The Holy Spirit - Part 2 Of 9 Series

THE HOLY SPIRIT

This nine-part series was originally developed for a class environment, and later adapted for use in a prison ministry conducted via correspondence. Because of that background, questions were developed for each lesson for participants to use in a setting conducive to discussion, or as handouts for private use if the lessons are presented as sermons. At the beginning of each part of the series, I will include the outline of the series.

OUTLINE OF THIS SERIES OF STUDIES

Part 1

Introduction, Holy Spirit as deity

Names of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Part 2

Holy Spirit in the NT (apostles to receive power)

Gabriel’s message to Mary

Foreseen by NT characters—Jesus, John

What we learn from Jesus in John 14,16

The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost

Baptism in, or by, the Holy Spirit

Baptism of believers

Part 3

If I do not go away the Holy Spirit will not come

Men received and were dependent on the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a Guarantee

Grieving the Holy Spirit

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Being Filled With the Spirit

Part 4

The Holy Spirit in the Functioning of the church (first installment)

(1 Cor 12; Rom 12; Eph 4)

Gifts of the Spirit

The Head

Grace as Gifts (did not delve into each of the gifts, or special aptitudes, given by the Holy Spirit)

Functions “God Has Appointed”

Tongues/prophesying

Part 5

The empowering gifts of the Holy Spirit

Bestowing honor upon less “presentable” members

Order of functions (First apostles, second prophets, third teachers) Teachers discussed in Part 6

Part 6

Teachers

First apostles, second prophets, third teachers.

Part 7

Ministries of the Holy Spirit

Are the Bible and the Holy Spirit the same?

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Part 8

Fruit of the Spirit

The Spirit vs the Flesh

Attributes of the Holy Spirit

Part 9

Acting in opposition to the Holy Spirit

• Lying to the Holy Spirit

• Resisting the Holy Spirit

• Quenching the Holy Spirit

• Grieving the Holy Spirit

• Defiling the Temple of the Holy Spirit

• Insulting the Spirit of Grace (doing despite)

Intercessor (though mentioned previously)

How Can I Know if I Have the Holy Spirit?

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THE HOLY SPIRIT

Part 2

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

The existence of the Holy Spirit was known to some characters in the Old Testament, such as David (Psalm 51:11) and Isaiah (Isaiah 63:10-11), and others.

Although the Holy Spirit was active and powerful in the Old Testament, his work is much more fully and plainly described in the New Testament.

Power

The angel Gabriel, speaking to the maiden Mary in her town of Nazareth, told her that she would bear a son, and “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High...” Mary asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:26-35) It is evident from the angel’s words to Mary that the Holy Spirit is a being who has great power.

That power of the Holy Spirit is also seen in Jesus’ words to his disciples right before he ascended to heaven, “...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Foreseen by Other New Testament Characters

It wasn’t only the Old Testament prophets who foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit. The first harbinger of the gospel age, John the Baptist, who was preaching and baptizing in the wilderness of Judea, told the crowds of people who came to hear him,

As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mat 3:11).

Jesus himself spoke to his disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit. On the last evening Jesus spent with his disciples, after he served them the last supper and Judas Iscariot had departed, Jesus spoke at length with them, and made it even clearer than ever before that he was going away, and the Holy Spirit would come.

Then he said,

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever; that 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 abides with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).