THE COMFORTER (Part 3)
Memory Verse:
“ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized,
everyone of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” (Acts 2:38.
NIV).
LESSON FOCUS
We shall in the
course of this lesson be reminded that the gift of the Holy Spirit is still
available today. He was not just for only those who heard Peter on the day of
Pentecost.
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Luke 11:13
presents the Holy Spirit as a “good Gift” Whom the Father willingly gives to
His children when they ask for Him. Earlier in Luke 11:9, the Lord tells us the required action from our side is to “ask”, “seek” and “knock”.
The process shows some earnestness on the part of the one doing the asking as
he goes beyond the first stage of “ask” to “seek” as well as to “knock”. In fact the
Scriptures also warn us that we fail to receive because we do not ask, and that
the remedy still is that we should ask, so we may receive, and our joy will be
full as a result, John 16:24; James 4:3.
LESSON OUTLINE 1: STEPS TO RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
BAPTISM
1.
The new birth
is the necessary first step, John 3:3.
See also Matt.
9:16-17. Otherwise we may
find ourselves in the shoes of Simon the sorcerer of Samaria who thought he
could use money to buy the ability to dish out the gift of the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:9-24.
2.
We are to thirst for His baptism. Our Father is willing to give us the
desires of our heart as we delight ourselves in Him. Psalm 37:4; Isa. 55:1. What does it mean to delight ourselves in the Lord? Or
approaching it from a different but related angle, what does it mean for a wife
to delight herself in her husband?
3. Believe that the promise is also for you, and not just for
those who heard Peter on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:38-39.
4. Know that the Lord Jesus is the source of the baptism, Matt 3:11;
Acts 2:33
5. Believe He will unfailingly keep His word, John 7:37-39, and therefore ask Him and He will give as He promised, Luke 11:10-13.
6. And do not forget to thank and praise Him for keeping His
word, James
1:17; 1 Thess. 5:18.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: THE ACTUAL BAPTISM, THE BAPTISER &
THE EVIDENCE
1.
The Actual Baptism is described as the baptism of fire and of power. Both John
the Baptist and the Lord described the Holy Spirit baptism in this same way. Matt 3:11; Lk
3:16; Acts 1:8.
What do the “fire” and “power”
aspects speak of? Lk 3:17;Mal.3:2-3; Lk 24:49.
2.
The Baptiser Himself is the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8; 2:3-4; Jn 7:37-39.
3.
The Evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism include:
a.
Speaking in tongues, Acts 2:4.
b.
Manifestation of the
gifts of the Holy Spirit which are used in building up the body of Christ, I Cor.
12:4-11; 27-31.
c.
Life that manifests
the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5:22-23,
instead of the acts of the sinful nature, Gal. 5:19-21.
SUMMARY:
Desire to be freshly filled with the Holy Spirit so you can serve the
Lord more effectively.