CHARACTER AND NATURE OF GOD: "HOLY SPIRIT"
INTENTION:
Looking back on my
life, even into my childhood (before I became a believer), I can recognise the
Holy Spirit with me. And even as a believer, seeing, feeling, and hearing Him as
He helped guide my life. Yet, I never really “felt” like I had a close
relationship with Him; or even really understood Him or His role in my life.
When we tune our ears
and heart to Him, what He can bring can be so amazing and impactful—not only on
our own personal lives, but the lives of anyone around you. He longs to bring
God’s Kingdom into each and every life.
Let’s open up and
trust Him, letting Him fully into our lives!
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I.
TOPIC (PART 4 – HOLY SPIRIT):
We want to continue to look at the Character and Nature of
God—this time as the “Holy Spirit”.
As we saw with Jesus as the exact representation of whom God is, we can also equate the Holy Spirit to this same nature and character (i.e. Three-In-One). The Holy Spirit is a Gift to us all; let’s recognise what He brings to us. And then also, if you want to experience this same Holy Spirit with His Fruit and Gifts.
- Refer also: Bible Study Lesson 026 – Baptisms
II.
READING: Receiving / Coming of the Holy Spirit:
John
20:19-22 (CSB)
When it was evening on that first day of the week, the
disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the
Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20
Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with
you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, he
breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts
2:1-41 (CSB) {PoG}
1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they {a group of
believers} were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of
a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where
they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and
rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people
from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came
together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own
language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who
are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own
native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia,
in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and
the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), 11
Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own
tongues.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another,
“What does this mean?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new
wine.”
14 Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and
proclaimed to them, “Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this
be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not
drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. 16 On the contrary,
this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will
pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will
prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those
days, both men and women and they will prophesy.
19 I will display
wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a
cloud of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord
comes. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of
Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs
that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though he
was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used
lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. 24 God raised him up,
ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by
death. 25 For David says of him:
I saw the Lord ever before me; because he is at my right
hand, I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. Moreover,
my flesh will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me in Hades or allow your
holy one to see decay.
28 You have revealed the paths of
life to me; you will fill me with gladness in your presence.
29 “Brothers and sisters, I can confidently speak to you
about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us
to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to
him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come,
he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not abandoned in
Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.
32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.
33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has
received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you
both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but
he himself says:
The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit
at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with
certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Messiah.”
37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and
said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each 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, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be
saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were
baptized {into Christ}, and that day about three thousand people were
added to them.
III.
RELATED VERSES AND QUESTIONS:
A.
John 16:7-11 (CSB)
Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit
that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you.
If I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world
about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not
believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you
will no longer see me; 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world
has been judged.
Question: Do you ever feel the Holy Spirit (Lord)
is judging you for your sins; or reminding you of them?
B. Acts
4:29-31 (CSB)
And now, Lord, consider
their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all
boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders
are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had
prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
Question: Do you know what it is to be “filled”
with the Holy Spirit?
C. Acts
8:14-17 (CSB)
When the apostles who were
at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter
and John to them. 15 After they went down there, they prayed for them so that
the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down
on any of them. 16 (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Spirit.
Question: Can someone be a believer and not yet
be baptised in the Holy Spirit?
D. Acts
19:1-6 (CSB)
While Apollos was in
Corinth, Paul travelled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He
found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when
you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy
Spirit.” 3 “Into what then were you baptized?” he asked them. “Into John’s
baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of
repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would
come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized
into 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 to speak in tongues and to
prophesy.
Question: Does there seem to be an importance to
the disciples that someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit?
E. 1
Corinthians 3:16-17 (CSB) {PoG}
Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy {it, this defilement (G5126)}; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.
Question: Have you ever felt God is angry with
you when you sin—that He may even want to destroy you?
F. Galatians
5:22-23 (CSB) {PoG}
But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, {faith}, 23
gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
Question: Do you feel the Holy Spirit provides
these fruits for you now?
G. 1
Corinthians 12:4-11 (CSB)
4 Now there are different
gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same
Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them
in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the
common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to
another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the
same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the
performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing
between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another,
interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these,
distributing to each person as he wills.
Question: Did Jesus or the disciples perform
these gifts? Do you think you can?
H. Romans
12:4-8 (CSB)
4 Now as we have many
parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the
same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one
another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If
prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use
it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation;
giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with
cheerfulness.
I.
Romans
11:29 (CSB) {PoG}
God’s gracious gifts and
calling are irrevocable {not repented of}.
Question: Do you feel you can lose the gift of
the Holy Spirit, or His gifts; or that God would take them away?
IV.
FURTHER THOUGHT:
A. Acts
5:1-10 (CSB) {PoG}
But a man named Ananias,
with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 However, he kept back part of
the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it
at the apostles’ feet.
3 “Ananias,” Peter asked,
“why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part
of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And
after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this
thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” 5 When he heard
these words, Ananias dropped dead {yielded up his spirit}, and a great fear
came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him
out, and buried him.
7 About three hours later,
his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her,
“did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that
price.”
9 Then Peter said to her,
“Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who
have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Instantly she dropped
dead {yielded up her spirit} at his feet. When the young men came in, they
found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.
Thoughts: Did God kill Ananias and Sapphira? When you read the account of Ananias and Sapphira, please note that it does not say that the Holy Spirit (nor God, nor Jesus) struck them dead. It says they “yielded up” (G1634) their spirits. They did it to themselves—their own conscience convicted them, and most likely their heart literally failed them because of their own mis-construed fear of God.
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & SUPPORT:
A thank you to Kelly and Joshua who are inspirational in this life-journey. And to all the family, friends, sponsors, and donors who have fed into this ministry and outreach.
If you would like to support this ministry and outreach, you may do so via our website or at:
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