BE THOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS – IN SPIRIT, November 13th, 2022

CENTRAL THOUGHT

Example is better than precept.

HYMN: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

TEXT: 1 Tim 4:12, 1 Cor 12: 1-13; Acts 2:17-18

INTRODUCTION

Paul, in his letter to Timothy, encouraged him to be an example to the believers. In this, he was to conduct himself in a manner that is exemplary for the believers in their Christian walk, in faith, love, and complete submission and obedience to the Holy Spirit.

The statement, “Let no man despise thy youth”, shows clearly that this life is not based on age or social status. He was to practice godly conduct that comes from godly attitude in life and worship which God has defined in the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not expected to do less. We are, therefore, to live a life that demonstrates an absolute yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, with unreserved obedience to His will and instructions.

Paul’s injunction is simply put, “Walk in the Spirit,” which is a demonstration of the life of Christ in us. If we will be bold enough to tell people to follow our lifestyle as Paul did, we have no alternative to Christ- likeness. Other Christians, especially new converts should have us for an example. We must walk close to God, spend time studying His word, tarry in His presence in prayers, and ensure that God’s presence is in our life at all times, so our life could be an example to others.

LESSON OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study are:

1. Understand what it means to be an example of the believers in Spirit.
2. Know the conditions of receiving the Holy Spirit.
3. Identify the functions of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.
4. Understand the importance of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church.
5. Understand how life in the Spirit can be sustained.

BIBLE TRUTH

Q1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE BELIEVERS IN SPIRIT?

(1 TIM. 4:12; TITUS 2:7; 1 COR. 4:16; 11:1)

At conversion, the believer is given the Spirit of God which dwells in him and conforms him to the image of Christ, to enable him to live the God- kind of life. He no longer lives to fulfill the desires of his old nature, but seeks to please God. He shows himself a pattern of good works in doctrine, integrity, purity, and sound speech that cannot be faulted even by his opponents. His emphasis shifts from bodily appearance to the internal beauty of the spiritual life which is demonstrated in discipline in body, soul, and spirit; and in every way showing himself a pattern of godliness. He operates in love, faith, and good conscience both in words and conduct that attracts others to Christ.

To be an example of the believers in Spirit therefore means teaching only sound biblical doctrine and demonstrating same by personal conduct, setting example for other believers to follow. Apostle Paul in his epistles emphasized the need for believes to live in the Spirit in order not to fulfill the carnal desires of the old man. He made Christ his example and demonstrated it throughout his life as a believer; this emboldened him to encourage other believers to imitate him (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1).

Q2. WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT? (JOHN 3:3 &6; 7:37-39; LUKE 11:11-13)

The Holy Spirit is the third personality in the Godhead. He is given to the believer by God to guide him throughout his Christian life’s journey on earth, just as Christ was given to redeem man from his sins. There are necessary conditions to be fulfilled by an individual before he can be filled with the Spirit. Let us consider the following:

• Salvation: He must be born again. A man is born again when he confesses his sins and receives Jesus into his life as his personal Lord and Savior. He is then purified and made ready for the Spirit of God ( John 3:3&5).
• Desires. The scripture commands the believer to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) and Jesus gave a command to the disciples to receives the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). These commands clearly give an indication that the believer truly has need of the Holy Spirit. A true knowledge of the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer leaves him with no option but to desire Him. “… What things soever ye desire ,when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). A desire, therefore, is a condition necessary for receiving the Holy Spirit.

• Asking. Though a gift, God does not just throw the Holy Spirit on an believer. The believer must show enough evidence that he truly needs the Holy Spirit by asking for the gift. God has guaranteed that whatsoever we ask in the name of Jesus, we shall receive. (Luke 11:13 &19; John 14:13-14). Asking is another condition that needs to be fulfilled before one can receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit is a promise of God to all believers and He is so important that no believer can afford to so without Him.

Q3. IDENTIFY SOME FUNCTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER. (JOHN 14:17 & 25; ROM. 8:26; 1 COR. 2:9-13; JOHN 16:13)

The functions of the Holy Spirit begin at the place of the new birth. When a man hears the message of the gospel and believes in God, the Holy Spirit begins with the regeneration of the dead spirit of man and the cleansing that makes the man acceptable to God. After the regeneration process, the man is given the full measure if the power of the Holy Spirit which comes as baptism in the Holy Spirit. As the believer yields himself to the Spirit, He (the Holy Spirit): (i). comforts, teaches, and reminds the believer of things he has been taught (John 14:26)

• Bears witness with the spirit of the believer that he/she is a child of God. (Rom. 8:16)
• Reveals to the believer the things that God has freely given to him in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 2:9-13)
• Guarantees the believer’s inheritance in God. (Eph. 1:13- 14)
• guides him in truth. (John 16:13)
• Dwells in him. (John 14:17)

The list is not is any way exhaustive. The Spirit searches the mind of God and accomplishes God’s will concerning the believer, which the believer may not know or understand. The believer is safer in the hands of the Holy Spirit, so he must depend on Him absolutely for the ability to live for God here on earth.

God gave the Holy Spirit to the church to equipt her with the abilities needed to accomplish God’s purpose for her on earth. These abilities are portions of God’s grace that display the personal powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, which are given to believers for the common good of the church.

Read 1 Cor. 12:4-11 to identify the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

These gifts are given so we can build up the church in the power of the Holy Spirit. To effectively do this, we must understand that all gifts and abilities come from God, we do not all have the same gifts, and dedicate our gifts to God’s service. God’s gifts defer in nature, power, and effectiveness, according to His wisdom. The Holy Spirit distributes freely and readily to individuals, the gifts needed to minister to distinct circumstances in the moment of need. The gifts are to enable us to accomplish God’s purpose and not for our personal success.

Unfortunately, many have abused these gifts in different ways today. Some believers see them as means of popularizing themselves, while some believe that they are weapons to destroy their so called enemies. However, the Holy Spirit and His gifts are very important in the life of any believer who would face the challenges of Christian life courageously without making shipwreck of his/her faith. Acts 8:18-21 and Baalam in 2 Peter 2:15 are enough warning to anyone who wants to trade with the gift of God. Our motive for asking God for the gifts of the Holy Spirit must therefore be pure and to glorify the name of the Lord.

Q5. HOW CAN LIFE IN THE SPIRIT BE SUSTAINED?

(GAL. 5:24-25; ROM. 6:5-6; COL. 3:5)

Life in the Spirit is a contrast to the life is the natural man. At conversion, a man is regenerated as he yields himself to the power of the Holy Spirit. This regenerated life is sustained by a continuous yielding of the complete person unto the guidance of the in-dwelling Spirit. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have nailed to His cross the passion and desires of their sinful nature. In this, they are dead, but because Christ, their new master, has risen from the dead, they have also risen with Him. Having received the spirit of adoption, they now live by the Spirit, no linger in their original nature of sin. The scripture says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The believer must therefore allow the Holy Spirit to lead him in all his life endeavors. This life can only be sustained when the believer gives the Holy Spirit the chance to have total control of his life, by resisting the passions and desire of the old nature. This requires some spiritual exercises that the believer must take very seriously – study of the scripture regularly to have knowledge of the Word of God, having regular fellowship with God through meditation and prayers, having fellowship with other believers and obediently observing to do the things so learnt through the study of the word. He can then declare like Apostle Paul- “ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live b faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2: 20).

DAILY LIVING APPLICATION

“Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” The Holy Spirit is the indwelling strength of the Christian’s life, to sustain and guide him unto eternal life. If Jesus Christ, who is God, had need of the Holy Spirit during His earthly life, how much more would a believer who is only a regenerated soul need Him? He is able to empower the believer to live a fulfilled and victorious Christian life. The cry of every believer today should be – “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me, break me, melt me, mold me, fill me, Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me.”

MEMORY VERSE

Gal 5:25

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Monday: The place of repentance to a spiritual life.

Acts 2:38-39

Tuesday: Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 4:2

Wednesday: Walk in the Spirit.

Gal. 5:16; Rom 8:4

Thursday: The witness of the Spirit.

Rom. 8:16; 2 Cor. 1:22

Friday: For me to live as Christ.

Phil 1:21; Col. 1:27

Saturday: They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh.

Gal 5:24; 2:20