Central Thought: The Holy Spirit enables the believer to succeed.
Hymn: Spirit Divine! Attend our prayers.

 

Text: Isaiah 61:1-3; Mark1:7; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 10:38

Last week, it was stated that God purposed that the Holy Spirit, play a vital role in the life of the believer. This was prophesied in Joel 2:28-29 and came to pass in Acts 2:4. While the Lord Jesus as god in human flesh, during His sojourn on earth, emptied Himself of His divine powers He relied on the Holy Spirit for guidance and empowerment, Philippians 2:57. He did this as an example for us. He showed that a man relying on the Holy Spirit can please God. Before His crucifixion, He informed the disciples that when He is glorified, He would ask the Father to send them the Holy Spirit. “…And I will as the Father, and He will give you another Counselor (or Comforter) to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth). The world cannot accept Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you… But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my mane, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”, John 14:16-17, 25-26.

 

Lesson Objectives:

1. To know the role of the Holy Spirit during the earthly life of Jesus.
2. To understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit and why we need Him today.
3. To understand how we can be baptized with the Holy Spirit and remain continually filled with Him.

 

1. What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ from the follow scriptures: Isaiah 11:1-5, 61:1-3; Luke 1:35, 3:21-22, 4:1: Acts 1:1-2, 10:38

a. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
b. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit.
c. The infilling of the Holy Spirit empowered Him for life and ministry
d. He relied completely on the Holy Spirit’s enablement for His ministry in terms of preaching, teaching and healing.
e. The class should mention other details stated in Isaiah 11:1-5, 61:1-3.
The life and ministry of Jesus typifies that of the believer. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost to perform exactly the same roles He played in the life of Jesus.

 

2. Is the believer filled with the Holy Spirit the same moment he is born again? Acts 1:8, 2:4, 19:1-7; Ephesians 1:13-14

The believer is marked in Christ with a “seal”, which guarantees the believer’s inheritance until the redemption of those who are Christ’s from the world. This seal is a measure of the Holy spirit. His presence within us is to evidence that we belong to Jesus Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, in contrast, is receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit to empower us to be “witnesses” with our lives and service. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a definite experience that every born again Christina must experience to be fruitful. He is the strength for Christian life and ministry. Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Christian life will be characterized by struggles and failures. He empowered the Lord Jesus to be successful; He is to play the same role in our lives.

Therefore, at the moment of being born again, the believer receives a measure of the Holy Spirit, while at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit he gets filled.

 

3. What are the conditions for receiving the Holy Spirit? Acts 1:4-5, 2:4; Luke 11:11-13

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is promised to all who believe. He was “poured out” at Pentecost and therefore is available to everyone who believes. A major condition required is being born again, while the believer must desire and ask for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. No works or sacrifices or “seed” is required. The believer simply needs to understand that this is the Father’s provision for him to live a victorious life and is available free of charge. All that is needed is the expression of faith for this dividend of the finished work of Christ on the cross to be received.

 

4. How can the baptism of the Holy Spirit be received and what is the evidence?

a. He can come spontaneously on those that believe without the agency of man. Luke 3:21; Acts 2:4, 10:44-48.
The Holy Spirit came spontaneously on the Lord Jesus at the outset of His earthly ministry. Following obedience to the injunction to tarry in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon the early disciples spontaneously. Most instructive is the experience of Cornelius and his household. While Peter was still preaching the gospel to them, the Holy Spirit came upon them evidenced in the speaking in other tongues. They had not had water baptism or done any of the things that churches may lay emphasis on today. This showed that the Holy Spirit is available to all who believe irrespective of race, spiritual age or hierarchy. Believers should know about the Holy Spirit early an no bottlenecks should be placed on the path to receiving Him.
b. He can be received through the laying on of hands. Acts 9:17-18, 19:5-7.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit can be experienced through the laying on of hands as depicted in the scriptures above. Whichever way it occurs, what matters is the believer receives the enablement for life and ministry soon after salvation. How fruitful the local church is, depends on how many members are filled with the Holy Spirit and therefore empowered to live victorious lives.
c. All cases of the baptism of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the book of Acts, were evidenced by speaking in tongues. The other features include boldness and fruitfulness in life and ministry.

 

Daily Living Application:

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is necessary for success in the Christian life. He enabled Jesus to attain great success in His earthly ministry and He is available to also help us. You must ensure that you are filled with the Holy Spirit continually by living in fellowship with other believers, ensuring that God’s word dwells in you richly and living in life devoted to personal and corporate prayer, Jude 20. Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? If you haven’t, explore the channels discussed earlier and get baptized today.

Memory Verse:

Acts 1:8 (NIV) – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.’