’s
wife Elizabeth was barren – The Holy Spirit gave them John the
Baptist
- Manoah’s
wife
was barren – The Holy Spirit gave them the Sampson the Judge.
- Elkanah’s
wife Hanna
was barren – The Holy Spirit gave them Samuel the Prophet
- Isaac’s
wife Rebecca was barren – The Holy Spirit gave them Jacob called
- Jacobs’s
wife Rachel was
barren – The Holy Spirit gave Joseph who prospered
- The
Lesson here is a person is never too old
to experience the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and with Mary the mother of Jesus as
our example, you are never too young either.
Luke 1:13 – Barren – But John the Baptist
13 "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer
has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give
him the name John.
Judg 13:2-3 – Barren – But
Sampson the Judge
2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the
clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless.
3 The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said,
"You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and
have a son. NIV
1 Sam 1:1-20 – Barren - But
Samuel the Prophet
1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a
Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah
2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the
other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and
gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked
the LORD for him."
Gen 25:21 – Barren – But
Jacob - Israel
21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife,
because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah
became pregnant. NIV
Gen 35:9-10 – Jacobs name
changed to Israel
9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram
10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but
you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel
NIV
Gen 30:22-24 – Barren –
But Joseph who prospered Israel
22 God
remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.
23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and
said, "God has taken away my disgrace."
24 She named him Joseph
NIV
Isa 32:15 – The Holy
Spirit makes the barren fertile
15 till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like
a forest NIV
He Baptizes
- The Baptism of the
Holy Spirit is an outward seal acknowledging the inward condition
your spirit is “Already in”. – It is an action that is in
additional to the Spirit’s regenerative soul saving work. – It is the
GATEWAY to the Spiritual realm.
- At first there were two distinct stages of the
Holy Spirit due to the fact that the gift at Pentecost had not yet come to
the 120 that were present in the upper room.
- They knew of John’s
baptism and Jesus’ baptism, but the baptism of the Holy Spirit could not
be received till Jesus had ascended to the Father.
- Pentecost was the beginning
of the “Church”, now all that remained was to bring into the fold the Samaritans, the Gentiles and the belated believers from
John’s baptism. – I stress this only because of the teaching in error
that there are two baptisms; not one.
- When we receive
Christ as our savior, we receive Him in
- Regeneration (Salvation) and The Baptism of the
Holy Spirit now takes place at the same moment. – There is only
one baptism of the Holy Spirit; but
many
- The examples given in
the scriptures indicate that the followers of Christ were aware of the
promise of the Holy Spirit and knew if they had received Him or not.
- It is a definite
distinctive experience that one knows whether or not he has received
the Holy Spirit.
- The filling of the
Holy Spirit is something that can be observed visually. In Acts we find that Simon wanted to buy
this ability. He wanted to lay
hands on people and have them be filled with the Spirit.
- The promise of the
baptism of the Holy Spirit was not only for the disciples, but for those
that He would call that were not yet born… That’s us, praise God
Luke 24:49 – The Father
will send the Holy Spirit
49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised;
but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
NIV
Acts 1:4 – Wait for the
promise of the Holy Spirit
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them,
he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem
Acts 19:2 – They had not
even heard about the Holy Spirit
2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy
Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even
heard that there is a Holy Spirit." NIV
Acts 8:15 -16 – The Spirit had not come upon the SAMARITANS
15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that
they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come
upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord
Jesus. NIV
Acts 11:15 – The Spirit
had not come upon the GENTILES
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on
them as he had come on us at the beginning. NIV
Acts 19:3-5
– The Spirit had not come upon the JOHN’S believers
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you
receive?", "John's baptism," they replied.
4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of
repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is,
in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord
Jesus .NIV
Gal 3:2 – They received
the Spirit by believing what they heard.
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you:
Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing
what you heard? NIV
1 Cor 12:13 – There is only one baptism of the Holy Spirit
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit
into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the
one Spirit to drink. NIV
Acts 8:18 -19 – The filling of the Spirit is observable
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given
at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money
19 and said, "Give me also this ability
so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." NIV
Acts 10:43 -44 – They heard the Word- Received the Holy Spirit
43 All the prophets testify about him that
everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his
name."
44 While Peter was still speaking these words,
the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. NIV
Acts 2:39 – The Holy Spirit is also for our children not yet born
39 The promise is for you and your children and for
all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." NIV
Heb 6:4-5 – The Baptism is
the gateway to the Spiritual realm
4 It is impossible for those who have once been
enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in
the Holy Spirit,
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word
of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back
to repentance.
Sidebar
- What is the
motivation
for wanting to be filled with the Spirit? – The purpose of being filled is
to glorify God
- Do we ask the Holy
Spirit to bless decisions we have already made or do we involve the Holy
Spirit resulting in a JOINT DECISION. – The Spirit doesn’t just help us,
He prays for us according to the will of God. – Our prayers are double
effective. – We have access to the mind of our Lord. – We now have the
mind of Christ.
- There are two
important principles connected with receiving the Holy Spirit. – Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility - God freely
gives His Spirit, but living up to His calling is up to us. - Seek to be
filled, but don’t waste your time seeking empowerment that you do not
intend to use.
- We can be baptized
with the Holy Spirit, but not filled or controlled by the Spirit. - A “feeling”
does not necessarily imply a “Filling”.
- When we are filled,
we are not totally filled up like a barrel overrunning with rain water,
but we are a barrel that needs to be continually filled because we
use it up, and we leak.
- Jesus needed the
presence of the Holy Spirit from “the Womb to the Tomb”, how much
more do we also need the Spirit in our lives.
- The apostle Andrew was noticeably quiet
and in the background as; Peter, James and John seem to dominate the inner
circle, however he is credited for bringing many to meet Christ.
- Andrew’s heart did
not resent being a supporting actor, living in the shadow of Peter
his brother. - He saw great value in serving quietly in the background.
- Andrew delighted in pointing everyone and anyone to Jesus. -
Because of the fact that he brought his brother Peter to Christ, another 3000
received eternal life.
- Such is the Holy Spirit, rarely taking
center stage, but pointing us to the other members of the Trinity.
– He is like the wind, invisible, powerful, uncontrollable and
unpredictable, you cannot see Him or tell where He comes or goes, but you
can hear and feel His presence; The Spirit’s work will always point
to our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.
- We raise the sails
in our boat; the breath of the Holy Spirit powers our sails and God
steers
- The Holy Spirit alone is the source of empowerment that
God uses to accomplish His will.
- Don’t look at how big
the task is, instead look at the opportunity that allows the
spirit to empower you. – Raise your sail – Pray often.
1 Cor 10:1-5 – It’s up to
us to live up to His calling
1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the
fact, brothers, that our forefathers were ALL under the cloud and that they ALL passed through the sea. - They were ALL baptized into Moses in the cloud and in
the sea. - They ALL ate the same spiritual
food
4 and ALL drank the same spiritual
drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that
rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with
most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. NIV
John 3:8 – The Spirit is
like the sound of the wind
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear
its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So
it is with everyone born of the Spirit." NIV
Acts 15:28 Involve the Holy Spirit for a JOINT DECISION
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and
to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: NIV
Rom 8:27 – The Spirit prays according to God Will.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind
of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in
accordance with God's will. NIV
Isa 61:1 – Jesus needed
the Holy Spirit – so much more us
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners,
NIV
1 Cor 2:16 – We have the mind of Christ.
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord
hat he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. NIV
He Falls, Fills, Anoints
- In the Old Testament, The Holy
spirit is recorded with words such as; “Anointed with Oil” symbolic of the Holy Spirit, “Came
upon men” and “Rested on men” - In Genesis, “My Spirit”;
- THE
FORMULA
– Nowhere in the Bible are we given a formula on how to be filled with the
Holy Spirit. – A good start is to
understand that God commands us to be filled with the Spirit.- It’s
a command not a suggestion.
- Scripture teaches Submission
– To confess sins. - To yield our self to His will – To place our self at
His disposal. – To offer our abilities, possessions, family, minds, will
and emotions - To get rid of unclean thoughts and Laziness – To redeem the
use of our time, money and lifestyle.
- The
Filling
is not a matter of feelings, but of Faith – The filling is not once, but
continuous.
Gen 6:3 – The Holy Spirit
is in the first book of the Bible
3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will
not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and
twenty years." NIV
Judg 3:10 – Came upon Othniel
10 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so
that he became Israel Aram
Judg 6:34 – Came upon Gideon
34 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon,
and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. NIV
Judg 11:29 – Came upon Jephthah
29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.
He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed
through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. NIV
Judg 13:25 – Came upon Sampson
25 and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir
him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. NIV
2 Chron 24:20 – Came upon
Zechariah
20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah
son of Jehoiada the priest. NIV
Num 11:25 – Came upon Seventy Elders.
25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and
spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on
the seventy elders. NIV
Ex 31:2-3 – Filled Bezalel
2 See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri,
the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah
3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God,
with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts NIV
1 Sam 16:13 – Anointed with oil - symbolic of the Holy Spirit
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed
him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the
LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah. NIV
Rom 6:13 – Offer yourself
to God
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as
instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those
who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body
to him as instruments of righteousness. NIV
Rom 12:1 – Offering
yourself to God is Spiritual Worship
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God-this is your spiritual act of worship. NIV
Observable evidence
- Everyone
has a worldview; when you become filled with the Holy Spirit there is an
observable difference in your thoughts and actions. – You are a new
creation. – Sooner or later the
- I’ll say it again,
Spirit empowerment is not a suggestion, it’s a command.
- There
are nine qualities that characterizes the person on whom the Holy Spirit
rest.
- Wisdom – Understanding
– Counsel – Power/strength – Knowledge – Fear of the Lord – Righteousness
– Justice/fairness – Faithfulness
- There
are three virtues of those empowered by the Spirit – Prayer, Faith
and Obedience. The Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ through us.
- God
has replaced
the few selected Leaders in the Old Testament with the New Testament
Pattern of empowerment for the whole church. – Not just part, but
the whole. – We have total access to all the assets available to us.
- Regardless of when in
life you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, you will be motivated to
give your testimony to others and you will involve your self in service of
some nature. This may not be in “
- There will be a
desire to be with others of like faith; studying the word; sharing and
offering prayer and praise.
- Your ability and
desire to serve will not necessarily be like someone else; so do not use
others as a yard stick to measure the Holy Sprit’s work in you.
- The Holy Spirit bears
witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God.
- God places a seal – The Spirit is God’s pledge – The Spirit witnesses to us by His
word.
1 Cor 12:1 – I do not want
you to be ignorant about the Gifts
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I
do not want you to be ignorant. NIV
2 Cor 5:17 – You are a new creature
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! NIV
Acts 1:8 – You will
receive power
8 But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem Judea and Samaria
Acts 4:31 -33 – Spoke about God boldly – Shared everything
31 After they prayed, the place where they were
meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke
the word of God boldly.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared
everything they had.
33 With great power the apostles continued to
testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them
all.
1 Cor 12:4-7 – There are
different ways to serve God
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but
the same Spirit.
5 There are different kinds of service, but
the same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but
the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for the common good. NIV
Acts 2:4 – SOME spoke in
tongues
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. NIV
Rom 8:16 – The spirit Himself bears witness that we are His
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our
spirit that we are God's children. NIV
Gal 4:6-7 – We are
declared by the Spirit that we are His sons
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of
his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,
Father."
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son;
and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. NIV
1 John 5:10 – Our Faith bears witness in our hearts.
10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has
this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him
out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about
his Son. NIV
Isa 11:2-5 – Nine
qualities of the Spirit
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the
Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel
and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD--
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He
will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with
his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the
needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He
will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he
will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness
the sash around his waist. NIV
He gives us Tools
- It is “God’s will”
that we be equipped with the tools or gifts that glorify His Son. –
Until the filling of the Holy Spirit, the Pastor was expected to possess
all of the GIFTS. They were just spectators –
Today we have the responsibility to use our gifts along side the Pastor.
- With these tools we
will be able to do the same works that Jesus did; even greater works (more)
because Jesus is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. The ministry of Christ was only about
three years; we most likely have many more years that that to do even “more
works”.
- The body of believers
is complex and interdependent and not all have the same role in the body.
- The Holy Spirit gives special abilities or gifts as He “wills”
for each situation.
- The spirit knows
better than man which gift should be utilized and when. – They are given
“in Part” for the situation; not in whole; they are given for a period of
time, not forever.
- On the
“Day of Pentecost” God poured out His Spirit and the believers received
the gifts of the Spirit. Each
believer had at least one gift, and
- GIFTS - Word of
Wisdom - Word of Knowledge - Special Faith - Gifts of Healing -
Miraculous powers - Discerning of Spirits - Speaking in Tongues and
Interpreting Tongues – Serving – Prophesying
– Teaching – Encouraging – Giving - Leading and Mercy.
- We are told to desire
and seek the best gifts. Even with
that, they cannot be “achieved”, they are God given. (See NYOBS 6)
- A
word about the gift of “Helps” (Service) – You may not be
able to preach, teach or read the Bible out loud in public or even pray in
public, but you can be of “help” – This can be through private prayer,
counseling, handling business affairs or promoting the
- Healings – We cannot presuppose
that the laying on of hands, or the anointing oil, or the
persons own personal faith heals – The healing is from God alone;
we are just the instrument
- NOTE: Gifts of healing is “plural”
suggesting that there are different kinds of healing. I desire
and seek the gift of healing cancer and that of discerning (the intent) of spirits.
- Speaking
in Tongues
- There is much said today about the use
and misuse of this gift and was addressed by Paul in his letters to
the church – My reading of the scripture indicates that the crowd “heard”
the Disciples speak to them in their own “known” language which the
“scoffers” didn’t understand and just thought they were
drunk. There is much debate over whether
the miracle was an “Unknown” language spoken that the listener
understood or that the Disciples actually spoke in their “Known”
language and dialect - And has it ceased?
- Prayer
Language
- About 30 years ago I found myself while in prayer uttering words I did
not understand. – I shared this with my pastor and he said it was a prayer
language which he also had. (See NYOBS 8)
- Prophecy no longer exist as predictive prophecy as it did in the first Century of
Christianity – There are no
new revelations, just new illumination and enlightenment – There is no
new doctrine, just new direction – The Bible word is “Propheteuo” which
means “To magnify God”-“To speak of
divine things” or even better “To
Teach”, and has nothing to do with foretelling the future, but of
witnessing to the grace of Jesus Christ and magnifying His name. So when you read in the NT scripture of
people “prophesizing” they are praising God’s name and teaching
about His attributes. Paul
wanted everyone to prophesy. - This is a better gift to seek and study
than tongues.
- Sign
Gifts
and wonders are the ones that attract the most attention. - Healings,
Miracles and Tongues attract the most people; they are
spectacular, fascinating and curious. – While the one being healed
believes their restored health is a wonderful thing, the compassionate
healing is actually pointing back to proclaiming the
- John
the Baptist
performed no signs, no miracles and no wonders, yet
Jesus said that there was no one greater than John the Baptist.
- Miracles are a SIGN to the pagan, the unbeliever
– they are a “convicting experience”.
- The miracle of people
speaking in tongues are a SIGN
to the unbeliever.
- Can we
operate with miracle spiritual gifts today? Yes, as the HOLY SPIRIT determines. NOTE: Because we see very little of the gifts
displayed, most believe that the gifts ended with the Apostles. However, I do not find anywhere in
scripture indicating that the gifts were recalled; in fact I find that
they are forever. These gifts were
given so that compassionate believers could minister to others, but it is
“as the Spirit wills”.
- The
Gifts of the Spirit will cease when Christ returns.
John 14:13-14 – Tools to
bring glory to the Father
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that
the Son may bring glory to the Father.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I
will do it. NIV
John 14:12 – You will do even more works
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in
me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater (more) things than these, because I
am going to the Father. NIV
1 Cor 12:4-11 – Many Gifts
– One Spirit
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same
Spirit.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the
same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but the
same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message
of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same
Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to
another gifts of healing
10 to another miraculous powers, to another
prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another
speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation
of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same
Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. NIV
Rom 12:4-8 – Here are some
more gifts that form one Body
4 Just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace
given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion
to his faith.
7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously;
if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy,
let him do it cheerfully NIV
1 Cor 12:12 – The body of believers is complex and interdependent
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of
many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is
with Christ. NIV
1 Cor 14:22 – The miracle gift of Tongues are a SIGN
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not
for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers,
not for unbelievers. NIV
Mark 16:17 – You can desire and receive the gift of tongues
17 And these signs will accompany those who
believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new
tongues; NIV
1 Cor 14:1 – Eagerly
desire the gifts
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire
spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy NIV
1 Cor 12:31 – Desire the greater gifts
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts NIV
1 Cor 12:11 – The Gifts are as the Spirit determines.
11 All these are the work of one and the same
Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. NIV
Acts 2:1-13 – Speaking in Tongues
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all
together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent
wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. .
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing
Jews from every nation under heaven.
6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came
together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own
language.
7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all
these men who are speaking Galileans?
8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in
his own native language?
11(both Jews and converts to Judaism);
Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our
own tongues!"
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another,
"What does this mean?"
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said,
"They have had too much wine." NIV
1 Cor 14:39 – Covet to prophesy
39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy,
NIV
1 Cor 14:1 – Desire the
gift of prophecy – Praise - Teach
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire
spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. NIV
James 5:15 – It is God that does the healing.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will
make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. NIV
John 10:41-42 – John
performed NO miraculous signs.
41 and many people came to him. They said,
"Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said
about this man was true."
42 And in that place many believed in Jesus. NIV
Matt 11:11 – John was the greatest but did no signs or miracles
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women
there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; NIV
Rom 11:29 – The gifts are irrevocable
29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
NIV
1 Cor 13:8-10 – When Jesus
returns the gifts will cease
8 But where there are prophecies, they will
cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is
knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in
part,
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect
disappears NIV
Your Blessing
- There are various
kinds of tongues with different ways to administer them (See
NYOBS 8)
- While most folks have
an opinion about tongues, they only know what someone else has told
them. - Don’t give up your “right” to a
blessing. - Receive and “set the example” of the way the Christian
walk should be. - Don’t find yourself sitting in the seat of the
scornful.
- Whether it is tongues,
or any other gift that you desire, when you pray, believe that you
receive and you will.
- We can pray with
assurance and confidence that God will hear anything we ask that is according to His will.
Ps 1:1 – Don’t sit in the
seat of the scornful
1 Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel
of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of
the scornful. KJV
Mark 11:24 – Ask and believe that you receive
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. NIV
Jesus spoke in Tongues
- God said He will
speak to His people with a strange tongue.
- Many will reject this
one gift as God prophesized that they would in the Old Testament and again
made references to in the New Testament.
So it is of no surprise that Tongues or the prayer language is so
controversial.
- In the Gospel of
Mark, we find an example of Jesus praying in a tongue when he
groaned or sighed and said “Eph-pha-thal”,
which was interpreted for us as “be opened”.
- As best as I can tell
this is not Hebrew nor Greek nor any other known language.
Mark 7:33-35 – Jesus
prayed in tongues
34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh
said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be
opened!").
35 At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue
was loosened and he began to speak plainly. NIV
Isa 28:11 – God will speak
to His people with strange tongues
11 With stammering lips and another tongue
will he speak to this people.
1 Cor 14:21 - I will speak in strange tongues - you will not listen
21 In the law it is written, by men of strange
tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not
even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord. ASV
Abused Gifts
- We
cannot say
if I pray the right prayer, the Holy Spirit MUST do what I ask.
- A gift
is a tool
not a decoration – They are given for the common good of the
saints, equipping them for the work of building up the body of
Christ. – If you want the privilege of the gifts you must also accept the
responsibility that goes with administrating it.
- Sometimes when gifts
are given, there is jealousy about a gift someone else has that you
don’t – Others; because of the gifts that they received, have a smugness
and pride. Sometimes gifts are exploited for selfish gain; this
shouldn’t be.
- The gifts were not
given to divide believers, but to unite them into one body.
- We are accountable only
for the gifts that we have been given; not the ones we haven’t.
- No where in scripture
are we told to seek results from our gifts, only to employ them. Noah preached for 120 years and only
saved seven people; his family. (See
NYOBS 17)
- I would be amiss if I
didn’t spend a paragraph or two talking about “Speaking in Tongues”.
- There is a common
practice today to measure a persons spirituality by whether or not they
speak in tongues. – Paul is clear that
- Tongues are a
- This Gift is first noticed
because it can be immediately implemented whereas the gifts of healing,
wisdom, knowledge or “special faith” are observed over a period of time.
- This Gift of speaking
in Tongues is also the gift that is the easiest to counterfeit.
- Tongues can come from the
influence of the Holy Spirit; your own psychological
influence and that of Satanic influence. – John says to “Test” the
spirits to see if they are from God.
- There are those who
have abused the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
This has caused men of God to reject anything that resembles them.
.
- Paul warned us of
this, that we should not put too much emphasis on any one particular gift,
that
- Paul devotes a whole
chapter on speaking in tongues so that we would not “make a religion
out of it”. In fact he
admonishes us to seek the gift of prophecy so that all may be edified.
- It’s sad to see a
spiritual gift misused for selfish gain or unspiritual purposes.
2 Cor 10:12 – Don’t use yourself as a yardstick of importance
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves
with some who commend them selves. When they measure themselves by
themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. NIV
Eph 2:9 – Don’t boast about
your gift
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
NIV
1 Cor 12:14-26 – One gift
is not more important than another
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of
many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not
a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease
to be part of the body.
16 If the ear should say, "Because I am not
an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease
to be part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the
sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of
smell be?
18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the
body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one
part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't
need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need
you!"
22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that
seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and the parts that we think are less honorable
we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated
with special modesty,
24 God has
combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that
lacked it,
25 so that there should be no division in the
body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with
it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. NIV
1 Cor 12:29 – Do all speak in tongues - NO
29 Do all work
miracles? (no) - Do all have gifts of healing? (no) - Do all speak in tongues? (no) - Do all interpret? (no)
NIV
Eph 4:11-12 – Given to
build up the body of Christ
12 to prepare God's people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up NIV
Gen 7:13 - Noah only saved eight people
On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and
Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the
ark .NIV
1 John 4:1 – Test the
spirits.
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits to see whether they are from God, NIV
Another Law
- There are two natures
residing in the believer – The old nature from our first birth and the new
nature when we are born again. – They are both present.
- There is another law
inside of man that is contrary to the law of God. Therefore when the Holy Spirit dwells in
an imperfect man there is a battle that takes place inside him. Paul once said, “I do the thing I know I
should not do, and don’t do the things I know I should do
- Many “Professing”
Christians are not “Possessed” by Christ – They do forbidden things
in the name of FREEDOM and enslave themselves in the activities.
- In our own selves, we
are weak and unable to keep the law of God. It is when we surrender absolute control
of our lives and walk after the Spirit that the Spirit controls our
life.
- We are
at WAR with our old nature; There are Fifteen things that dog us.
- First category is SEX - sexual immorality, impurity
and sensuality;
- Second category is WORKS of the flesh; idolatry
and witchcraft; hatred, strife, jealousy, fits
of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
and envy; drunkenness, and orgies
- We still have all the
same desires of the flesh when we are filled with the spirit that we had
before. The difference is that the
Spirit controls those desires and we do not do those things which would
grieve the Spirit.
- It is not how much of
the spirit that we get hold or, it how much we let the Spirit get hold of
us. We must surrender our every
thought, desire, purpose and affection to His control.
- Even after the Spirit
has “filled us”, we must continue to feed and refill our spirit through
prayer, meditation and study of the word lest we fall. God will show us our short comings if we
ask Him
- He will show us the
truth and the truth will set us free.
We are admonished to hide the word of God in our heart so that we
will not sin against Him.
- Greater is the Holy
Spirit that is in us than the Spirit who rules this world
Gal 5:16-17 – The sinful
nature is in conflict with the Spirit
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not
gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17 For the sinful nature desires what is
contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful
nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what
you want. NIV
Rom 7:15 -23 – There is battle over the spirit of the body
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I
want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me,
that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is
good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want
to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. .
21 So I find this law at work: When I want
to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in
God's law;
23 but I see another law at work in the members
of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a
prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. NIV
Rom 8:13 – The Spirit puts to death the misdeeds of the body
13 For if you live according to the sinful nature,
you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds
of the body, you will live,
Gal 5:24 – We have crucified our sinful nature.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. NIV
1 Cor 10:12 – Be careful that you don’t fall
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be
careful that you don't fall!
Gal 5:25 – Keep in step with the Spirit
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in
step with the Spirit NIV
Ps 119:11 – Hide the words
of God in your heart
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I
might not sin against you. NIV
1 Cor 4:4 – You conscience
will be clear
4 My conscience is clear, but that does not
make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. NIV
John 8:32 – The Truth sets us free
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth
will set you free. NIV
Rom 8:2 – We have been set
free from the law of sin and death
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the
Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. NIV
1 John 4:4 – The Holy
Spirit is Greater than the Spirit of Satan
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have
overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the
world. KJV
Gal 5:18 -21 - Fifteen works of the flesh
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are
not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual
immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred,
discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions,
factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies,
and the like. NIV
He can be Rejected
- Some folks confess
that they are “good people’; that they work hard at “doing right”; that
they have “cultivated” their life and are better than most
Christians.
- I submit to you that
according to scripture, thorns can not be made to bear fruit, nor can a
man apart from the Holy Spirit bear the fruit of the Spirit.
- The Unpardonable
Sin
is rejecting the Truth about Jesus Christ – As long as the sprit is
striving with a person; he had not committed the unpardonable sin.
- We are controlled by
what we are full of. – We are said to be “Under the Influence” whether it’s by the Holy Spirit or
the spirits of Alcohol and the like.
- The Holy Spirit is a
person that can be lied to, rebelled against, despised, blasphemed and
rejected. – We can hurt His heart and bring Him pain.
- He can
be grieved
by anything that is false, deceitful or hypocritical – When we doubt,
distrust, have anxiety or worry – When we are hard, bitter, malicious,
ungracious, unforgiving or unloving – When we are unclean, defiling or
degrading. – He is grieved.
- He can
be quenched – Our
actions can put a damper on the fire of the Holy Spirit – A fire goes out
when the fuel supply is removed.
Isa 63:10 – Rebelled
10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his
Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against
them. NIV
Heb 10:29 - Insulted
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose,
will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted
the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted
the Spirit of grace? NKJV
Acts 5:3 – Lied to
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan
filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the
price of the land for yourself? NKJV
1 Thess 5:19 Quenched
19 Do not quench the Spirit. NKJV
Matt 12:31-32 - Blasphemy
31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and
blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit
will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man,
it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it
will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. NKJV
Matt 12:33 – A tree is recognized by it’s fruits
33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be
good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized
by its fruit. NIV
Luke 6:44 – You can’t get figs from a thorn bush.
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.
People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. NIV
Eph 5:18 – Be filled with the Spirit.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. NIV
He can be Received
- In order to receive
the Holy Spirit, you must first accept Jesus Christ as your Lord,
King and Savior.
- You must trust God
to forgive you of your sins based on Jesus’ death on the cross
- And you must
understand that there is no work that you can undertake to merit
God’s Grace; it is a gift from God.
- So we must confess
our Sins, ask for forgiveness, openly renounce our sin and openly
accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.
- Then Surrender our
will to God and obey Him. – Then thirst for the empowerment of
the Holy Spirit as a thirsty man calls out for water.
- Ask God to fill you
with His Spirit; then believe that you have received Him.
- Ask – Seek – Knock and it shall be
opened unto you – The Heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit “without
measure” to those who ask Him.
- It’s later than you
think
– Night is coming when no man can work – Seek the Lord while He may still
be found.
2 Cor 5:21 – Christ was made sin for us
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. NIV
Gal 3:13 -14 – It is Christ that redeemed us
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the
law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who
is hung on a tree."
14 He redeemed us NIV
Matt 7:7-8 – Ask – Seek –
Knock – The door will be opened.
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and
you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks
finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. NIV
Jer 29:13-14 – You will be
found
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me
with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, NIV
2 Cor 3:18 – We are transformed by the Spirit
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the
Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV
Rom 3:20 – We are not declared righteous by works
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous
in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become
conscious of sin. NIV
Gal 3:1-5 – You do not
receive the Spirit through Works
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched
you?
2 Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law,
or by believing what you heard?
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the
Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles
among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
NIV
Acts 2:38 – Repent and be
baptized – Receive the Holy Spirit
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. NIV
Luke 11:13 – God wants you
to have the gift of the Holy Spirit
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in
heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" NIV
John 3:34 – The Holy
Spirit is given without measure,
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of
God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. NIV
Mark 11:24 – Believe that you have received the Holy Spirit
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. NIV
Rom 13:11 – It’s later than you think
11 And do this, understanding the present time.
The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation
is nearer now than when we first believed. NIV
John 9:4 – Work for the
kingdom while it is still the day
4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him
who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. NIV
Isa 55:6-7 – Turn to the
Lord while He is still near.
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call
on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man
his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and
to our God, for he will freely pardon. NIV
We
can’t do anything to be saved – It’s a Gift from God – Have Faith
Eph 2:8-9 – Saved by Grace
through Faith – Not what we do
8 For it is by GRACE you have been saved,
through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-
9 not by WORKS, so that no one can boast. NIV
Rom 4:5 – Our faith is
counted as righteousness
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him
who justifies the ungodly, his FAITH is accounted for righteousness, NKJV
1 John 5:11 – God gave us eternal life in His Son
11 And this is the record; that God hath given
to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. KJV
Jesus did not come to preach the Gospel,
but came in order that there might be a
Gospel to preach.
Billy Graham
"I must preach the
good news of the kingdom of God 4:43 NIV
In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Prov 11:14
I am grateful for those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses. Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further than I otherwise ever could have.
Antiquities of the Jews – Flavius Josephus; Jewish Historian
Anointed with the Spirit and Power - John D. Harvey
A.S.K. – Associates for Scriptural knowledge –
BlueLetterBible.Org
Holy Spirit; The – Billy Graham
Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s
King James Version Bible - KJV
New International Version of the Bible - NIV
Person and work of the Holy Spirit; The – R. A. Torrey
Sabbath.Org
Victor Journey through the Bible; The – V. Gilbert Beers.
VictoryBibleBaptist.Org
Wikipedia – Chronology of Jesus
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