CHURCH LIFE CLASS
THE HOLY SPIRIT
PREFACE: When a person has started a new life by faith in Christ, they are not left on their own
power to walk out this life. God has provided the power of the Holy Spirit to enable
believers to live and be witnesses for Him. In Acts 2 Peter speaks of the ministry of the
Holy Spirit in the last days. We are still living in that period of time and the ministry of the
Spirit continues. There has been much confusion about the person and work of the Spirit in
the life of the believer. In this study we hope to clear up some of the confusion on the work of the Spirit in the life of the believer.
I. BIBLICAL PROOFS OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE SPIRIT.
A. The Holy Spirit is a personality, not a mere influence or power.
The Holy Spirit is spoken of as He. Jn 16:13,14
1. Attributes of personality ascribed to Him:
1. Knowledge - 1 Cor 2:9-11 The Spirit knows the thoughts of God.
2. Will - 1 Cor 12:11 The Spirit distributes gifts according to God’s will.
3. Mind - Rom 8:27 Whoever knows the mind of the Spirit…, He intercedes for the saints.
4. Love - Rom 15:30 Paul urges the church by the love of the Spirit.
5. Intelligence - Neh 9:20 God gave the Spirit to instruct them.
6. Grief - Eph 4:30 Don’t grieve the Spirit
2. Biblical Symbols for the Holy Spirit: These symbols often describe various operation of the Spirit.
1. Fire - Isa 4:4; Acts 2:4; Mt 3:11
2. Wind - Jn 3:8; Acts 2:2,3
3. Water - Jn 7:38,39; 1 Cor 10:4
4. Oil - Mt 25:3; Ps 89:20; 1Jn 2:27
5. Dove - Mt 3:16
B. The Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus (The Head), and the Church (His body).
Christ The Church
1. Born of the Spirit Lk 1:35 Jn 3:1-5; 1Pet 1:22-23
2. Filled with the Spirit Jn 3:34 Acts 1:8; 2:4; Eph 3:19
3. Lead of the Spirit Mt 4:11 Rom 8:14
4. Ministry of preaching by Spirit Lk 4:18 Acts 4:8-12
5. Cast out devils Mt 12:28 Acts 8:5-7
6. Anointing Acts 10:38 2 Cor 1:21; 1Jn 2:27
7. Crucifixion by Spirit Heb 9:14
8. Commandments by Spirit Acts 1:2 Acts 15:28-29
C. The purpose of the Spirit in the life of the believer.
1. Power to be witnesses.
Power - dunamis - force, strength, might, power, strength, ability
Lk 24:49. They were to wait for the Spirit
Acts 1:8; 4:31-33
2. Inspiration for true worship
Jn 4:24; 1 Cor 14:15
3. Help in our prayer life
Rom 8:26-27
4. Understanding of the Scriptures
Jn 16:13; 14:26
5. Guidance from God
Jn 16:13; Mk 13:11; Rom 8:14
6. Ability to bear fruit
Gal 5:22
7. Ability to operate in Spiritual gifts
1 Cor 12:7,11
II. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
A Questions that cause most of the controversy over this issue.
1. Do we automatically get filled with the Spirit at salvation, or is there something more?
2. Is there any accompanying manifestation in those who are filled with the Spirit?
3. What is the procedure, or how is one filled with the Spirit?
4. Is being filled with the Spirit a one time thing like water baptism?
In answering these questions we simply need to look at the Biblical accounts.
B. Biblical accounts.
Acts 2:1-11 The Spirit fell on them while waiting in prayer before God Vs 1-4. The initial result
was speaking in tongues about the mighty deeds of God vs 4,11
Acts 2:14-17 Peter speaks of the ministry of the Spirit in the last days. He list manifestations of the
Spirit in the lives of believers with prophesy, dreams, and visions.
Acts 4:8 The Scripture makes a distinction that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in speaking.
Acts 4:31 The same believers who were filled in Acts 2 were filled again while praying. The result
here was speaking the world of God with boldness.
Acts 6:3 When choosing men to serve, one requirement was that they were full of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:12-24 A period of days elapsed between the time they received the word and were later filled
with the Spirit vs 12-17. They were filled with the Spirit as hands were laid on them vs 17.
Something observable happened as a result of them being filled with the he Spirit vs 18.
Acts 9:1-17 A period of 3 days elapsed between Paul’s Damascus road experience and being filled
with the Spirit. He was filled with the Spirit as hands were laid on him vs 17-18. We do not
know what the initial manifestation of the Spirit was in Paul’s life but we do know that he later
operated in gifts of the Spirit, especially speaking in tongues 1 Cor 14:1-40, 18.
Acts 10:43-48 The Holy Spirit fell on them while Peter was speaking. The initial manifestation was
speaking in tongues and exalting God vs 45-46. This event occurred before they were baptized
in water vs 47.
Acts 19:1-6 Something in their experience gave Paul the indication that they hadn’t received the
Spirit when they initially believed vs 2. They were filled with the he Spirit as Paul laid his hands
on them vs 6. The initial manifestation was speaking in tongues and prophesying.
C. Answers from the Biblical accounts.
1. There is no automatic assumption that one is filled at salvation.
2. There is very clear accompanying manifestations when one is filled such as tongues, prophesy,
exalting God, and boldness. The most common manifestation is speaking in tongues. We should
expect accompanying manifestation when filled.
3. People were filled at times when hands were laid on them, when praying, and when listening to
the word being preached.
4. It is obvious that being filled with the Spirit is not a one time only thing. These accounts along
with the exhortation in Eph 5:18 to be continually filled with the Spirit shows us that it is to be
continual experience.
D. Receiving the Spirit.
1. Like everything else in God it is to be received by faith Gal 3:2; Rom 10:17.
2. We must be convinced that the baptism of the Spirit is Biblical, necessary, applicable for today,
an experience distinct from salvation, and evidenced by speaking in tongues or other biblical
manifestations.
3. Make Jesus your focus Mt 3:11.
4. Ask for it based upon a hunger in your heart Lk 11:9-13; Jn 7:37-38
5. Expect to receive, and act in faith to respond in Biblical manifestations. As in Acts they spoke in
tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance.