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( God In Us )
1. Introduction 2. Who is the Holy Spirit? 3. What is the relationship between God and the Holy Spirit? Continuation to page 19 4. What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and God’s people? 5. When did the Holy Spirit come to live in all God’s people? 6. Who receives the Holy Spirit? 7. What happens when God’s people are filled with the Holy Spirit? 8. How can we go on being filled with the Holy Spirit? 9. How does the Holy Spirit help the Church as a body? 10. What are the gifts the Holy Spirit brings? 11. Are there gifts for all God’s people? 12. How are God’s gifts to be used? 13. What is the heart of all this?
1. Introduction.
The Lord Jesus Christ Promised To Send The Holy Spirit. Now I am going to Him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” Because I have said these things you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because all men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 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. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. (John 16:5-15).
2. Who Is The Holy Spirit?
He Is A Person – Not Just A Force Or A Power. Jesus said:”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. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you”. (John 16:13-15) In the church at Antioch there were the prophets and teachers……While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit Said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”. (Acts 13:1-2).
He Is God – Equal With The Father And The Son. Ananias had tried to deceive the Church: Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God”. (Acts 5:3-4). Jesus said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. (Matthew 28:19). (For further study: Acts 10:19-20. 1Corinthians 3:16. Hebrews 9:14. Matthew 12:28).
3. What Is The Relationship Between God And The Holy Spirit?
He Is The One Through Whom God Does All That Is In His Heart To Do. “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light. (Genesis 1:2-3). How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:24,30).
In Guiding The Writers Of Scriptures We have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2Peter 1:19-21).
In Providing The Saviour Mary was told: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So then holy one to be born will be called the Son of God”. (Luke 1:35). Joseph was told: “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Sprit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”. (Matthew 1:20-21).
In Bringing New Birth Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again”. The wind blows where 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”. (John 3:5-8). And: “When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment”. (John 16:8). “When the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour”. (Titus 3:4-6). (For further study: Genesis 2:7, Psalm 33:6,Job 33:4 1Peter 1:10-12, Matthew 1:18, John 6:63-65).
4. What Is The Relationship Between The Holy Spirit And God’s People?
He Is The One Who Came Upon God’s Servants In The Old Testament For Specific Tasks. The Lord said to Moses: “bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Make them come to the Tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone”. (Numbers 11:16-17). When they cried to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Him, so that he became Israel’s judge. (Judges 3:9-10). 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. (1 Samuel 16:13).
He Is The One The Prophets Said Would Come And Live In The Saviour Whom God Was Going To Send. 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. “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit upon him and he will bring justice to the nations”. (Isaiah 11:2,42:1).
This Was Fulfilled In Jesus Christ. As he was praying, heaven was opened 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”. (Luke 3:21-22).Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written; “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”. Jesus said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”. (Luke 4:14-19,21).
He Is The One The Prophets Said Would Come To Live In All God’s People. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26-27). I will pour my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28-29). (For further study: Exodus 31:1-5, Judges 6:33-34, Isaiah 61:1-3, John 1:32-34, Acts 10:36,38; Isaiah 44:3;59:21).
5. When Did The Holy Spirit Come To Live In All God’s People?
Jesus Promised To Send The Holy Spirit When He Left This World. “I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you”. (John 16:7). “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17).
The Holy Spirit Came At Pentecost. Jesus said to his disciples; “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”. (Luke 24:49). When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4). Peter, the Apostle, said: “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 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”. (Acts 2:32-33). (For further study: Acts1:1-5).
6. Who Receives The Holy Spirit?
God Gives The Holy Spirit To All Who Turn From Their Sin And Put Their Faith In Jesus Christ. Peter said: “Repent and be baptised, 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call”. (Acts 2:38-39). “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (Acts 10:43-46). 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, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14).
The Holy Spirit Cannot Be Bought Or Earned. When Simon (a sorcerer) saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may received the Holy Spirit”. Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord”. (Acts 8:18-22). Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? He redeemed us…. So that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:2,5,14). For further study Acts 5-30-32; 8:14-17; 9:1-19; 11:15-18; 19:1-6.
7. What Happens When God’s People Are Filled With The Holy Spirit?
They Know they Are God’s Children. Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into ours hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father”. (Galatians 4:6). Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father”. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:14-16).
They Understand Spiritual Things. 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” – but God had revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no0one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 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. This is what we speak, not in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 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. (1 Corinthians 2:9-14).
They Have Insight Into The Scriptures. Jesus said: “The Counsellor, 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”. (John 14:26). All Scripture id God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
They Are Helped To Pray. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18). 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. And he who searches our hearts knows the minds of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27).
They Live To Please God. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 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. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (Romans 8:5-10).
They Become More Like Jesus Christ.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). For further study: Ephesians 1:13-14, John 4:13, 5:6-12. Ephesians 3:2-6. 1John 2:20. Ephesians 2:17-18. Romans 8:1-4. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Isaiah 63:10. Matthew 12:30-32. Exodus 34:29-35. Colossians 3:1-14. |
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The Holy Spirit |
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Bible Baptist Church Malta |