Week 5

The Holy Spirit- His Deity and Person

1. The Holy Spirit is a person. In Greek, personal pronouns are used to describe the Holy Spirit (He, Him, etc.)

a. The Greek word for Holy Spirit is parakletos, which means one called alongside to help, or a helper, comforter or counselor.

b. In John 14:16, who is He referring to?

2. He does things only a person can do:

a. He teaches and helps us to remember. (John 14:26)

b. He calls men to service. He speaks. (Acts 13:2)

c. He convicts us of sin. (John 16:8)

d. He leads. (Romans 8:13-14)

3. Being a person, He can be affected by our actions or attitudes

a. We can lie to Him. (Acts 5:1-3)

b. We can grieve Him. (Ephesians 4:30)

c. We can quench Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

d. We can insult Him. (Hebrews 10:29)

4. The Holy Spirit possesses all of the attributes of God:

a. Omnipresent – Psalm 139:7-10

b. Omnipotent – Luke 1:35

c. Omniscient – John 14:26, 16:12-13

d. Eternal- Hebrews 9:14

e. Holy – Romans 1:4

f. Creator – Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30.

5. He is distinct from the Father and the Son

a. Matthew 28:19

b. Luke 3:21-22

6. When we are saved:

a. He regenerates us (makes us spiritually alive)(John 3:3-8;

Titus 3:4-7)

b. He lives (indwells) in us (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19)

c. He brings satisfaction for our needs (John 4:13, 14:37-39)

d. He is the seal of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13, 14)

The Holy Spirit is recognized as God in Acts 5:3-4 and is active upon man,

convicting him of sin and guiding the believer into all truth. (John 16:7-11)

Summary of the Trinity

1. Genesis 1:1 – The Word for God in Hebrew is Elohim

a. Singular word for God is El

b. Dual tense is Elah

c. Three or more Elohim (uniplural noun)

2. The doctrine of the Trinity is not explicit in the Old Testament, but it is implied.

a. Genesis 1:26

b. Genesis 3:22

c. Genesis 11:7

3. It is explicit in the New Testament

a. Matthew 3:16-17

b. 1 Peter 1:2

c. Jude 20-21

4. The Bible teaches there is only one God.

a. Deuteronomy 39

b. 2 Samuel 7:22

c. Isaiah 43:10

5. Even creation implies the doctrine of the Trinity

a. Space- length, width, depth in one space

b. Man- body, soul, spirit on one man

c. In the Trinity, one God is manifested (revealed to us in three distinct persons) all having the same attributes and all being called God. It is difficult to understand totally; we must accept it by faith.

i. 1x1x1 = 1

ii. Water – liquid, ice, steam

iii. Remember Deuteronomy 29:29

Notes: __________________________________________________________

Assignments: Read John 14-17 and memorize John 14:18

The Spirit Filled Life

1 Corinthians 12:13 says every believer has been baptized into, or identified with the body of Christ.

1. The Holy Spirit places us into the body of Christ

a. Whose body is it according to 1 Corinthians 12:27?

b. Are all the members in a church body the same?

i. 1 Corinthians 12:14, 17

ii. Romans 12:4-5

c. Who gives us our place in body?

i. 1 Corinthians 12:18

ii. Ephesians 4:11-12

d. Are we all needed in the body?

i. 1 Corinthians 12:21-25

ii. 1 Peter 4:10

e. Do you need the other members of the body?

· 1 Corinthians 12:21-26

f. Who is the head of the Body?

i. Colossians 1:18

ii. Ephesians 1:22

2. The Holy Spirit gives each person certain abilities: (1 Corinthians 12)

a. According to verses 5 and 6, does everyone have the same gifts?

b. Is there anyone who does not have at least one gift according to verse 7?

c. For whose benefit did God give these gifts?

d. What are some examples of gifts in verse 8-10?

e. Whose choice is it as to who receives which gifts? (vs. 11)

f. According to verse 31, what can we pray for?

g. What is the greatest gift according to Paul in verse 31?

(See 1 Corinthians 13)

h. Paul makes some very strong statements in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 concerning the importance of love. In these verses, which is the most important, using our gifts or showing love? Why?

Summary: When you became a Christian, you immediately became a child of God, and were placed into a new spiritual family; the family which is the body of Christ. Just as a human body functions best when each member does its job, so the body of Christ, the church, is healthiest when each member is growing spiritually and fulfilling its special role.

Notes: __________________________________________________________

Assignments: Read Galatians, memorize Philippians 1:6 and pray for one another.

The Spirit-Filled Life – Part 2

1. The promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit:

a. It was prophesied in the Old Testament (Joel 2:28-32)

b. It was promised by Jesus in the New Testament (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27)

2. In Acts 1:4-5, what did Jesus tell His disciples to wait for?

3. Turn to Acts 1:8:

a. The word power comes from the Greek word dunamis which also means “dynamite.” Where does the power (ability) to witness for Christ come from?

b. Before we were Christians, the Holy Spirit was with (para) us convicting us of sin and drawing us to Christ. (John 16:7-8)

c. When we became Christians, the Holy Spirit was in (en) us.

i. John 14:16-17

ii. John 20:22

iii. 1 Corinthians 3:16

d. The third experience of the Holy Spirit is when He comes on or upon (epi) us and overflows out of our life. (John 7:37-39)

i. Flow, in Greek, literally means to gush forth.

ii. Baptize, in Greek – baptizo, overflowed. We become a channel through which the Holy Spirit overflows to everyone around us.

iii. Look at these examples of the Spirit coming upon a believer:

· Acts 10:44

· Acts 19:6

4. When we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, what happens?

a. We receive power to witness for Jesus and to serve Him in whatever area He asks us to.

b. We receive increased power to overcome sin.

c. The Scriptures come alive to us.

d. Our relationship with God is more alive and vital.

e. We receive spiritual gifts when we pray to God and ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We receive it by faith (Luke 11:11-13; Galatians 3:2, 5, 13-14) just as we received Jesus Christ into our life by faith.

Sharing Your Faith

1. According to 1 Peter 3:15, what must happen in our personal lives before we are ready to share our faith?

2. What does it mean to sanctify the Lord in our hearts?

3. Basic points in sharing your faith:

a. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

b. The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

c. God demonstrated His love toward us by sending Jesus Christ to die. (Romans 5:8)

d. We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9-10, 13)

i. Isaiah 59:1-2

ii.

iii. John 3:3, 16

iv. Acts: 3:19-20

v. Ephesians 1:7, 2, 8, 9

4. Tools for witnessing:

a. A Bible. A pocket New Testament is sufficient

b. Tracts

c. Memorize Scripture. The Roman’s Road is best. (Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23 and 10:9-10)

5. Remember:

a. The Holy Spirit is the One who will speak through you. (Matthew 10:18-20)

b. The Lord is the One who adds to the church daily (Acts 2:47)

Notes: __________________________________________________________
Assignments: Read the book of Acts, memorize Acts 1:8 and pray for one another.