A GIFT FROM GOD!

THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Many are confused about the personality and manifestations of the Holy Spirit, but he is an ever present help and guide to the Christian. One of our Lord’s last promises, as he was preparing to return to His Father, was that he would send a "Comforter" who would remain with us.

1. John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you."

A. Why is making the promise to send the Comforter?

B. Who is the Comforter?

C. Who actually send him?

D. To whom is this promise being made?

E. What will he do when he comes?

F. Why is it important to "bring all things to your remembrance"?

(The Apostles were to be the ones who would leave a written record for future generations. The New Testament)

G. When that happened the "perfect" written word would replace the temporary "signs & wonders". 1 Corinthians 13:10 "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." Verse 11 speaks of the signs and wonders as being "childish things."

2. John 16:7-10 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: Of sin because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged."

A. Clearly, Christ and the Holy Spirit would not be here at the same time.

B. Christ would send him to us.

C. Of what three things would he "reprove the world."

1. Who is the "prince of this world" who will be judged? (Satan & his angels"

3. John 16:13-14 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore saith I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

A. Name three things that the Spirit did when he came.

B. Where can we find more details about these things? (In the New Testament.)

4. Romans 5:5 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us ."

A. What is spread abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost? (The love of God.)

5. Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

A. How is it possible to "grieve" the Holy Spirit?

B. How do we show the presence of the Spirit in our lives? (Verses 51-32)

C. Do these things and the Christian will please the Spirit.

D. When he fails to do these things it will grieve the Spirit and he could even be forced to leave such a person to his fate to await the judgement time.

6. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 "Quench not the Spirit"

A. This entire chapter is devoted to Paul’s advice to the church at Thessalonica as to how they should be living as they live in anticipation of the Lord’s return. (See verses 1-4)

B. If this advice was needed by them, two thousand years ago, how much more is it needed by the church today!

C. How does one quench something?

7. Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

A. All Christians have known times when wording our needs is just too difficult.

B. At such times, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

C. What wonderful promise then follows in verse 28?

"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

THE SPECIAL BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT THAT WAS TO SHOW THE LORD’S BLESSING.

8. Jerusalem, PENTECOST (The Apostles) Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

A. What was the occasion for this? This was The first Pentecost after the Ascention.

B. Why were tongues necessary on this occasion? (Every nation under heaven).

C. To convey and to confirm the message of the Gospel to the "nations" present.

9. Caesarea, Cornelius (A Gentile) Acts 10:45 "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

A. This was in the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion.

B. The same signs confirmed and conveyed the message to a Roman, a Gentile.

1. The Jews could not deny that the Gospel was also for Gentiles.

a. Peter was called for on the instruction of an angel.

b. Peter was instructed in a vision that he was to preach to those who were considered to be "unclean."

c. Peter had Jewish witnesses with him.

10. Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."

A. These men knew only the "baptism of repentance" (John, verse 3)

B. God showed his blessing when they were baptized in the name of Jesus, by the same signs.

C. The New Testament now confirms the message of Christians.

All Christians receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism.

11. Acts 2:38,39 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord God shall call."

A. This is the gift of one who will guide us all our lives from then onward.

B. The Spirit’s presence is revealed in our Spiritual fruit, as in Galatians 5:22-23.

12. 1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are god’s."

A. As a Christian is our body ours to do with as we choose?

B. What was the price with which we were bought? (The blood of our Lord who made us, then redeemed us again with his blood on the cross of Calvary.)

C. What does this say about suicide or even endangering our health by physical abuse of our bodies?

13. Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

A. These are the things which set a Christian apart from those who do not know the Lord.

14. Matthew 12:32 "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

A. This is not to be taken lightly!

B. This one sin that will not be forgiven. It means that the person has rejected the gift of God. There is no other way to be saved.