THE HOLY SPIRIT

We live in an advantageous time that old-testament saints would have given anything to experience. That is because, under the old covenant, the Holy Spirit moved on people then left, but did not indwell them. Today He does.

Yet, many new-testament Christians do not seem to understand the vital role the Holy Spirit plays in the Christian life, though Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is more advantageous to us than His earthly presence (Joh 16:7). If only we might tap into all of what the Holy Spirit offers us!

I must confess that it is hard to understand the entire scope of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, since He serves so many purposes in the life of the believer, which we will see in the many scripture passages of this lesson. Scripture reveals Him as a person--not a mere mystical, inanimate force--but a person who has emotions and wants to fill us completely so we can accomplish God’s will on earth. The implications of this are enormous. We all need a much more intimate walk with the Holy Spirit.

As you read these scriptures reflect on and discuss the various aspects of His ministry to you personally. Don't expect to get it all at once. Take time to reflect on these slowly and let the Holy Spirit reveal them to you.

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THE NEW BIRTH:

Joh 3:1  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”  3  Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  4  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”  5  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

 

Every man must experience the new birth in order to enter the kingdom of God. It is not an option. Unless and until we do, we will continue to live in the flesh, our default condition, (we will discuss this in a separate lesson) -- under our own direction and headed toward death.

 

Psa 18:28  For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. 

 

The new birth can be compared to having our candle (lamp; pilot light) lit. This is a picture of the Holy Spirit taking residence in us and becoming our spirit. We are now a completely new creature because we no longer have to live by our wits; we can live under the direction of God.

Discussion:

Share your born-again experience with your house-church family.

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THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR ALL:

Luk 3:15-16  But the people were expecting, and all reasoning in their hearts about John, lest perhaps he is the Christ, 16 John answered all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water; but He stronger than I comes, of whom I am not fit to loosen the thong of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John the Baptist here prophesies the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Notice that his answer was directed to "all", showing  that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is available to all.

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HE IS A GOOD GIFT:

Luk 11:13  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

The Holy Spirit is the Father’s greatest and best gift because it is the Gift of Himself, His own nature. This gift must be asked for and received. Those who neglect to seek this gift due to fear, wrong theology, or any other reason are missing out on one of God's greatest blessings.

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THE HOLY SPIRIT DECLARES GOD'S GIFTS:

Joh 16:14-15  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore, I said that he [The Holy Spirit] will take what is mine and declare it to you.

I find it interesting that the Holy Spirit "declares" or announces these things to us but He does not merely HAND them to us. That it because the things He declares must be asked for and received by faith.

Did you ever consider that as a believer you have all that Christ has to give? Meditate on the implications of this life-changing truth and ask for all God has for you.

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HE REVEALS GOD'S THOUGHTS:

1Co 2:9-12 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? [1] So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [2] 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [3]

[1] Many people don't seem to know what God has prepared for them in this life, much less in the life to come. But this scripture states that the Holy Spirit reveals these things to us. Do we know His voice? Are we listening? Do we hear what He is saying?

[2] Through the Holy Spirit we have access to the thoughts of God. Amazing! But we must be careful that what we hear must agree with the written Word.

[3] Compare to John 16:14-15 in the previous section. Remember, the Holy Spirit is God so He brings all the resources of God to us.

Discussion Question:

To what extend do I appreciate my potential as a believer in Christ?

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HE FLOWS THROUGH US:

Joh 7:37 LITV And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 The one believing into Me, as the Scripture said, 'Out of his belly [heart] will flow rivers of living water.'" [1] 39 But He said this concerning the Spirit, whom the ones believing into Him were about to receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

[1] Whether from the 'belly' or the 'heart', or perhaps the 'mouth'--from which the heart speaks--the Holy Spirit is meant to flow out of us.

Joh 20:22-23 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 

By this time Jesus had been glorified (rendered glorious after His resurrection) so the Spirit could be given, i.e. the dispensation of the Holy Spirit had begun.

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HE REVEALS GOD'S LOVE AND POWER:

Eph 3:16-21 that He may give you, according to the riches of His glory, by His power to become mighty in the inward [1] through His Spirit, 17 that through faith Christ may dwell in your hearts, having been rooted and founded [grounded] in love, 18 that you may be given strength to grasp, [2] with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height, 19 and to know the surpassing knowledge and love of Christ, [3] that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him being able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, according to the power working in us, [4] 21 to Him be the glory in the assembly [church] [5] in Christ Jesus, to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen. 

This passage is a great one to memorize.

[1] This cannot mean the body because the body is the outward man. The inward man in this passage is best understood as the soul because the spirit is already 'mighty' through the Holy Spirit. The soul is comprised of intellect, emotions and will. God wants to make these mighty too.

[2] [3] Sometimes it requires 'strength' just to grasp things. This suggests a battle, resistance and opposition from the enemy who does not want us to get hold of what God has for us. It can be hard to grasp how much we are loved by God and so fall short of the potential He has put into us.

[4] That potential just referred to is in us through the Holy Spirit -- God Himself. The potential to do great things is in every believer.

[5] Notice glory 'in the church.' There are many, many former churchgoers who are attempting to live their lives outside of the most important institution created by Jesus Christ, the Church. It is a horrific deception and those people need to be brought back into the fellowship of believers, the Ekklesia.

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HE REMAINS FOREVER:

Joh 14:15-17  “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.  (16)  “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever;  (17)  the Helper 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 remains with you and will be in you.

Joh 20:21-23  So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  (22)  And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  (23)  “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

This was an impartation of the Holy Spirit but not the Baptism with the Holy Spirit which would come at Pentecost (Act 2).

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HE REVEALS GOD'S PRESENCE:

1Jn 3:24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

1Jn 4:13  By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

We ought never to be unaware of God’s presence since He dwells in us.

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HE GUARANTEES:

Eph 1:13-14  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

1Jn 3:24 … And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of my inheritance. My inheritance is guaranteed though not yet fully possessed. It all starts when we hear the truth and believe—our born-again experience.

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HE COMFORTS US BUT CONVICTS THE WORLD:

Joh 16:7 LITV  But I tell you the truth, it is advantageous for you that I should go; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. (8) And having come, that One will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment. (9) Concerning sin, because they do not believe into Me; [1] (10) and concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you no longer see Me; [2] (11) and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. [3]

[1] This is the only sin that sends people to hell. Rejecting Jesus is rejecting the only way to be saved.

[2] Perhaps this means that after Jesus leaves, the only righteousness the world will see is in us.

[3] Notice that the god of this world has already been judged.

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HE REVEALS, PROPHESIES AND DECLARES:

John 16:12-15  I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to bear now. [1] (13) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [2] (14) He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (15) All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [3]

[1] God has perfect timing.

[2] The Spirit is prophetic.

[3] We have all the resources of the Father and Jesus, everything we could ever need.

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HE LOVES

Rom 5:5 And the hope does not put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.

This is the only way by which we can truly love others with God’s agape love.

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JESUS BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

This requires a separate section because of the controversy surrounding this experience. My goal is not to join the controversy but to simply let the Scriptures say what they say. If all of us have the same Holy Spirit we must certainly be in unity about the things of the Holy Spirit.

To those who claim the baptism in the Holy Spirit, demonstrate His power and fruit. To those who reject this experience, seek for all that God offers, for He loves You and only gives good gifts.

ADVANTAGEOUS:

Joh 16:7  But I tell you the truth, it is advantageous for you that I should go; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. 

SUPPLIES POWER:

Luk 3:16  John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send forth the promise of My Father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high. 

Act 1:4-9  And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Then, indeed, coming together they questioned Him, saying, Lord, do You restore the kingdom to Israel at this time? 7 And He said to them, It is not yours to know times or seasons which the Father placed in His own authority; 8 but you will receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you, and you will be witnesses of Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 9 And saying these things, as they looked on, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him from their sight. 

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is prophesied by Jesus to His disciples as a pre-requisite to them going into service.

A PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE:

Act 2:1-4  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 2:4 LITV  And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave ability to them to speak. 

Tongues of fire are a picture of the Holy Spirit distributing Himself to each of us. To spread a fire you take a source fire to light another fire, like one candle being used to light another. I also see it in reverse: a fire that unifies us into one single whole.

The first evidence of the Holy Spirit was something miraculous, the speaking of languages not previously known to the speaker, otherwise known as “speaking in tongues.” The languages may have been human languages or angelic ones (1Co 13:1), but these languages were heard by onlookers in languages they understood.

Whether or not tongues are the only initial sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit can be debated. But what cannot be debated is that, when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, our speech (and much more) will change, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The most dangerous and unruly member is instantly controlled.

The apostle Paul would later expand on this initial experience to show that tongues can also be used in private prayer. See later in this lesson.

Many people fear tongues today. You must decide whether you want to experience all God has for you or not.

FOR ALL BELIEVERS:

Act 2:38-39  And Peter said to them, "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. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is vital to my life. I can accomplish nothing without Him. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the key to my Christian life which empowers me to accomplish God’s will on earth.

Holy Spirit, baptize me today. In fact, I need a new baptism every day! You have already renewed my spirit. Now I need you ­to give life to my soul and physical body to  empower me for Your work.

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A SEPARATE EXPERIENCE:

Act 8:14-17  Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, (15)  who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, (16)  for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (17)  Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Philip had share the gospel in Samaria with great success but it's very interesting that, though Philip performed miracles and healings (vss. 6-7) they hadn't received all of what God had for them. It wasn't enough.

Act 10:44-48  While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. (45)  And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. (46)  For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.

 

Then Peter declared, (47)  “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (48)  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

 

The conversion of Cornelius and his family and friends. This is the first time the gospel was preached to the Gentiles. Notice that Holy Spirit baptism can occur before water baptism.

 

Act 19:1-6 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. (2)  And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (3)  And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” (4)  And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” (5)  On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6)  And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Here the apostle Paul again demonstrates the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a separate and identifiable experience intended for all believers to be empowered for service.

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SPEAKING vs. PRAYING IN TONGUES:

1Co 14:2  For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

1Co 14:4-5 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.

1Co 14:39  So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Are those who are against tongues also against prophecy?

1Co 14:18  I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

Clearly this must have been mostly in private because the bible records no incidence of Paul speaking in tongues publicly, even at his initial conversion and infilling. (Acts 9:17-18)

1Co 14:14-15  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

I pray in tongues daily because it builds me up by helping me pray according to the perfect will of God. By inference, this type of prayer speaks God’s will into existence since His will is accomplished when His ambassadors speak and act.

As I pray the Holy Spirit gives me utterance. He declares spiritual mysteries which I cannot--and don't need to--understand. He bypasses my unrenewed mind. He takes away my carnal man from the process of prayer so I cannot pray for fleshly things. He calms my mind and puts me into a trusting state. And He confuses and defeats all the enemy's strategies.

Rom 8:26-27  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Holy Spirit, thank You for interceding for me according to the perfect will of God. I needn’t worry about whether I’m praying for the right things since You would not allow me to pray for bad things. I trust Your will completely and not my own.

Jud 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21  keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 

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SIGNS, WONDERS, MIRACLES, HEALINGS AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1Co 1:7  so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting the revelation of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 

Heb 2:1-3  Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2  For since the message declared by angels (i.e. the Old Covenant) proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3  how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? [1] It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. [2]

[1] How do we neglect our salvation? A question worthy of much consideration.

[2] Signs, wonders, miracles and gifts were God's stamp of approval upon this New Covenant.

1Co 12:4-7  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 7 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 8 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

The Holy Spirit fits me into the community of believers and uses me to build up the Body of Christ.

I thank You that I am already gifted to fulfill my mission and destiny in life. In fact, my gifts point me to my purpose in life.

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PAUL'S VIEW OF THE SPIRIT:

1Co 2:1-5  And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. (2)  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (3)  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, (4)  and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5)  so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Did Paul know something that many of us don't? A large part of the Church does not even acknowledge the miraculous but are full of intellectualism instead. Where there is little or no power many fleshly substitutes fill the void. Intellectual arguments don't change people; the Holy Spirit does.

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FLESH vs. SPIRIT

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Rom 13:14 ESV  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. 

2Cor 10:3-5  For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (5)  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

It is hard to separate a teaching on the Holy Spirit from one on the flesh. These scriptures are just a taste. A separate teaching is provided on the topic of the flesh.

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ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:

I am beginning to realize that the Holy Spirit is my spirit -- the two are not separate. How else could I be a partaker of the divine nature unless God's nature takes up residence in my being? The verse that most convinces me is 1Co 6:17: “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

My former, dead spirit was not reborn only to exist separately from the Holy Spirit; I am not a four-part being. This perspective changes a lot of things for me. Most importantly, it makes me better appreciate my potential to live like Christ.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for revealing to me the many resources Jesus and the Father have put at my disposal. These come to mind: forgiveness; healing; identity; purpose; ambassadorship; sonship; inheritance; power and authority; prosperity…and so much more. Declare to me what is mine in Christ. Open my understanding so I can grasp all that You want to reveal to me. I am listening.

The Holy Spirit's most important role is to give us the power to establish God's kingdom on the earth. There are some things we will never fully understand (like tongues)--and our minds will always fight against it--but there are many other things we need the cooperation of our minds to understand, embrace and apply, like the Word. The Spirit shows us those things.

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