.....







 

The Holy Spirit

1/. In the Old Testament the faithful people of God anticipated a wonderful new era -- the era of the Holy Spirit. This era would be ushered in through the work of the Messiah, the Anointed One (anointed with the Holy Spirit) Eze. 36: 26, 27; 39: 29; Joel 2: 28-32; Zech. chapters 12 and 13 especially 12: 8-10 and 13: 1,7.

In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as …………………..[fill in the blanks]; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ……………………………………..: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for …………………, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zech. 12: 8-10

2/. We know from reading the Old Testament that the Holy Spirit was active in these times (e.g. Ge. 6: 3; 1Sa. 10: 10; Ps. 51: 11). But the true era of the Holy Spirit could not come until Christ had done his work on earth and ascended up to heaven (to claim His right as the true King of earth) Jn. 7: 37-39; Eph. 4: 8-13; Re. 5: 5-12 (notice the reference to the Spirit in Re.5:6).

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow …………………………….[fill in the blank].
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet………………………….) Jn. 7: 37-39

3/. John the Baptist had two main burdens regarding his message about Christ: He was the One who would baptise with the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1: 33; Mt. 3: 11; Mk. 1: 8; Lk. 3: 16) and He was the One who would take away the sin of the world (Jn. 1: 29).

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which……………………………………………………….. Jn. 1: 33

4/. Jesus Christ said He was the One who was able to give the gift of the Holy Spirit Jn. 7: 37-39; 4: 10-25. He looked forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit upon His followers Jn. 16: 7-14. Jesus predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit in connection with His Ascension (Lk. 24: 49; Acts 1: 4-8).

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the …………………………………unto you; but if I depart, I ………….send him unto you. Jn. 16: 7

5/. We can read about the fulfilment of the promise of the Holy Spirit all through the book of Acts. We are now living in the Era of the Holy Spirit.

The fact that the Holy Spirit is a person is attested to by the following Scriptures: Mt. 28: 19; Mk. 13: 11; Lk. 12: 12; Jn. 14: 16-18, 23-26; 16: 13; Acts 5: 3,32; 9: 31; 13: 2; 21: 11; 28: 25; Ro. 5: 5; Ro. 8: 9-16, 27; 1Co. 2: 13; 2Co. 13: 14; Eph. 4: 30. I would like you to especially note the following 5 passages:

1/. Acts 13: 2. Here the Holy Spirit speaks specific words calling Himself "me". The Greek word for "me" is the personal Greek pronoun moi.
2/. 2Co. 13: 14. The Greek word for "communion" is koinonia and means fellowship.
3/. Eph. 4: 30. The Greek word for "greived" is lupeo and means to make sorrowful.
4/. Ro. 8: 27. The Greek word for "mind" is phronema and means "what one has in the mind, the thoughts and purposes".
5/. John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever". Christ is the Comforter and the Holy Spirit is another Comforter. If the Holy Spirit is just a part of Christ or the Father it is not necessary to mention another comforter since Christ is already talking about Himself and the Father. The whole point of this part of Chapter 14 (and also of Jn. 16: 5-16) is that Christ is introducing them to another Comforter -- Someone else -- so they can experience His special ministry in their lives. In Chapter 14 verses 16-26 we have three Divine Persons being discussed. 

The Divinity of the Holy Spirit is attested to by such Scriptures as Mt. 28: 19; Jn. 14: 16-18, 26; Ro. 5: 5; 2Co. 13: 14; Ro. 8: 9-16. What is the character of the Holy Spirit? -- the same as that of Christ's and our Heavenly Father's.

1/. Jn. 14: 16-26. Comforter, Teacher.
2/. Jn. 16: 7-14. Bringing conviction to the world, guiding into all truth, glorifying Christ.
3/. Lk. 25: 49, Acts 1: 8. Power to witness.
4/. Ro. 12: 6-8; 1Co. 12: 1-31; Eph. 4: 7-13. Gifts for witnessing and edifying the church.
5/. Ro. 5: 5; 2Ti. 1: 7. Giving love in our hearts.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts ……………………………….which is given unto us. Ro. 5: 5

6/. Ro. 8: 26. Helping us when we pray.
7/. Ro. 8: 13, Is. 59: 19; Gal. 5: 16, 17; Eph. 3: 16; 6: 17; 1 Pe. 1: 22. Enabling us to resist and overcome sin.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the …………………..do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall ………………Ro. 8: 13

8/. 2Co. 3: 18; Gal. 5: 22. Helping us become more like Christ.

Conditions mentioned in the Bible:

1/. Come to Jesus Christ and believe in Him Jn. 7: 37-39.

2/. Repent and confess. Mt. 3:1-12; Ps. 66: 18.

3/. Be in "one accord" with members of the Church. Acts 1: 14; 2: 1. The Greek word meaning "one accord" is homothumadon: "A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to "rush along" and "in unison". The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ's church." (Online Bible Greek Lexicon). To be in one accord you obviously have to surrender to God's will and make things right as far as you can with others..

4/. Ask Jesus and the Heavenly Father with genuine faith. Jn. 1: 33; Lk. 11: 13; Gal. 3: 4; Heb. 11: 6.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give …………………unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the…………………… to them that ask him? Lk. 11: 13

5/. Obey. Acts 5:32.

Baptism by water into the Church of Christ as a symbol, and public demonstration of your belief in Christ is also important (no doubt baptism by immersion would not be necessary in the case of paralysed or otherwise seriously incapacitated people). Acts 19:5,5: 8:15-17. In the case of Paul and Cornelius' group the Holy Spirit was given first then they were immediately baptised. Acts 9: 17,18: 10:44-48.

The book of Acts also mentions the laying on of hands in as an important symbol in connection with the reception of the Holy Spirit Acts 8: 17-19; 9: 17; 19: 6 (see also Heb. 6: 2). The laying on of hands was also used for other things such as dedicating deacons (Acts 6: 6) dedicating missionaries (Acts 13: 3) and healing (Acts 28: 8).

Also, Acts mentions the reception of the Holy Spirit on a group of people twice. In both cases the people are gathered together in unity, earnestness, Christian fellowship and a desire to do God's will Acts 2: 1-4; 10: 44, 45.

When I read the following statement I felt it summed up our present need in better words than I could put together: "The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ's parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfilment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the Church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude.

"Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve him that parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely." (Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles page 50).