3. GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

3. Gift of the Holy Spirit

The ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus

John the Baptist denied that he was the Christ but said the one who comes after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:15-16) When Jesus had been baptized by John and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form. (Luke 3:21-22) John bore witness that on Christ he saw the Spirit descend and remain. (John 1:32) This was the evidence that Jesus was the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and that he is the Son of God. (John 1:34) Upon receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus began his ministry when he was about 30 years old. (Luke 3:23) He declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) After the baptism that John proclaimed, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:37-38)

We will be baptized with his baptism

Jesus said, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized.” (Mark 10:39-40) He also said, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) If those who are evil know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13) Jesus cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (John 7:37) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38) He said this about the Spirit, that those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39) He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive.” (John 14:15-16) The Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father sends in the name of Jesus. (John 14:26) He said it was to the advantage of his disciples that he go away, for if he did not go away, the Helper would not come to them. (John 16:7)

Tarry until you are endued with power from on high

When Jesus was raised from the dead and appeared to the apostles whom he had chosen, he told them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father which, “you heard from me: for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:2-5) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place – and suddenly, there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1-2) Divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them – and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3-4) Both Jews and proselytes, heard them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11) And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” – But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:12-13)

Peter’s preaching on Pentecost

Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them saying, “these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day – but this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel.” (Acts 2:15-16) “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.’” (Acts 2:17-18) Peter also said, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses – being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” (Acts 2:32-33) And, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36) When they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:38-39) Those who received his word were baptized and they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers – and awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (Acts 2:41-43)

Preaching Christ in the boldness of the Holy Spirit

As Peter continued, he preached, “What God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled – Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:18-20) As the apostles continued in ministry and faced opposition they prayed for boldness saying, “Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30) And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31) Under additional opposition, Peter and the apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men – The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree – God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins – and we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:29-32)

Conversion of the Samaritans 

When Philip preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ in the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12) The apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God and they sent to them Peter and John (Acts 8:14), who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15), for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:16) Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17)

Gentiles receive the Holy Ghost

When Peter was called to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word, and the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles – for they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. (Acts 10:44-46) Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” – and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:47-48) When relaying what had occurred to the believers in Jerusalem, he said, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ – If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:15-17) When they heard these things they fell silent and glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18) Later at the Jerusalem council, Peter declared, “God who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:8-9) When making the case that the Gentile Christians should not be expected to follow the Law of Moses, Peter said, “Why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15:10-11)

Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit through the ministry of Paul

As Paul preached the Gospel, he found some disciples of John and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Their reply was that not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit and that they were baptized into John’s baptism. (Acts 19:1-3) Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” (Acts 19:4) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. (Acts 19:5-6)

The resurrection power of the Holy Spirit

All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. (Romans 6:3) We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11) God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5) The Spirit helps us in our weakness – for we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words – which searches hearts knowing what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we abound in hope

The God of hope fills believers with joy and peace so that by the power of the Holy Spirit they abound in hope. (Romans 15:13) Who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? – So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11) Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12) The testimony of believers are as a letter from Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. (2 Corinthians 3:3) Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God – not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among us does not do so by works of the law but by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (Galatians 3:5-6) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14) What Christ has accomplished to bring the Gentiles to obedience was by the power of signs and wonders – by the power of the Spirit of God. (Romans 15:18-19)

You must be born again as a child of God

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God – unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:7) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) He also said, “The hour is coming, and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (John 4:23) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

The Spirit is life – our adoption as sons

You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you – Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romans 8:9) But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10) If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11) It is not a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but the Spirit of adoption as children, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15) The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16-17) The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed – for the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:18-19) Those who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly waiting eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of the body. (Romans 8:23)

Foundational truths

The starting point of the word of Christ includes the foundation of repentance from dead works and of the faith that is in God and of the doctrine of baptism and of the laying on of hands and of the resurrection from the dead and of eternal judgment for those who have gone down into baptism and have tasted the gift that is from heaven and have received the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the power of the age that is to come. (Hebrews 6:1-5 Lamsa) In Jesus we are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which we are also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11-12) Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit – for the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. (Acts 2:38-39)

Speaking in tongues and praying in the Spirit

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 14:1) The one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:2) It is desirable that we all speak in tongues since those who speak in a tongue build themselves up. (1 Corinthians 14:4) When praying in a tongue, the spirit prays but the mind is unfruitful. (1 Corinthians 14:14) What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. (1 Corinthians 14:15) Paul thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than others. (1 Corinthians 14:18) Do not forbid speaking in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:39)

Prophesying in the Spirit

We should earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1) The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. (1 Corinthians 14:3) The one who prophesies builds up the church as the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:5) In church it is better to speak in an understandable way in order to instruct others, than many words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:19) If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? (1 Corinthians 14:23) But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

Gifts of the Spirit

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) To each believer is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7) Through the Spirit various gifts are given including the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the ability to distinguish between spirits, various kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each believer individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11) For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12) For in one Spirit believers are baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and are made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Do not quench the Spirit or despise prophecies, but test everything – holding fast to what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)

Operating in the Holy Spirit

In Christ, we are to be filled with God receiving his Holy Breath. (Galatians 3:14) By the Spirit deposited in us, we become temples of the living God. (1 Corinthians 3:16) The new life of the Spirit purifies us and compels us in all righteousness. (Romans 8:10) Through Christ, God pours into us the living water of the Spirit, filling our hearts with love, giving us extraordinary peace with joy unspeakable. (Romans 5:5) We are not to serve under an old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. (Romans 7:6) Nor shall we teach eloquent words of wisdom without the Spirit, lest the cross of Christ be diminished. (1 Corinthians 1:17) Rather, if necessary, we shall tarry and wait to be given power from on High. (Luke 11:13) The Holy Spirit shall be our driving force – transforming, interceding, and empowering us according to the will of God. (2 Corinthians 3:18) The ministry of miraculous healing deliverance from demonic strongholds is carried out in the power of the Spirit. (Acts 10:38) Prophecy comes not from a man’s will, but when one speaks from God as the Holy Spirit provides divine unction and carries him along. (2 Peter 1:21) Signs and wonders are made manifest by the power of the Spirit. (Romans 15:19) Our boldness and inspiration are to be vitalized by this breath of God. (Acts 4:31) While the truth of the Word of God is our solid food, the Spirit of God is our drink. (Ephesians 5:18)