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HOLY SPIRIT STUDY SERIES
With ANSWERS
CHAPTER 1
Laying Our Study’s Foundation
(Section 1)
"For there are three that bear witness {give
testimony} in heaven: the Father, the Word {Christ Jesus}, and the
Holy Ghost/Spirit {the Spirit who is holy}; and these
three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness {give
testimony} on earth: the Spirit/Ghost, the water, and the
blood; and these three agree as one. [1 John 5:7-8; NKJV]
AT PRESENT, YOU ARE A SPIRIT IN FLESH. WHEN YOU
DIE PHYSICALLY, IT IS YOUR SPIRIT THAT RISES INTO HEAVEN, AS YOUR
FLESH RETURNS TO DUST. GOD’S PROMISE AND GIFT OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT
GIVES YOUR SPIRIT "BIRTH" INTO GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS NOW,
AND THIS CONTINUES THROUGHOUT ETERNITY. IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT YOU
RISE WITHIN GOD’S SPIRIT AS A CHILD OF GOD!
Jesus Was Born By The Holy Spirit
[Matt 1:18-21] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was
as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before
they came together, she was found with child of the Holy
Spirit . 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and
not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away
secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son
of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for
that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And
she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for
He will save His people from their sins." NKJV
[Luke 1:35-37] And the angel answered and said to
her {Mary}, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power
of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One
who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now
indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in
her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called
barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." NKJV
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QUESTIONS: (1) Below, describe how Jesus Christ was
conceived in Mary’s womb.
ANSWER:
The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and the Power of the Highest
overshadowed her.
(2) Today, some argue that Jesus was not born by the
Holy Spirit. Give the verses in both Matthew and Luke that
prove He was.
ANSWER:
Matt 1:18, 20; Lk 1:35
(3) The "one" born by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit
who is holy, is called the "Holy One" in Luke 1:35.
What else is He called.
ANSWER:
The Son of God
(4) The angel told Mary that "The Holy Spirit will come
upon you". He goes on to tell her that when this happens the
_________________ of the Highest will overshadow her {vs 35}.
What, or who, will overshadow her?
ANSWER:
power
(5) Who is the "Highest" referred to in verse 35?
ANSWER:
Jesus’ Father, God Almighty
(6) Jesus was born on earth through the union of a
physical mother and the Spirit who is holy, the Holy
Spirit/Ghost. What is the difference between Jesus’ birth and
your own birth? We will discuss this throughout our Study
Series.
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Jesus Was Baptized
In The Holy Spirit, and Is A Son Of God
[Luke 3:23-38] "Now Jesus Himself began His
ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed)
the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the
son of Levi... the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of
Jonan, the son of Eliakim... the son of Nathan, the son of {King}
David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed... the son of Perez, the
son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of
Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,... 36 the son of Cainan,
the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem , the son of Noah, the son of
Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of
Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh,
THE SON OF SETH, THE SON OF ADAM, THE SON OF GOD. NKJV {also
Matt 1:1-17}
| COMMENTS and
QUESTIONS **(1) Why do you believe verse 23, above, says
that Jesus was the "supposed" son of Joseph? Jesus was born of
the Holy Spirit and Mary. Why do you suppose God mentions the
blood line of Joseph then? Your Bible notes may be a help with
this answer. It is not given in the scripture, and may not be
in the Bible but we will discuss it in the Study Session. "Why do you suppose God mentions the blood line of
Joseph then?":
(2) Above in Luke 3:23-38, verse 28 teaches us that Jesus
was physically born through a blood line that extends directly
back to Adam. Notice that this physical blood line comes
through Adam’s son Seth, rather than Abel or Cain. Genesis
4:25 explains that God appointed another seed, Seth, when Abel
was murdered by Cain his brother.
(3) Luke 3:23-38: verse 38 tells us that Adam was a "Son of
God". Why then do you believe God says elsewhere in the Bible
that Jesus is His only begotten Son <Jn 1:14, 18; Jn 3:16-18;
Heb 1:5>, and His firstborn <Rom 8:29-30; Col
1:15-18; Heb 1:6>? We will discuss this in our Study
Sessions.
ANSWER:
Jesus Christ is the only physical human being born with
the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him at time of birth. All other
human beings are born by two physical beings and then born, or
adopted, into God through His Holy Spirit baptism and
indwelling.
(3a) What do you believe the difference is between
Adam’s formation by God and Jesus’ birth by God? We will
discuss this in our Study Sessions.
ANSWER: The answer to this question will be
discussed in far greater detail in future Study
Sessions. However, in short, the answer is. Adam was
formed by dust, by God, and then God gave him his
human spirit as God breathed into him. The spirit
received was never the Holy Spirit. [Gen 2:7] "And the
LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life; and man became a living {spiritual &
physical} being" NKJV. However, this
spiritual being was not baptized in the Holy Spirit.
There was no need for baptism because Adam had been
created by God and had not yet fallen. Adam’s human
spirit had not been damaged as yet.
Jesus Christ was born through the Holy Spirit and
flesh from conception and birth, and never fell or
sinned. Jesus had a human spirit that had been fused
with the Holy Spirit of God while in Mary’s womb,
prior to His earthly birth.
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[Mark 1:4-13] John {the Baptist} came baptizing
in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from
Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the
Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with
camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate
locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, ‘There comes One
after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy
to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with
water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit <also Jn
1:29-34>’. 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came
from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10
And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens
parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a
voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased <Matt 3:13-17; Luke 3:21,22; John 1:29-34>.’
Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He
was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and
was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
NKJV
| COMMENTS and QUESTIONS:
(1) Who sent the Spirit/Ghost from Heaven to Jesus?
ANSWER:
Jesus Christ’s Father, God Almighty, Abba
(2) Luke 1:35 teaches, "... that Holy One who is to be born
will be called the Son of God", but it is not until after
Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit that God His Father
audibly addressed Jesus as His "Son", saying, "You are My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
(3) Who drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by
satan?
ANSWER:
The Holy Spirit/Ghost
(4) Did you notice that it was only after Jesus was
baptized in the Holy Spirit that His Father allowed Him to be
led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
satan? Why do you suppose this was done? See: Lk 1:17, 35; 4:14; Acts 1:8; 8:19;
10:38; Rm 1:4; 15:13-19; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Th 1:5; 2 Tim 1:7:
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit is, and provides,
"power". See Lk 1:17, 35; 4:14; Acts 1:8; 8:19;
10:38; Rm 1:4; 15:13-19; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Th 1:5; 2 Tim
1:7: The Holy Spirit is, and provides, "power".
(4a) Do you believe that your baptism into the Holy
Spirit has something to do with satan’s testing and
tempting? If so, briefly explain. We will discuss this
in our studies.
ANSWER: Yes. God gives us the Holy Spirit so
that as we undergo tests and trials we have God’s help
living within us. The Holy Spirit, our Helper and
Comforter, causes us to grow into the image of Christ
and God our Father. When mankind ate of the tree of
KNOWLEDGE of good and evil they fell into physical and
spiritual evil BECAUSE they no longer had God’s
spiritual discernment. Spiritual discernment gives us
the ability to see "evil" as "evil", and choose God’s
goodness over evil. Though man lacked "spiritual"
discernment, they were presented with both good and
evil simultaneously, just as we are today. Immediately
after the fall the LORD God said in Genesis 3:22-24:
"...Behold, the man has become like one of Us ,
to know good and evil. And now, lest he put
out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and
eat, and live forever" — 23 therefore the LORD God
sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground
from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man;
and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of
Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to
guard the way to the tree of life" NKJV. God does not
want, and will not accept our living in evil
throughout eternity.
The Holy Spirit is the voice of God living within
us; and He gives us the spiritual discernment that was
removed by God when Adam and Eve, and thus all
mankind, fell. The presence of the Holy Spirit within
each believer, as we will later read, provides our
transformation into God’s image.
(5) Did Jesus speak in tongues as He was baptized
in/received the Holy Spirit in Mark 1:9-12? Tongues is defined
by New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary as: "... tongue; by
implication, a language (specially, one naturally unaquired)".
In other words, a language that was not acquired naturally
through environment, society, family etc.
Do you remember Jesus speaking in "tongues" at any time in
the Bible? We will discuss this in our study group.
ANSWER: No, He did not speak in tongues when He was
baptized in the Holy Spirit. No, Jesus never spoke in
tongues; and if He did it is not documented in the Bible.
Remember the Word of God clearly states that we are not to
add or take away from God’s Word <Deut 4:2; 12:32; Is
30:1>.
(6) Did Jesus hear God’s voice? If so how?
ANSWER:
Yes, He heard His Father speak out loud,
saying "... ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased" in verse 11.
(7) Who ministered to Christ?
ANSWER:
The angels {vs 13} |
Christ Jesus Baptizes You In The
Holy Ghost/Spirit
John The Baptist prepared the way for Jesus
saying:
[Matt 3:11-12] "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am
not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire." NKJV <also Mk 1:8, Lk 3:16>
| DEFINITIONS and QUESTIONS:
(1) Who is John the Baptist speaking to? Who is God promising
to baptize in the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:12? For the answer,
you will need to go to the Bible and look at the few verses
above the scripture given.
ANSWER:
The Jews <Matt 3-5> and the Pharisees and Sadducees <Matt
3:7>
(2) Why are you baptized in water,
according to Matthew 3:11? What does water baptism bring?
Write your answer below:
You are baptized in water "unto repentance". The words (2a)"unto"
and (2b)"repentance" are translated for
the New Testament Greek, and are defined by Strong’s
Concordance of The Bible, as follows:
(2a) "into":
NT:1519 eis ... to or into (indicating the
point reached or entered), of place, time, or
(figuratively) purpose (result, etc.)...: {translated
elsewhere in KJV of the Bible as} KJV - ... before,...
among,... continual,... for,... to the intent that,
of one mind, ... set at one again, (so)
that, therefore (-unto), throughout, til..."
(2b)"repentance": NT:3341 metanoia; from
NT:3340; ... compunction (for guilt, including
reformation); by implication reversal
(of [another's] decision): KJV - repentance.
NT:3340 metanoeo... from
NT:3326 {amid} and NT:3539; to think
differently or afterwards, i.e.
reconsider (morally, feel compunction): KJV -
repent."
NT:3539 noeo... from
NT:3563; to exercise the mind (observe),
i.e. (figuratively) to comprehend, heed:
KJV - consider, perceive, think, understand.
NT:3563 nous... probably
from the base of NT:1097; (2b1)the
intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought,
feeling, or will); by implication meaning...
KJV - mind, understanding..."
(2b1) "the intellect,
i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling,
or will)": We have been given the mind of
Christ. [1 Cor 2:16 "For ‘who has known the mind
of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we
have the mind of Christ’" NKJV <Php 1:27; 2:5;
Rom 15:6>
NT:1097 ginosko... to
"know"... : KJV - allow, be aware (of), feel,
(have) know (-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can
speak, be sure, understand."
To repent is to change your mind
through Jesus Christ’s mind in you, to become a holy
spirit as our Father is Spirit, through His Holy
Spirit. It is to turn around and stand before God your
Creator. You begin to KNOW God intimately for the
first time.
(3) Who baptizes you in the Holy Spirit?
ANSWER:
Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
(4) John said that it is Jesus who
baptizes you in the Holy Spirit. You may have noticed when
reading the first four books of the New Testament, or the
Gospels, that during Jesus’ physical ministry He never
baptized anyone into the Spirit by laying hands on them.
(4a)How is it that Jesus can baptize
human beings in the Holy Ghost/Spirit while He is not
physically here on earth. (4b)What
makes the baptism of the Spirit unique compared to the
physical baptism in water? We will discuss this question
in our study.
ANSWER:
(4a) "How is it that Jesus can baptize human
beings in the Holy Ghost/Spirit while He is not
physically here on earth.": He is baptizing us
with the Spirit and INTO THE SPIRIT. This baptism is
given by Christ Jesus as He submerges your spirit-man
in the Holy Spirit. All this is completed within the
spiritual realm.
(4b) "What makes the baptism of the Spirit
unique compared to the physical baptism in water?":
The water baptism is physical and brings us into
"repentance" and remission of sin, or a change in
heart and mind, so that we are acceptable to our
Father and can be baptized into our Father’s one
Spirit/Ghost who is holy. It is an external baptism,
given from the exterior of a human being, and brings
remission of sin.
The Holy Spirit baptism is both internal and
eternal. The Spirit baptism is a baptism into the
Spirit, and takes us into eternal spiritual life now
while we are still in our old flesh on earth. Spirit
baptism causes us to know God intimately, and causes
and maintains our regeneration and eternal
transformation into the image, nature and character of
God. Spiritual baptism is forever unless we blaspheme
the Spirit. Denying the Holy Spirit in any way is a
form of blasphemy <Matt 21:31-32>. This baptism is by
the Spirit, separates us into God’s family and
provides God’s nature and character within each
believer. We are thus saved from our fallen spiritual
state and born into God’s original plan, the spiritual
image of God.
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[Mark 1:4-8] John {the Baptist} came baptizing in
the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from
Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the
Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with
camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate
locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, ‘There comes One
after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy
to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with
water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit <also Jn
1:29-34>
| QUESTIONS:
(1) Verse 4, above, tells us that the baptism of repentance
brings what?
ANSWER:
Remission of sin
(2) Who baptizes you in the Holy Spirit?
ANSWER:
Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
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[John 1:29-34] "The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away
the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes
a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' 31 I did
not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel,
therefore I came baptizing with water. And John bore witness
{gave testimony}, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him,
but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "Upon
whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He
who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." 34 And I have seen and
testified that this is the Son of God." NKJV
| (1)
(1a)Why did John come? In other
words, did God send him with a purpose?
(1b)What does this mean to, and for, you?
ANSWER:
(1a) "Why did John come? In other words, did God
send him with a purpose?": To baptize with water into
repentance and remission of sin; and "that He {Jesus
Christ} should be revealed to Israel" {vs 31}.
(1b) "What does this mean to, and for, you?": Write
in your own words.
(2) How did John know to baptize with water? And that he
would see the Holy Spirit descend on Christ?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ’s Father "said" to John
"Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining
on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit"
<vs 33>
(3) John identifies Jesus as the Son of God, but he also
identifies Jesus in another way? John was told he could
identify Jesus in this way. What else does he say God told him
about Jesus before he, John, saw Jesus.
ANSWER: He was told the Spirit would descend on
Jesus like a dove and would remain on Him.
(4) Who is John speaking to in this scripture?
ANSWER: John 1:19 tells us that the "Jews
sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask him..."
(5) Do you consider it part of Christ Jesus’ Ministry to
baptize us/you with the Holy Spirit? If so, why?
ANSWER: Yes. All should answer and discuss in their
own words. Anyone, and everyone baptized in the Spirit is
baptized by Jesus Christ my/our Savior and Lord. When we
confess Christ Jesus, we become one with our Lord and we
have already heard God’s spirit speak to , and through us:
[1 Cor 12:3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no
man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:
and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by
the Holy Ghost {Spirit}. (KJV)}
We should seek the Holy Spirit baptism through prayer,
asking Jesus to ask His Father to send the Promise of His
Holy Spirit to live in us.
(6) In verse 31, John tells us who Jesus was to be revealed
to at that time. Who?
ANSWER: Israel
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[NOTE: We will discuss your own
spiritual birth, along with Christ’s Spirit and our Father’s Spirit
in future studies. They are one Spirit, administered by both Christ
and God our Father, as we will later read. At present, we are just
beginning to lay the foundation of this study.]
Jesus Said To Wait For The
Promise Of The Father
[Acts 1:1-8] The former account I
made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2
until the day in which He was taken up {resurrected} , after He
through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom
He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after
His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during
forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God. (4) And being assembled together with them, He commanded them
not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the
Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly
baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come
together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time
restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not
for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own
authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be witnesses {give testimony} to
Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end
of the earth." NKJV
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QUESTIONS: (1) Who "Promised" to give Israel the Holy
Spirit?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ’s Father, God Almighty.
(2) In Acts 1:8 we are told one of the main reasons God
gives us His Holy Ghost/Spirit. What is it?
ANSWER: To receive the "power" to become witnesses
to Jesus Christ... to the end of the earth.
(3) After Christ’s resurrection, in verse 2, Jesus gave
commandments to the Apostles. By what means were these
delivered?
ANSWER: Through the Holy Spirit
(4) Where were the Apostles assembled when Jesus "presented
Himself alive after His suffering"? [He told the Apostles not
to depart from there.]
ANSWER: Jerusalem
(5) Why do you now believe it is important to be baptized,
born into, and filled with the Holy Spirit?
ANSWER: To many reasons to count, but the reason
given above is that we will receive the "power" to be
witnesses to Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit comes upon
us.
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Jesus, After Being Resurrected,
Baptized The Twelve Apostles First
[John 20:19-23] Then, the same day <vs 20:13> at
evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus
came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’
20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.
Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus
said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also
send you.’ 22 And when He had said this, (1)He breathed on
them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive
the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of
any, they are retained.’" NKJV
| COMMENTS, QUESTIONS and
VERSES: (1) John 20:23 is reminiscent of Genesis 2:7:
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became
a living being" NKJV.
(1a) In what way do these two verses resemble each other?
The Nelson’s Study Bible’s note on Jn 20:23
says, "The ministry to which Jesus called the disciples...
required spiritual power... Here Jesus breathed the Spirit
into the disciples. At Pentecost the Spirit unified
the believers into one body and empowered them to
testify of Jesus... The reception of the Spirit is
reminiscent of the creative breath of God into Adam in Gen
2:7. Yet the gift here was not a human spirit, but the
Spirit of the living God."
(2) The Apostles received the Holy Spirit
from Jesus Christ first, and then all who waited in the
upper room, including the Apostles, received the Holy Spirit
from our Father in Acts 2.
Only God forgives sin? Please go to the
Bible and read Mark 2:4-11
After reading these scriptures, what do you
believe Jesus meant when He said to the Apostles "Receive the
Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven
them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained". We
will discuss this in class.
ANSWER: The power in God’s Word
spoken by God’s Holy Ghost/Spirit through you, can do, and
does, all things. It is just as easy for God/Jesus Christ
to forgive sin as to heal the sick, and vise versa. In
that day they believed in physical healing more readily
than many of us do today, because God had given healing to
His people through the Law He gave Moses. God had most
often manifested His healing through the priests. Israel,
however, did not believe that Jesus Christ could forgive
sin. Obviously, Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the
Apostles, and empowered them with the ability to heal
one’s spirit as well as their physical body when they
forgave sin via the voice of the Holy Spirit. Through
God’s voice in them, they would hear God’s opinion and
judgments concerning all things, including the forgiveness
of sin and healing.
Today we believe that our sins are
forgiven through Jesus Christ and that physical healings
are rare, if ever. We rarely realize that it is the spirit
within each converts flesh that needs salvation and
healing. Jesus teaches us that both forgiveness of sin and
healing are manifested through the same Spiritual power,
the Holy Spirit of God, and His Word Jesus Christ.
(3) Did the Apostles speak in tongues when
they received the Holy Spirit from Jesus in John 20:19-23
above?
ANSWER: No
(4) Did the Apostles hear God’s
voice? If so how?
ANSWER: Yes, they heard Jesus’
voice as He stood before them in His resurrected state;
and Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.
(5) The gift of spiritual discernment was
given to the Apostles as they were baptized and received
the Holy Spirit from Jesus. What do you believe
spiritual discernment is? <Suggested Reading: Genesis
2:17, 3:22 (mankind fell because they are unable to "discern"
between the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil with their own mind).
We will discuss this briefly in our study.
The fact that mankind is missing "spiritual
discernment" inspired such teachings and comments by Jesus and
the Apostles as the following scripture: [Matt 7:1-5] "Judge
not, that you be not judged . 2 For with what judgment you
judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it
will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the
speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in
your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me
remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your
own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own
eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from
your brother's eye. NKJV
"Spiritual discernment" is a manifestation
of the Holy Spirit working from within a child of God. One
must possess the Holy Spirit and His voice in order to know
God’s opinion and judgement concerning sin and a specific
person, even one’s self. This is because "spiritual
discernment" requires that God actually speak His own
judgement and opinion through the Holy Spirit dwelling within
you. We will discuss this again, in greater detail, during our
study.
(6) Read Matthew 3:11-12 and John 1:29-34.
Though Jesus baptized the 12 Apostles with the Holy Spirit
first, what does Matthew 3:11-12 and John 1:29-34 teach us
about Jesus, the Holy Spirit baptism and God’s Promise?
ANSWER: Write in your own words.
God’s Promise of His Holy Spirit, in the New Testament,
began with Jesus Christ who received the Spirit from His
Father at the river Jordan. The Holy Spirit baptism was
given to Jesus who then gives/gave Him to us. When men,
women and children receive the Holy Spirit, it is Jesus
Christ who baptizes them in the Spirit.
|
Our Father Sends His Promise To
All The Jews Who Will Receive Him:
Christ’s First Church
We previously read that when Jesus was "... assembled
together with them {after His resurrection}, He {Jesus} commanded
them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise
of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John
truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now." [Acts 1:4-5]
Acts 1:13-15 goes on to teach us that out of all
the people who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry, and
believed that He was the long awaited Messiah/Savior, only 120 men
and women waited in the upper room as Jesus had instructed the
Apostles to do: "And when they had entered, they went up into the
upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew;
Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of
Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with
the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. And
in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples
(altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and
said..." NKJV
Notice, that all 120 disciples <vs 15> were
waiting in one accord and in one place for the "Promise of the
Father", as Jesus had previously told the Apostles to do in Acts
1:4-5. They were in prayer. The word "supplication" in verse 14,
above, was added by the translators according to Strong’s
Concordance. The word for prayer, however, includes "worship".
The Day Of Pentecost:
On the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus rose from the
dead, 120 disciples, both men and women, waited in the upper room.
Below, Peter addresses just the men because that was the custom at
this time: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and
supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with
His brothers. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and
twenty), and said, 16 "Men and brethren, (1)this
Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by
the mouth of David <Ps 41:9> concerning Judas, who became a
guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us
and obtained a part in this ministry." [Acts 1:14-17; NKJV]
| COMMENTS and NOTES:
(1) "this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit
spoke before by the mouth of David": The Holy Spirit
spoke... by {or through the} the mouth of David. <vs 16>.
Nelson’s Study Bible teaches in their note on Acts 1:16,
"Peter equated the speech of David with the voice of the Holy
Spirit".
(2) All one hundred and twenty beings "continued
with one accord" in prayer and {worship}." |
[Acts 2:1-39] When the (1)Day
of Pentecost had fully come, (2)they
were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came
a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the
whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them
divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon
each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance {spoke through them}. 5And there were
dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under
heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together,
and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own
language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one
another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is
it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9
Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia,
Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome,
both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs — we hear them
speaking in our own tongues {language} the wonderful works of God."
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another,
"Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full
of new wine."
|
DEFINITIONS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS and VERSES: (1) "Day
of Pentecost": Pentecost (Grk. Pentekoste, "fiftieth," i.e.,
"day"). The second of the three great annual festivals, the
others being the Passover {Jesus was crucified and rose from
the dead} and Tabernacles... This festival {Pentecost} is
called (1) the feast of Weeks (Ex 34:22; Deut 16:10,16; 2
Chron 8:13), because it was celebrated seven complete weeks,
or fifty days, after the Passover (Lev 23:15-16); (2) the
feast of the Harvest (Ex 23:16), because it concluded the
harvest of the later grains; and (3) the day of the first
fruits (Num 28:26), because the first loaves made from the new
grain were then offered on the altar (Lev 23:17; ... [from The
New Unger's Bible Dictionary]
(2) "they were all with one accord in one place":
For God’s people, there is extreme "power" in the "One
accord", "one place" and "one time" in both the Old Testament
and New Testament. The Holy Spirit, as we will later study, is
the "unifier" that brings God’s people into "one" with God and
each other. (2a)Just as with your own
body, Christ’s one Body has many members. Much of the
Bible, especially the New Testament, teaches how these members
are to relate to each other, and why. As in all "bodies" there
can only be one "Head" over the other members. In Christ’s
Body, He is the "Head".
In the Bible, "one accord" is seen even in peoples not
dedicated and sanctified to Jehovah and Christ. This is
because satan is a fallen spirit and understands God’s ways,
though he does not walk in obedience to, or as "one" with, God
any longer.
(2a) "Just as with your own body, Christ’s one Body
has many members": Read 1 Corinthians 12:13-31 in your
Bible. We will read this and discuss it briefly in the
Study Group. Make notes here?
"The Spirit Unified the Believers into One Body and
Empowered Them to Testify of Jesus":
[1 Cor 12:13-31] For by one Spirit we were
all baptized into one body <also1 Cor 1:10> —
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free —
and have all been made to drink into one Spirit
<also1 Cor 10:1-4> . 14 For in fact the body is not
one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a
hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of
the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am
not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not
of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where
would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where
would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the
members, each one of them, in the body just as He
pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where
would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one
body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have
no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I
have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those
members of the body which seem to be weaker are
necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we
think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater
honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater
modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need.
But God composed the body, having given greater honor
to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be
no schism in the body, but that the members should
have the same care for one another. 26 And if one
member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if
one member is honored, all the members rejoice with
it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members
individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the
church: first apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are
all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are
all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of
healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show
you a more excellent way. NKJV
One of the main reasons we are baptized into
the Holy Spirit is for the unification within Christ’s one
Body, His one church.
(3) Who spoke through the Apostles and disciples, and
gave them "utterance"?
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit
(4) Verse 5 tells us there were "devout men from
every nation under heaven" in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit
spoke through the Apostles and disciples, but that they were
all one nationality <vs 5>. What was their nationality and
their religion?
ANSWER: The "devout men from every nation under
heaven" were all of the same nationality and religion: the
Jewish/Hebrew nationality and religion <vs 5>. They were all
present in Jerusalem at the Temple, as Jewish Law {God’s Law
through
(5) Verse 4 tells us that the Apostles and disciples spoke
in tongues, or various languages. What was the language(s)
that each of the "devout men from every nation under heaven"
heard as individuals?
ANSWER: Their own language. They heard the utterances
of God in their own native tongue, even though the Apostles
all spoke in a language(s) foreign to their {the
disciples/Apostles} own understanding. The miracle manifested
was due to the fact that the Holy Spirit spoke through the
Apostles/disciples in "tongues", or languages, foreign to
their understanding, and the "devout men from every
nation under heaven" each heard it in their own native
language, or tongue.
(6) (6a)Did each Apostle and
disciple speak in a multitude or variety of languages as they
spoke in tongues? Or did they speak in one language
foreign to them? (6b)What verse,
and what specific words, tell us the answer to this question?
(6a) "Did each Apostle and disciple speak in a
multitude, or variety of languages, as they spoke in
tongues? Or did they speak in one language foreign
to them? ":
The answer to this question is open for discussion and
individual interpretation. Verse 3 reads: "one
{tongue} sat upon each of them". This could
be interpreted: each Apostle received and spoke in one
language, or tongue. We definitely know that each
disciple/Apostle spoke in a language, or multiple
languages, foreign to their understanding, and not in
their own native tongue or language. Verse 4 teaches,"And
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak with (6a1)other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance {spoke through them}".
Having spoken in tongues almost daily for many, many
years, we prefer the original interpretation given by most
denominations: each Apostle/disciple spoke in multiple
languages as the word "tongues" states in Verse 4. Again,
for most of us, the new revelation in this passage is
this: though the Apostles/disciples spoke in
(6a1)"tongues", or language(s),
foreign to their understanding, each "devout
man"/bystander from a different nation, who normally spoke
and heard in their own native tongue or language, heard
God speak through the disciples/Apostles in each "devout
man’s" own native language/tongue.
(6a1) "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance {spoke through them}": The
following definitions are from New Exhaustive Strong’s
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary.
OTHER:
NT:2087 heteros... other or
different: KJV - altered,...
some, strange.
TONGUES:
NT:1100 glossa ... the tongue ... a
language (specially, one naturally unaquired)" {language(s)
foreign to the speaker, and most often to the
listener)
(6b) "What verse, and what specific words, tell us the answer to
this question?":Verse 4, " And they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance {spoke through them}.
(7) Describe what caused the confusion in the
"devout men", or bystanders. {Verses 2-6}
ANSWER: The confusion was caused when, "2
...suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of
a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting. 3 Then there
appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire,
and one sat upon each of them. 4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance {spoke through them}.
5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout
men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when
this sound occurred, the multitude came together,
and were confused when this sound occurred because
everyone heard them speak in his own language."
(8) The "devout men" heard the disciples and Apostles
speaking "in their own tongues". What was God’s Holy Spirit
saying through each Apostle and disciples mouth? {see vs 11}
ANSWER: The wonderful works of God. {see vs 11}
(9) Who spoke to the Apostles and Disciples, and how did
they hear God.
ANSWER: They heard the Holy Spirit of God speak
through their mouths in tongues.
|
{Acts 2:1-39 continued}
14 [ (1)Same as Joel
2:28-32]
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to
them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be
known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you
suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is
what was spoken by the prophet (1)Joel: 17 'And
it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I
will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your
daughters shall (2)prophesy, Your young
men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in
those days; And they shall (2)prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth
beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be
turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of
the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.'...
25 For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD {God our
Father} always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I
may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and
(3)my tongue was glad; Moreover (4)my
flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul
{mind} in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One {Jesus Christ} to
see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of {eternal}
life; (5)You will make me {Jesus}
full of joy in Your {His Father’s} presence <Heb 12:2>.'
|
COMMENTS, DEFINITIONS, and QUESTIONS: (1) What did Peter
and Joel say the "Promise of the Father" was/is?
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit
poured out on all flesh; and that through the Holy
Spirit "Your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My
Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I
will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth
beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun
shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the
LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on
the name of the LORD shall be saved."
(2) "prophesy": Definitions of OT and NT
"prophesying":
OT:5012 naba' ... to prophesy, i.e.
speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or
(2a)simple discourse)". (New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded
Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.)
NT:4394 propheteia... from NT:4396
("prophecy"); prediction (scriptural or other):
NT:4396 prophetes... from a compound of NT:4253
and NT:5346; a foreteller ("prophet"); by
analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:
KJV - prophet {a prophet delivers the message in your
native tongue most often}
NT:5346 phemi ... the same as the base of
NT:5457 and NT:5316; to show or make known one's
thoughts, i.e. speak or say"
NT:5457 phos ... (to shine or make
manifest, especially by rays... luminousness
(in the widest application, nat. or
artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or
figurative): KJV - fire, light. (New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.)
(2a) "simple discourse": American Heritage
Dictionary defines "discourse" as
"Verbal expression in speech or writing. Verbal
exchange; conversation... The process or power of reasoning...
To engage in conversation or discussion; converse... To give
forth (musical sounds); perform..." Understanding this, we
know that "prophesy" in the Old Testament can be referring to
either "prophecy", which is the fortelling of future events,
or any utterance by the Holy Ghost/Spirit that can be commonly
understood (for example a spiritual utterance in your native
language as opposed to various foreign languages, or
"tongues").
In the New Testament, according to the
definition above, one who "prophesies" foretells
future events as God inspires or speaks through
their mouths. Prophesying also includes anything
God speaks/utters through anyone’s mouth in order
to make His thoughts known in their native tongue
or language. In all cases, these speakers are
always inspired by God to speak His Word and love,
thoughts, opinion and judgments.
Remember, a prophet fortelling future events is
actually delivering God’s Word to you in your
native language or tongue so that all can
understand what God is teaching, or saying. All
these manifestations are given by God upon His
decision to reveal something to mankind and, or,
His people. It is all delivered through a human
being or an angel AS GOD SPEAKS OR SINGS THROUGH
THEIR MOUTH, or writes through their hand.
(3) "tongues" and "my tongue will be glad": "tongues": "NT:1100
... the tongue; ... a language (specially, one naturally
unaquired)..." (Strong's Concordance).
"my tongue was glad": For many, this verse implies
"speaking in tongues".
(4) "my flesh also will rest in hope": Part of God’s
Promise is that He will give us, His people, His "Rest
THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT." It is His Spirit that gives men
and women "spiritual" REST. God’s "rest" is the same as
"resting in His Spirit/Ghost". "God’s Rest" is extremely
important to you as a child of God. One of the "key elements"
in God’s rest is our ability to lay everything in His hands
and rest from our own labors. The Holy Spirit helps cause
this to happen.
God uses "His rest" time for the healing of your spirit,
mind and physical body. He often speaks with us during this
time, but sometimes is just quiet as you both rest together.
For most people, it is easiest to hear God clearly and
correctly during this time. We will be entering God’s rest and
discussing what it means to God for you to "enter His rest"
during our Prayer Meetings. We will further discuss what it
means to enter into God our Father’s presence and rest in both
our Prayer meetings and these Study Sessions.
(5) "You will make me full of joy in Your {our Father’s
Spiritual} presence":
Ps 16:5-11 O LORD, You are the (5a)portion
of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. 6 The
lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a
good inheritance. 7 I will bless the LORD who has given me
counsel (to advise, to deliberate or resolve); also instructs
me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the LORD always before
me; because (5b)He is at my right
hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad,
and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For
You will not leave my soul {mind} in Sheol
{Hell}, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11
You will show me the path of {eternal} life; in Your
presence is fullness of joy ; at Your right hand are
pleasures forevermore. NKJV
(5a) "portion of my inheritance and my cup": Who is
the "portion of my inheritance and my cup" referring to?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ’s/Our Father the LORD.
(5b) "He is at my right hand I shall not be moved":
Who sits at our Father’s "right hand"? See Acts 2:34
and Psalms 110:1>
ANSWER: Jesus Christ
(6) Acts 2:3, above, informs us that the 120 disciples and
Apostles spoke in tongues. Which verse, if any, in Joel
2:28-32, or Acts 2:1-33 which quotes Joel, promised that God’s
Holy Spirit would/will speak in tongues?
ANSWER: None. It is implied in
verse 26, "Therefore my heart rejoiced, and
my tongue was glad"
(7) What is the "Promise of the
Father"?
ANSWER: "I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh",
and all other manifestations that come through
Christ’s/our Father, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit: "17
'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says
God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall (2)prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream
dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I
will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall
(2)prophesy. 19 I will show wonders
in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and
fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into
darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of
the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall
come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
shall be saved'..."
(8) Who began Christ Jesus’ first church on the day of
Pentecost in Acts 2. In other words, who was the Holy Spirit
given to? We will discuss this in our study in some depth.
ANSWER: The Jews/Israel.
(9) Peter said, that God said "I will pour out of My Spirit
on all flesh", yet here we read that just the Jews received
this promise on the day of Pentecost. By saying "all flesh",
God included all the future Gentiles and converts that would
receive Christ’s salvation and God’s Holy Spirit through God
our Father’s Promise.
Whether Hebrew or Gentile, one MUST confess with their
mouth that Christ Jesus is their Savior and the Son of God
before God our Father will give the gift of His Holy Spirit to
them. Again, the Holy Spirit baptism is given to you by Christ
Jesus. In fact,1 Corinthians 12:3 teaches: "Therefore I make
known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls
Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord
except by the Holy Spirit." It is true that the gift
of the Holy Spirit is given to you as you confess Jesus Christ
as your Savior, Lord and the Son f God. However, just as all
human beings are to seek and ask for their Savior Jesus
Christ, so we must also acknowledge the life of the Holy
Spirit in us, and seek His manifestation and gifts
(10) In God’s Promise through Joel, there were certain
manifestations of the Spirit that were promised. What were/are
the expected manifestations God Promised through Joel, and
then later Peter. List them below {vs 17-24}:
ANSWER: "17 'And it shall
come to pass in the last days, says God, that
(10a)I will pour out of My
Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall
see visions, Your old men shall dream
dreams. 18 And (10a)on
My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My
Spirit in those days; And they shall
prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven
above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and
vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great
and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.'..."
(10a) In the scripture above,
God promised to pour His Spirit out on all flesh, on
Israel’s daughters and young men, and on His "My
menservants and on My maidservants".
(11) Re-read Joel 2:28-32 first, and then re-read Peter’s
statement in Acts 2:16-24. When Peter stops quoting Joel, he
begins to quote David in Acts 2:25-28, above. By doing this
Peter adds to the list of promised manifestations through the
prophet Joel. Re-read Acts 2:25-28 and list the additional
manifestations, originally spoken of through David, that were
given on the Christian day of Pentecost.
ANSWER: {For David says concerning Him): 'I/we
will see the LORD {God our Father} always before my/our
faces; I/we will sit as one with Jesus Christ in our
Father’s presence {right hand}, so that we/I may not be
shaken. 26 hearts rejoiced {will rejoice}; tongues
were/will be glad; flesh (will) rest(s) in hope; our souls
{minds} are not left in Hell/Hades; You will not allow us
to see {eternal} corruption; God made us know the ways of
{eternal} life; God will make me/us
full of joy in His {Our Father’s} presence <Heb 12:2>.'
(12) Compare how Jesus heard God at the river Jordan when
the Holy Spirit came upon Him as a dove, how the Apostles
heard God when Jesus baptized them privately as He breathed on
them, and how the disciples and Apostles heard God in the
upper room in Jerusalem. God delivered His Word through three
different manifestations. What are they?
ANSWER: Jesus heard His Father’s voice out loud at
the river Jordan when He was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles heard Jesus voice say to receive the Holy
Spirit when He met with them and breathed on/into them,
and the Apostles/disciples heard the Holy Spirit speak
through their own mouths when the Holy Spirit uttered
through each of them.
|
{Acts 2:1-39 continued}
29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch
David, that he is both dead and buried {David’s body saw
corruption}, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore,
being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him
that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He
would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he,
foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ,
that His soul {Christ’s} {mind} was not left in Hades, nor did His
flesh see corruption. 32 (2)This Jesus God
has raised up, of which we are all witnesses {give testimony}. 33
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured
out this which you now see and hear.
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit {because Jesus
baptizes you in the Holy Spirit}. 39 For the promise is to you and
to your children, and to all who are afar off {today’s Christian},
as many as the Lord our God will call <also Matt 20:16>." NKJV
|
QUESTIONS: (1) In Acts 2:33, above, Peter tells the
"devout men" and Christians today, that Jesus "having received
from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured
out this which you now see and hear." NKJV. What did the
"devout men" see and hear? How did the Holy Spirit manifest
through the disciples and Apostles?
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit spoke in tongues through
the disciples and Apostles, thus confirming that tongues
was/is included in the promise of our Father. Again, Peter
said, "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of
God, and having received from the Father the promise of
the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and
hear."
(2) Write down the "promise", spoken of by God our Father
through Joel and Peter, that brings all the other manifestations of God.
{vs 38-39}.
ANSWER: "The Holy Spirit" {vs 33}
(3) "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all
witnesses {give testimony}": In Acts 1:8, Jesus told the
Apostles: "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." In
verse 32, above, we see His words manifesting. Jesus gave them
the Holy Ghost/Spirit so that they could witness of, and for,
Jesus as the Holy Spirit spoke through them. Do you believe
you receive the Holy Spirit for the same reason?
ANSWER: Yes. All the manifestations through God’s
Holy Spirit are for the glory of God <Jn 11:4, 13:31-32>,
and because God gave us the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
Though God manifests through us in so many ways, each
manifestation through us witnesses to God’s reality, truth
and ability to save, regenerate and transform mankind into
His own character and nature. He is our only example and
source of pure righteousness and holiness.
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The Spirit Cries Out "Abba" Through The Mouth
Of The Son Of God
Jesus Christ Was Baptized In The Spirit, Is A Son
Of God, And Cries Out Abba:
It is because we are Sons of God that our Father sends forth
Christ’s Spirit as He promised. Many years after Jesus was filled
with the Holy Spirit at the Jordan River, we are told that while
Jesus was in Gethsemane under extreme testing, He cried out to His
Father, "Abba". Jesus makes His complete dependence on His Father,
and His Father’s Will for His life, obvious during His last hours!
Jesus said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You.
Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what
You will." [Mark 14:36; NKJV]
In the above scripture, we see the Holy Spirit
bearing witness, from within Jesus’ heart, that Jesus is indeed the
Son of God. The Spirit bears witness as He cries out through Jesus’
mouth, "Abba". The word "Abba" is defined by the New Combined Bible
Dictionary and Concordance as "an Aramaic word meaning ‘father’. It
is similar to our word ‘daddy’". The Spirit cried out "Abba", for
the first recorded time, three and a half years after Jesus’
spiritual baptism at the Jordan river. The Holy Spirit will speak
through you, His own words as He dictates. Obviously, sometimes the
word "Abba" is not said through the Believer immediately.
| COMMENTS and QUESTIONS:
(1) Re-read Mark 14:36, above, and write what you learn about
Jesus in this verse?
ANSWER: Jesus was in complete submission to His
Father’s will; and it is as "God’s Son" that He proceeds into
His suffering and sacrifice. This question should be discussed
by the whole group for individual insight.
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You Are Also Baptized In The Spirit,
Become A Son Of God and Cry Out "Abba"
In Galatians 4:6-7 we are taught, "And because you are
sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts,
crying out, "Abba , Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a
slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ
[NKJV]. This verse is critical to our relationship with God’s Holy
Spirit isn’t it?
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COMMENTS and QUESTIONS:
(1) The Bible calls us "sons"
and "adopted sons" rather than
"sons and daughters" because we
are all one in Christ: "There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free,
there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Christ
Jesus. 29 And if you
are Christ's, then you are
Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise. [Gal
3:28; NKJV].
(2) Who’s Spirit do we receive at our spiritual baptism?
[This Spirit is also called the Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost,
Comforter, Helper].
ANSWER: {Verse 6} "God has sent forth the
Spirit of His Son into your hearts". However,
Jesus posses/possessed the one Spirit of His Father, God
Almighty.
(3) Are you a son of God? If your answer is "no", or if you
are not sure you are a son of God, please tell us in the Study
Session, or contact Jerlene Palumbo and/or Chris Williams by
telephone, or via email
chris-williams@chris-williams-ministry.org
ANSWER: Yes
(3a) What is one indication that you are a "son of God"
according to Galatians 4:6, above?
ANSWER: "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into
our hearts"
(4) In what way do you and Jesus share the word "Abba". Who
cries out "Abba", or daddy, through the mouth of our Father’s
sons?
ANSWER: Our Father’s Holy Spirit.
(5) Explain, below, why the Holy Spirit uttered through
Jesus and has, or will, utter through your mouth "Abba".
ANSWER: Because Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and
through Him we are all "sons of God".
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[Rom 8:15-17] For you did not receive the spirit
of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption
by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if
indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
NKJV
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QUESTIONS: (1) By whom do we cry out "Abba, Father"?
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit
(2) Why does the Spirit bear witness with our spirit? He
witnesses to the fact that we are what? Please list 2-3
answers.
ANSWER: To witness with our spirit/heart that we
are children of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ.
(3) (3a)Why do you believe that
the Spirit is called the Spirit of Adoption in the above
verse? (3b)Do you believe you are
a child of God prior to receiving/being filled with the Holy
Spirit?
(3a) "Why do you believe that the Spirit is called
the Spirit of Adoption in the above verse?":
ANSWER: Jesus Christ was conceived in Mary as the
"seed" of God, through God’s Holy Spirit. We are born of
two flesh parents first, and then baptized into the
Spirit. Through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection
we become sons of God. This is an adoption however, unlike
God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who was perfect
when born.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines
"Adoption": The act of taking voluntarily a child of
other parents as one's child; in a theological sense,
the act of God's grace by which sinful people are
brought into his redeemed family.
In the New Testament, the Greek word translated
adoption literally means "placing as a son." It is a
legal term that expresses the process by which a man
brings another person into his family, endowing
him with the status and privileges of a biological son
or daughter...
By New Testament times, Roman customs exercised a
great deal of influence on Jewish family life. One
custom is particularly significant in relation to
adoption. Roman law required that the adopter be a
male and childless; the one to be adopted had to be an
independent adult, able to agree to be adopted. In the
eyes of the law, the adopted one became a new
creature; he was regarded as being born again into the
new family-an illustration of what happens to the
believer at conversion.
The apostle Paul used this legal concept of
adoption as an analogy to show the believer's
relationship to God. Although similar ideas are found
throughout the New Testament, the word adoption, used
in a theological sense, is found only in the writings
of Paul (Rom 8:15,23; 9:4).
In Ephesians, Paul's emphasis was that our adoption
rests with God, who "predestined us to adoption as
sons" (Eph 1:5). In his letter to the Romans, Paul
used the term to describe Israel's place of honor in
God's plan (Rom 9:4). However, Gentile believers have
also been given the "Spirit of adoption," which allows
them to cry, "Abba, Father" (Gal 4:6).
God's adoption of the believer also has a future
dimension, the assurance that the believer's body will
be resurrected (Rom 8:23)."
Because we are adopted through the Holy Spirit, our own
spirit will see the necessary regeneration and further
transformation into God our Father’s image, and we will be
raised from the dead..
(3b) "Do you believe you are a child of God prior to
receiving/being filled with the Holy Spirit?":
ANSWER:
No, because Romans
8:15-17 says "For you did not receive
the spirit of bondage again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out,"Abba,
Father." 16 The Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs — heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed
we suffer with Him, that we may also
be glorified together. NKJV
Verse 15 teaches us that we have received the "Spirit
of Adoption", the Holy Spirit, who cries out "Abba", or
"daddy" as He bears witness that we are "children of God".
Notice that God did not call us "adopted
children of God". Just as the "one begotten Son", who
posses the birth rights given by His BIRTH FATHER, we are
"heirs of God" and "joint heirs" with Christ our older
brother. Though God calls the Spirit the "Spirit of
Adoption" He did not/does not call us "adopted".
(4) The Spirit bears witness with whom?
ANSWER: With our spirit.
(5) Are you a spirit (spirit-man) in the flesh?
ANSWER: Yes
(6) What must we do with Jesus in order to be glorified
together with Him and our brothers and sisters?
ANSWER: Suffer with Him.
(7) What does "to suffer with Him {Christ}" mean?
ANSWER: Each person should answer this themselves,
using their own opinion, Bible notes, commentaries etc.
However, we have added two articles here:
(A) "...The Bible makes it clear that some
suffering is the result of evil action or sin in the
world. This type of suffering came upon man after the FALL
in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:16-19). But some suffering is
not related to the past. It is forward-looking in that
it serves to shape and refine God's children (1 Peter
1:6-7; 5:10). The Book of Hebrews declares that Jesus
learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Heb
5:8), and that He was perfected through suffering (Heb
2:10). Suffering has the potential of demonstrating
God's power (2 Cor 12:7). Those who suffer are in a
position to comfort others (2 Cor 1:3-6).
Suffering also helps believers to identify with Christ,
which is more than suffering for Christ. Through
persecution and tortures, people have suffered for the
sake of Christ and His kingdom (Phil 1:29; 2 Thess 1:5; 2
Tim 3:12). To suffer with Christ, however, is another
matter. Paul speaks of the "fellowship of His [Christ's]
sufferings" (Phil 3:10). Believers share in the suffering
of Christ in the sense that through suffering they
identify with Christ. To be a disciple involves suffering
like the Master. Christ as Lord and His believers as
disciples are bonded even further through the experience
of suffering.
... Jesus announced repeatedly that His suffering
was His mission (Matt 17:12; Luke 24:46). Looking back to
the cross, Peter explained that "Christ also suffered once
for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us
to God" (1 Peter 3:18)." [Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary]
(B) "... Suffering belongs to the discipline
of all Christ's followers (Rom 8:17; 2 Cor 1:7; Gal
3:4; Phil 3:10; 1 Thess 2:2; 2 Thess 1:5; 2 Tim 2:12;
3:12; James 5:10; 1 Peter 2:20 f; 3:14,17; 4:1,13,16;
5:10). Such suffering is called a suffering for God's
or Christ's sake (Jer 15:15; Acts 9:16; Phil 1:29; 2
Tim 1:12). This fellowship in suffering unites us with
the saints of God in all times (James 5:10), and is indeed
a fellowship with the Lord Himself (Phil 3:10), who uses
this discipline to mold us more and more according to
His character." [International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia]
Because Christ suffered for us, many of His strongest
are taken into suffering with Him. All sin is forgiven
through Christ and it is through Christ’s giving heart,
love and nature in us that we begin to ask ourselves "how
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