The Holy Spirit and His Gifts
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
By Gerald Rowlands & JoAnne Sekowsky
Introduction:
The Holy Spirit is probably the least unknown member of the Godhead (Trinity). In many places where people have at least heard the name of Jesus, they know little or nothing at all about the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately even within the church, there is lack of knowledge about Him.
Before we begin to study about the Holy Spirit it would be best to pray and ask Him to give us understanding of the same.
Dear Lord Jesus I thank you for dying in my place in order to wash away my sins. I thank you for your forgiveness and for the gift of the Holy Spirit, which you have promised me. Please open my heart and my mind to understand your word and may your word bear fruit in my life.
One of the reasons many Christians are indifferent to the Holy Spirit is that they think He is just a power, or something like energy or electricity, which can be switched on and off as they wish.
One possible reason for this misunderstanding is because of certain names that He is called in the Bible in order to symbolize His ministry.
1) What symbols of the Holy Spirit are referred to in the following Bible verses?
Ezekiel 37:9
Luke 3:22
Hebrews 1:9
Revelation 7:2
Acts 2:3
John 7:38,39
Psalms 133:1,3
These are all SYMBOLS of the various ministries the Holy Spirit performs, BUT He is greater than any or all of His ministries.
Discussion Question:
Why do you think these symbols are used for the Holy Spirit?
In New Testament, the Holy Spirit is described by PERSONAL PRONOUN, which we use for a person.
2) Write the sentence or the phrase, which describes the Holy Spirit in the following verses and circle the personal pronouns used for Him.
John 14:16
John 14:17
John 15:26
John 16:4
John 16:14
The following scripture ascribe many different feelings or emotions to the Holy Spirit.
3) In Ephesians 4:30, what are we exhorted not to do?
4) In Acts 5:3,4, against whom does Peter say that Ananias and Sapphira’s sin of lying was?
An impersonal power is incapable of feelings. It cannot be lied to or grieved. For example, you cannot grieve electricity nor can you lie to it or tempt it. But a person can have all these emotions.
5) What are the personality expressions in these following verses:
Ephesians 4:30
Acts 9:31
Acts 13:2
Acts 16:6
Acts 19:6
Romans 8:6
Romans 8:26
John 14:26
1 Corinthians 12:11
All these examples are expressions of Personality, which an impersonal power, energy or electricity does not have.
The Holy Spirit has the basic Characteristics of PERSONALITY:
intellect- the ability to think and reason
sensitivity- the ability to feel things
will- the capacity of choice and decision
He is indeed a Person!
Discussion Question:
Does thinking of the Holy Spirit as a Person change your thinking about Him? If so, in what way?
Now that we have established the Holy Spirit’s personality, let us see what else we can learn about Him.
6) In Matthew 28:19, in whose name are we to baptize?
7) In 2 Corinthians 13:14, what does Paul pray for the Corinthians?
Discussion Question:
What is the communion or fellowship of the Holy Spirit and what are its effects?
8) Write the Characteristics of the Holy Spirit in the following Bible verses:
Hebrews 9:14
Psalm 139:7-10
Luke 1:35
1 Corinthians 2:10-11
Through out the Scripture the Holy Spirit is associated with the Father and the Son on equal status, and He is shown to have the characteristics that God alone has. If we were to use theological terms we would say that the Holy Spirit is eternal, Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (All-knowing), Omnipresent (present everywhere).
9) In Acts 5:3,4, after telling Ananias he has lied to the Holy Spirit, what does Peter tell him?
You have not lied to men, but ….
This idea is essential to our understanding of the Holy Spirit. Peter is in fact saying that the HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD.
Here we can see one of the great truths of the Christian doctrine. As the third member of the Godhead (Trinity), the Holy Spirit is not only co-equal with God the Father and God the Son, but He is God. Therefore He must be equally reverenced, respected and honored. And we should get to know Him as much as we do the other members of the Divine Trinity.
Personal Application:
1) Have you been thinking of the Holy Spirit as more of a power or force than a Person? If so, let your understanding be expanded.
2) Have you honored Him as a co-equal member of the Trinity or Godhead?
3) During this coming week make an effort to begin seeing the Holy Spirit both as a Person and as God? If you haven’t done so in the past, begin speaking to Him, sharing your heart and your needs with Him.
Memory Work
“ And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him, neither knows Him; but you know him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:16,17)
The fullness of the Holy Spirit predicted
Introduction:
As New Testament Christians, our relationship with the Holy Spirit is radically different from that of the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon or filled certain key people and anointed them for special works.
Before we begin to study let us now pray that the Lord will that the Lord will open our hearts and mind and give us the understanding of the same:
Father we thank you for your Word of Life, and pray that you will open our hearts and mind to understand and to receive your teachings with open hearts. May your Word bear fruits in our lives. In Jesus wonderful name, Amen.
Bible Study:
To begin this lesson, let us look at some the prophecies of the Old Testament (O.T):
Read Joel 2:28,29.
Prophet Joel whose name means “Yahweh is God.” Is believed to have lived during the days of King Joash before the exile. One of his main themes was the Day of the Lord, a time when God would specially intervene in the affairs of human history.
1- Upon whom did Joel say God’s Spirit would be poured out?
2- Name some of the results that would follow the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
In this prophecy God was foretelling the advent of a new spiritual age. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the differences between believers would be erased:
1) Sexual- both sons and daughters- men and women would receive the gift of prophecy;
2) Age- both the old and the young would be involved with dreams and visions;
3) Social status- the Holy Spirit would be poured out on the servants of the house as well as their masters;
4) Religious distinctions- the out pouring of the Holy Spirit was not to be reserved only for the priests or religious figures. But on all those who believe on the name of Jesus and become children of God.
Discussion Question:
Do you know people who are experiencing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit according Joel’s prophecy?
Read Ezeliel 36:27.
Ezekiel’s ministry was to the exiles in Babylon. While he repeatedly reminded them of the sins which had resulted in their exile, he was also used by God to comfort them with His prophecies of a better future.
3- Of what did he foretell?
4- What would the Spirit of God who will dwell in His people cause to happen?
Throughout most of Israel and Judah’s history, the Jews looked forward to the coming of their promised Messiah (the anointed One).
Read Isaiah 42:1
5- What would be the Special quality of Messiah?
Read Isaiah 61:1-3
6- What is the effect of the Holy Spirit’s presence upon Messiah’s ministry?
Read Luke 4:18-21
After His temptations in the wilderness, Jesus returned to His hometown, Nazareth where He read that part of Isaiah in the Synagogue.
7- What did Jesus said after reading this passage?
By saying this, Jesus was declaring that He was the Messiah for whom they had been waiting, upon whom God’s Spirit rested.
Read Isaiah 44:3
8- What more promise is given regarding the out pouring of the Holy Spirit in this verse?
In this promised future outpouring of the Holy Spirit, all of God’s people were to receive this blessing.
9-Read the following verses and write the expression associated with receiving this experience:
John 7:39
John 20:22
Acts 1:8
Acts 2:38
Acts 10:47
Acts 19:2
The word, receive, is the term most commonly used in the New Testament to describe the acquiring of this experience.
Read Acts 10:38.
10- What particular phrase is used here to describe the Spirit upon Jesus?
Anointing is a term that many of us are familiar because of its use in the Old Testament. So the power of the Spirit is poured upon the believers.
11- How does Acts 2:4 describe this experience?
This phrase describes the effect, which the Spirit has within believers. They are filled with the Holy Spirit.
12- What are Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians here?
This scripture is more correctly written as, “Be being filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Greek tense indicates a continuing action. The condition of being filled with the Holy Spirit is an ongoing one. In order to maintain the fullness of the Spirit, we need to drink daily from the Source of supply.
Read Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 1:5 and 11:16.
13- What phrase is used in each of them concerning the Holy Spirit?
To baptize means to completely immerse or to submerge into. It has an even deeper meaning, which is to submerge into an element of this is the dyeing of a garment, which is submerged into an element which radically transforms the garment. To be baptized in the Spirit, therefore, is to be immersed, submerged, buried, completely surrounded by, enveloped wholly by the Holy Spirit.
Read John 7:38,39
14- What does Jesus say to the crowd in this verse?
The other term, the release of the Holy Spirit, describes the release of the human spirit, which takes place when it is made alive by The Holy Spirit. It is the release of our personality from bondage into liberty, from dryness into rivers of living water, from barrenness into fruitfulness. It surely describes what Jesus was speaking about in the above verse. Hence it is used much with the Charismatic Renewal.
Personal Application:
1) Have you personally received the baptism on the Holy Spirit? If not, are you open to the idea of receiving it?
2) If you have already received this experience, are you being filled with the Spirit on daily basis?
3) Have you experienced a true feeling of release in your spirit?
Memory Work:
He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, ”From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” By this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because He was not yet glorified”
(John 7:38,39)
The Initial Evidence of the Holy Spirit
Introduction:
How do we know whether or not we’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What is the initial evidence (the first sign) that one has received the fullness of the Spirit? To find the answer to these questions, we need to bear three things in mind.
1- We are concerned with the initial sign. While we agree that there are subsequently many other signs and evidences of the Spirit’s fullness, what we are looking for ids that evidence most likely to be the First sign that one has experienced this new dimension of the Spirit’s power.
2- We are seeking for the scriptural sign. Therefore, we are not concerned with personal experience or human tradition, but rather with what the Word of God reveals as the basic common denominator of those who experienced this baptism in the Spirit in the Early Church.
3- It is the Biblical experience of the baptism in the Spirit, rather than man’s idea of what the baptism is.
Prayer: Father I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to me. Please give me Your understanding of what you want me to teach according to Your Word. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.
Bible Study
Read Acts 1:14,15.
1) About how many people continually gathered for prayer?
Luke 24:44-49.
2) Why were they there?
As we all know waiting is one of the hardest things we Christians are asked to do. Yet these disciples had been obedient to the Lord and were waiting.
Discussion Question:
Can you share about a time God has told you to wait, and the results?
Acts 2,
3) On what day did this experience take place?
Pentecost is the Greek name for the Jewish feast, the Festival of Weeks. It occurred on the fiftieth day after Jesus resurrection.
4) What happened on that day?
This is the fullest account on Pentecost we have in the Bible. On this Pentecost, the promises of God concerning the Holy Spirit were fulfilled as the disciples were praying together with one mind and with one accord while waiting in Jerusalem. As the prophets had already prophesized about it, this was the Beginning of an entirely new work of the Holy Spirit.
There were several evidences that the Holy Spirit had come to these early disciples:
- a mighty, rushing wind from heaven
- flames of fire
- speaking in other tongues
In both Hebrew and Greek languages, the word for SPIRIT also means WIND. So it was important that there should be a mighty rushing wind as herald of the Spirit’s arrival. Wind speaks of life, power, movement, force, all typical of the Holy Spirit.
The symbolic fire was also extremely significant, John the Baptist had already told that Jesus would baptize with THE HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE. Fire symbolizes purging, purifying, cleansing, burning up the chaff and dross. The wind and the tongues of fire occurred BEFORE the disciples were said to be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, so they cannot truly be said to be evidences of the infilling of the Spirit. The evidence or the sign, which came so obviously after the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit was that they BEGAN TO SPEAK IN OTHER TONGUES AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM THE UTERANCE.
We are clearly told that every one there was dilled with the Holy Spirit and that ALL began to speak with tongues. The clear sign of every disciple on this occasion was the supernatural ability to speak in languages they had never learned. Of the three manifestations that occurred that day, only one was later seen to be a consistently occurring factor accompanying the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES.
Acts 10,
5) Who was Cornelius?
6) How is he described?
7) Describe his vision?
8) What did he do?
9) What was Peter doing?
10) When did Peter understand his vision?
11) What happened while Peter was preaching?
12) What was unusual about that?
Until his vision, Peter had believed tat the blessing of God were for the Jews alone. But, when he heard these men speaking in tongues and magnifying God, he became totally convinced that God wants to make Himself known to the Gentiles as well.
Discussion Question:
Can you share about a time God has changed your own ideas about HIM?
13) What did Peter say?
14) In Acts. 11:1-18, what happened when Peter came to Jerusalem?
15) Why?
16) What happened after he had made his explanation?
Peter’s argument that God had blessed the Gentiles with the gift of the Spirit in exactly the same way that He had blessed the Jewish believers on the Day of Pentecost and that they had also spoken in tongues was enough to convince the believers from Jewish background.
17) Acts. 19:1-7, where did this account take place?
18) What question did Paul ask?
19) What was their answer?
20) What happened when Paul baptized these people in water and laid hands upon them?
We have seen three instances that the baptism in the Spirit is a definite, concise, instantaneous happening. In each of these occasions the one factor, which is consistent is all the recipients on the occasions, were said to speak in tongues as a direct result of having been filled with the Spirit. We, therefore, suggest that speaking in tongues is a genuine and reliable initial sign of receiving the Baptism of Holy Spirit.
There are two other accounts in Acts of believers receiving the Spirit.
Read Acts 8.
21) To where did Philip travel during the persecution?
22) What was the people’s attitude to Philip’s preaching?
23) What was their response to the signs Philip performed?
24) What was the result (verse 12)?
25) What happened when Peter and John laid hands on them?
We through this passage understand that Simon, the magician, saw something happen as a direct result of their receiving the Spirit. Whatever it was, it occurred suddenly, dramatically and in a visible way. Simon desired the ability to make this phenomenon happen. Is it not feasible to assume that he saw the same sign that had occurred on the other occasions?
Read Acts 9:1-19.
26) What did Ananias minister to Paul (verse 17)?
In this passage which is the story of Saul’s (Paul) conversion, he receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and we know that later it was common for him to speak in tongues.
Read 1 Corinthians 14:18.
27) Although Paul was writing to the Corinthians to correct a misuse of tongue’s speaking, what does he say?
28) What else does he say concerning tongues?
Based on the Biblical experience, we humbly affirm that speaking in tongues are the first scriptural evidence (sign) of the baptism in the Spirit. We also affirm that there are many other scriptural evidences, which should follow this with out which the experience is incomplete.
Personal Application:
1) Am I willing to accept speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of the baptism in the Spirit for today as well as in the Early Church?
2) Am I willing to put behind me any misgivings I have about the Biblical basis of speaking in tongues?
3) Am I willing to ask God for this experience?
Memory work
“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared upon them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts. 2:2-4)
The Holy Spirit and the Believer
Introduction:
Before He died, Jesus told His sorrowing disciples that it was to their advantage that He goes away because when He did, He would send the Holy Spirit. As long as Jesus was on earth, He was limited by what He could do physically in a certain time period. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is limited only by the human will.
The first goal of the Spirit in our life is to produce salvation. Once we are saved, He turns His efforts toward giving us power for holy living and service.
Prayer: Father I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Please help me to understand the importance of the Holy Spirit’s work in me. I want to learn and practice all that you have to teach me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Bible Study
In John 16:8-11”
1) What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would do when He came?
2) Why for sin?
3) Why righteousness?
4) Why for judgment?
An important aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work is to convict, reprove and convince the unconverted people about sin, righteousness and judgment. Without the Spirit’s work we would not know our sinful and lost condition. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of the sinfulness of sin, how far we come short of God’s standard of righteousness, and of the awful judgment, which awaits every sinner.
Discussion Question:
Share a time when you were very much aware of the Spirit’s conviction or reproval.
The Holy Spirit also brings conversion and regeneration.
In Titus 3:4-6:
5) Why did God save according to this verse?
6) What was it not on account of?
7) How did He save us?
8) How was the Holy Spirit?
Read Ephesians 2:1
9) What does God, through His Holy Spirit, do?
Before we know Jesus, we are spiritually dead. When we accept Him, we also receive the Holy Spirit, who gives life to our dead spirits.
The day of Pentecost marked the beginning of the age of the Holy Spirit. Now God would perform His work among men through the Holy Spirit.
Read John 3:5,6.
10) During His earthly ministry Jesus repeatedly announced the ushering in of the kingdom of heaven. What is the essential requirement of this kingdom?
Read Romans 8:2.
11) What does Paul say the law f the Spirit of life in Jesus has done for him?
Read Romans 8:16 and 1 John 5:6.
12) How does the Spirit give assurance of our salvation?
Think how precious God is. Not only does He make us His children when we become saved, but He gives the additional assurance of the witness of His Holy Spirit.
Discussion Question: Can you share a time when the Holy Spirit has given you needed assurance about your salvation?
Read John 16:13.
13) What is another aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry?
14) How does He do this?
Read John 14:16,17,26.
15) What does Jesus call the Holy Spirit here?
Discussion Question: ANOTHER Comforter implies that there had been a first comforter or helper, as the word frequently translated. Who was the first Comforter?
When Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit, He was preparing His disciples for His departure. They, of course, were appalled at the thought that He was going to leave them.
16) What reassurance about the Comforter did He give them?
Jesus told His disciples that, although He must leave them physically, the Father was going to send someone else to take his place, Someone who would never leave them.
17) What else would He do?
Read Romans 8:11.
18) Give another aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work.
The word mortal means bound to die and refers to our physical bodies. The word quicken means to impart life. Therefore, the promise of this scripture is that the Holy Spirit, when He dwells within us, will impart life, strength, health and vigor to our bodies. Living in the Spirit is a health-promoting exercise. It will increase our physical strength and our life span.
Read acts.1: 8.
19) In telling the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the Holy Spirit, what did Jesus say would happen?
20) What would this power enable them to do?
Jesus used the word Dunamis fro, which we derive our word Dynamo, a machine which self-generates a consistent and continuing supply of power. Thus the power of the Spirit within us generates power to enable is to witness of Christ. Not only are we enable to bear witness of Jesus; we actually become witness to Him.
Another very important aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is His empowering of our prayers.
Read Ephesians 6:18 and Jude 20.
21) What are we commanded to do in these verses?
Discussion Question: What do you think praying in the Spirit means?
Read 8:26,27.
22) Why do we need the Holy Spirit’s help when we pray?
23) How does He intercede for us?
Sometimes when we pray in the Spirit, words are no longer adequate and we find ourselves actually groaning in prayer. This id the Holy Spirit praying through us “with groans that words cannot express.”
24) What is the advantage of having the Holy Spirit intercede for us?
When we pray, we cannot always be sure that we are praying in the will of God, but, when we pray in the Spirit, we pray the perfect prayer because the Holy Sprit has the mind of God.
Another way the Holy Spirit helps is in our WORSHIP.
Read Acts. 2:1-11.
25) When the people gathered in Jerusalem heard the disciples speaking in other tongues, what amazed them most?
26) What were the disciples saying?
Read Acts.10: 44-46.
27) What were the men speaking in tongues doing?
The Holy Spirit inspires a continual praise and worship of God in us once we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Many times when we are prying in our tongues or singing, we will have he sense of worship and glorifying God.
Read John 4:24
28) What two ways must we worship God?
How do we worship God in the Spirit? Men have often discussed this question. But by the giving of the Holy Spirit, we can now worship God in our spirits, which are joined to the Holy Spirit.
Read Philippians 3:3.
29) Who does Paul say are of the TRUE circumcision (God’s inheritors)?
Read Galatians 5: 22,23.
30) What are the fruit of the Spirit?
The fruit of the Spirit cannot be produced by the natural man. No matter how refined or educated a person may be, God’s character is only seen in him when God the Holy Spirit lives in him.
Personal Application:
1) Are there things I’m doing that I know hinder the work of the Holy Spirit?
2) Am I truly wiling to cooperate with Him and the work He is doing in me?
If your answers were YES to these questions, you are now ready to receive the Baptism (fullness) of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says, ”If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink.” (John 7:37)
Are you thirsty for the water of the Holy Spirit? If you are then you may come and drink. It is as simple as that.
It is the Lord’s wish that you may receive this wonderful blessing as a gift from Him. You cannot nor do you have to earn it, for if you did, it would no longer be a GIFT of the Holy Spirit.
First you must RELAX physically and this will help you to relax spiritually and emotionally. Sit back and relax. You are in GOOD hands- the hands of Jesus. He is your Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, it would be good right now for you to ask Jesus to baptize you in the Spirit. Ask simply, quietly and in faith. Do not begin to beg or plead. Yu don’t have to shout or moan. Jesus is right with you. He can hear your prayer. When you have done so then, you must believe that He has answered your prayer and RECEIVE the Spirit by faith.
Remember to do it in faith. “What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” (Mark 11:24). This is not an emotional experience. It is a miracle. A supernatural ability given by the Spirit. Yet it does not mean that it is difficult to do. It simply means you co-operate with God. The miracle is in the language that we are given to speak. And it occurs when the Holy Spirit gives you words to speak in a language you have never learnt or possibly even hears before.
Once you begin to speak, keep it up. Do not stop. Let it keep flowing. The more it flows, the freer you will become.
May the Lord bless you as you seek Him and His will with diligence.
Why Speak in Tongues?
Introduction:
In this lesson we are going to find the answer to a question many people have asked: What is the purpose or benefit of speaking in languages which one does not understand?
Prayer: Father I know you give only good gifts. Please help me to understand what you hope to achieve in me when you give me the gifts of tongues. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.
Bible Study
People who would put down God’s gift of speaking in tongues frequently use some of Paul’s statements, which were specially directed against the members of the unruly Corinthian church. However, Paul made other statements that show how he felt about this gift.
1) What does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 14:5?
2) What does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 14:18?
Notice Paul’s intimate emphasis, “I thank my God…” Speaking to God in languages of the Spirit increases and strengthens the awareness of one’s personal, intimate relationship and fellowship with God.
Discussion Question:
Have you personally experienced this intimate fellowship with God? Share one experience that was particularly meaningful to you.
3) What does Paul call speaking in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14:2
Paul thanked God for the privilege of speaking such holy and intimate mysteries.
4) What does Paul say about our understanding when we pray in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14:14?
When Paul says our understanding is unfruitful, he means that our mind is in neutral. Thus we are relaxed, refreshed and edified by this spiritual exercise.
What is God purpose in giving us a language we don’t understand?
The first reason for speaking in tongues is that it is God’s will for us.
Discussion Question:
Do you believe God wants every Christian to speak in tongues? If not, why not?
Read Acts. 2:4.
This is the scene in Jerusalem when on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples.
5) What was the physical evidence of their infilling with the Holy Spirit?
Read Acts. 10:46.
When Peter visited the house of Cornelius, the Roman centurion, and shared the Gospel with the people there, much the same thing happened, amazing Peter’s Jewish companion.
6) What does Scripture say happened which startled the Jewish converts?
The source of their amazement lay in the fact that till this time, these people had believed that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was for Jewish converts only.
Read Acts. 19:6.
When Paul was in Ephesus, he came upon a group of believers who knew nothing about the Holy Spirit.
7) When he laid hands upon them, what was the result?
The second reason for speaking in tongues is that it is the scriptural, initial evidence of the fullness for the Spirit.
Read Romans 8:26,27.
8) What problem does Paul make note of here?
This is one off our human weaknesses. Sometimes when we go to pray, we are conscious that we need help and assistance, but we don’t understand what is really wrong nor how to parry about it.
9) How does the Spirit overcome this inadequacy for us?
10) How is He able to do this?
Because the Holy Spirit is God, He is able to search our heart and discover just where we are and what is amiss.
11) What does the Holy Spirit know?
Knowing the mind of the Spirit is another way of saying that the Holy Spirit knows God’s will for us.
12) How does the Spirit pray?
By praying according to the will of God, the Holy Spirit brings us into harmony with that will. He prays out all the complexes, inhibitions, negative thoughts that have hindered us, and He prays us into the positive, powerful, beneficial purpose of God for our life. This kind of praying is one of the most powerful means of “renewing the spirit of our mind.”
The third reason for speaking in tongues is that it is a therapeutic means of cleansing and release.
Praying for others particularly our loved ones can sometimes be difficult for us as well. When we know people have a problem or when God puts someone on our heart to pray for, we don’t always know how to pray for them. Our feelings for them and our lack of knowledge concerning God’s will for them can both be hindrances.
How do we pray for others at times such as these? The answer is in TONGUES.
The fourth reason for praying in tongues is that it enables us to pray perfect prayers either for others or ourselves.
Discussion Question:
Can you relate an experience or a time when you did not know to pray for someone and what happened?
Reread 1 Corinthians 14:4.
13) What does this verse say is one of the benefits of praying in tongues?
It is from the word edify that we derive our word edifice or building. Whenever we speak in tongues, though the words may be a mystery to our intellect, we are building ourselves up spiritually.
Our fifth reason for speaking in tongues is that it is a source of personal edification.
Reread 1Corinthians 14:2
14) Who are we speaking to when we pray in our tongue?
15) Where are we speaking these “mysteries”?
The primary purpose of this spiritual exercise is not that we speak to men, but rather that we may speak to God. Communing with God in this manner, we are freed from the limitations and restrictions of our puny and finite mind. We are not restricted to speaking only of those things, which we have learnt. We are released to speaking also of things, which we are taught intuitively by the Spirit of God. We commune with God about deep things, which remain a mystery to our finite mind.
Our sixth reason for speaking in tongues is that it is a realm of intimate spiritual communion with God.
Read 1 Corinthians14: 17,18.
16) What does Paul say we do when we speak in tongues?
Discussion Question:
Have you ever felt unable to adequately express your thanks and appreciation to God? Share an experience.
God has been so good that mere words seem too weak to express the reservoir of thanks we feel in us. Then here is a fulfilling way to do it. Paul says we can “give thanks well” by speaking to God by the Spirit, in language He gives. This giving of thanks supercedes anything that our human mind can furnish. It goes beyond the realm of poetry and ministry to God in the Spirit.
Our seventh reason for speaking in tongues is that it is an opportunity to “give thanks” acceptably to God.
17) What does Paul call praying in tongues in 1 Corinthians 14:15 and Jude 20.
The eighth reason is that it enables us to pray “in the Spirit.”
This is a prophecy of Isaiah relating to the age in which we live.
18) How does Isaiah say God will speak to His people?
19) What does God call it?
In this day of extreme stress, man perhaps needs rest more than in any other age. Communing with God in tongues is a most relaxing and refreshing experience. The body and mind can relax completely. We do not have to think what to say next or how to say it. The Spirit flows through us in perfect communion with the Father, and we receive the benefit of that beautiful communion. It is a tonic for spirit, soul and body.
The ninth reason is that it is a source of rtes and refreshing.
Reread Acts 2:11.
20) What amazed the Jews on the Day of Pentecost?
Acts 10:46.
21) Finish this sentence: For they heard them speak with tongues and…
Very often when we speak in tongues, the Spirit is worshipping, praising and exalting God. The Holy Spirit is magnifying the wonderful works of God through us.
Our tenth reason is that it is a ministry of praise and worship to God.
Read Ephesians 5:18.
22) What are we told to do in this verse?
This verse is also translated as: “be…being filled”. It is a grammatical form we do not have in English, which indicates a continuous action.
Our eleventh reason is that speaking in tongues is a scriptural means of maintaining the fullness of the Spirit.
Ministering to God in tongues is a valid means of keeping filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we ought to do this everyday and many times each day.
Read 1 Corinthians 14:5.
23) What does speaking in tongues, plus interpretation, do?
Our personal devotional tongue or prayer language is edifying to the one who exercises it. He alone is built up by the use of it. However, if this tongue is interpreted, it may also be a blessing to others. The one who speaks in tongues should also pray that he may interpret in order that believers may receive edification, too.
Read James 1:26 and 3:1-18.
24) To what does James compare our tongue?
James teaches that the tongue is the control center of a man. When we offer our control center to the Holy Spirit, He begins to bring our conversation under Christ’s control. Our surrender to the Holy Spirit in the gifts of tongues is a release of the sweet water of life, God’s words. By regular daily use of this gift, we will find strength to resist negative and critical talk.
Read Ephesians 4:29.
25) What does good conversion do?