Who is the Holy Spirit
For a long time in the church the person and work of the Holy Spirit has been:
• Ignored
- There was a greater concentration on the Father and the Son, but the Holy Spirit is biblical and is the third person of the trinity
• Misunderstood
- The old English translation ‘Holy Ghost’ sounds like an impersonal force. But the
Holy Spirit is a person.
• Resisted
- Fear of what might happen, but the Holy Spirit is gentle.
We live in the age of the Spirit. God has promised to give his Spirit to every Christian. In Acts 2:37–39 the apostle Luke explains that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. Then he reports 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38Peter replied, “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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. 37他们听了以后，觉得扎心，就对彼得和其余的使徒说：“弟兄们，我们应当作甚么呢？”38彼得说：“你们应当悔改，并且每一个人都要奉耶稣基督的名受洗，使你们的罪得赦，就必领受圣灵，那白白的恩典。39这应许原是给你们和你们的儿女，以及所有在远方的人，就是给凡是我们主 神召来归他的人。
Question 1
People were astonished (verse 37). What happened to their heart? What did the crowd of people need to do to receive the Holy Spirit (verse 38)?
Question 2
Discuss for whom this promise was meant to be (verse 39)?
Back in time - He was involved in creation
• Bringing order out of chaos (Genesis 1:1–2)
• The Creator Spirit – giving life to mankind (Genesis 2:7)
He came upon particular people at particular times for particular tasks
• Bezalel – for artistic work (Exodus 31:1–5)
• Gideon – for leadership (Judges 6:14–15,34)
• Samson – for strength and power (Judges 15:14)
• Isaiah – for prophecy (Isaiah 61:1–3).
The prophet Isaiah predicts 700 years in advance
1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, the blind 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Question 3
Read the verses above also in your native language. Who is the prophet writing about? Find out what has been fulfulled by the Son of God?
He was promised by the Father
• The promise of a ‘new thing’
- ‘I will put my Spirit in you’ (Ezekiel 36:26–27)
- ‘I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh’ (Ezekiel 36:26–27)
- ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people’ (Joel 2:28–29)
However, these prophecies remained unfulfilled for at least 300 years, until what happened?
With the coming of Jesus there is a great activity of the Spirit – not just for particular people at particular times but for everyone.
Question 4
Do you want your heart of stone to be removed and replaced by a soft heart (Ezekiel 36:26–27)?
Everyone surrounding the birth of Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit:
- Mary (Luke 1:35)
- Elizabeth (Luke 1:41)
- John the Baptist (Luke 1:15)
John the Baptist links Him with Jesus
John answered them all I baptise you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16).
Jesus was filled with the Spirit. Jesus received power through the anointing of the Holy Spirit at his baptism (Luke 3:22; Luke 4:1,14,18)
Jesus predicts His presence
Jesus predicts the presence of the Holy Spirit. However, He tells them to wait for the gift promised by the Father (Acts 1:4–5,8; Luke 24:49).
Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, at Pentecost, the disciples, who waited ten days in Jesrusalem according to Jesus’ command, were filled with the Spirit and received:
- New languages (Acts 2:4–12)
- New boldness (Acts 2:14)
- New power (Acts 2:37–41)
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For a long time in the church the person and work of the Holy Spirit has been:
• Ignored
- There was a greater concentration on the Father and the Son, but the Holy Spirit is biblical and is the third person of the trinity
• Misunderstood
- The old English translation ‘Holy Ghost’ sounds like an impersonal force. But the
Holy Spirit is a person.
• Resisted
- Fear of what might happen, but the Holy Spirit is gentle.
We live in the age of the Spirit. God has promised to give his Spirit to every Christian. In Acts 2:37–39 the apostle Luke explains that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. Then he reports 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38Peter replied, “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. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. 37他们听了以后，觉得扎心，就对彼得和其余的使徒说：“弟兄们，我们应当作甚么呢？”38彼得说：“你们应当悔改，并且每一个人都要奉耶稣基督的名受洗，使你们的罪得赦，就必领受圣灵，那白白的恩典。39这应许原是给你们和你们的儿女，以及所有在远方的人，就是给凡是我们主 神召来归他的人。
Question 1
People were astonished (verse 37). What happened to their heart? What did the crowd of people need to do to receive the Holy Spirit (verse 38)?
Question 2
Discuss for whom this promise was meant to be (verse 39)?
Back in time - He was involved in creation
• Bringing order out of chaos (Genesis 1:1–2)
• The Creator Spirit – giving life to mankind (Genesis 2:7)
He came upon particular people at particular times for particular tasks
• Bezalel – for artistic work (Exodus 31:1–5)
• Gideon – for leadership (Judges 6:14–15,34)
• Samson – for strength and power (Judges 15:14)
• Isaiah – for prophecy (Isaiah 61:1–3).
The prophet Isaiah predicts 700 years in advance
1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, the blind 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Question 3
Read the verses above also in your native language. Who is the prophet writing about? Find out what has been fulfulled by the Son of God?
He was promised by the Father
• The promise of a ‘new thing’
- ‘I will put my Spirit in you’ (Ezekiel 36:26–27)
- ‘I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh’ (Ezekiel 36:26–27)
- ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people’ (Joel 2:28–29)
However, these prophecies remained unfulfilled for at least 300 years, until what happened?
With the coming of Jesus there is a great activity of the Spirit – not just for particular people at particular times but for everyone.
Question 4
Do you want your heart of stone to be removed and replaced by a soft heart (Ezekiel 36:26–27)?
Everyone surrounding the birth of Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit:
- Mary (Luke 1:35)
- Elizabeth (Luke 1:41)
- John the Baptist (Luke 1:15)
John the Baptist links Him with Jesus
John answered them all I baptise you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16).
Jesus was filled with the Spirit. Jesus received power through the anointing of the Holy Spirit at his baptism (Luke 3:22; Luke 4:1,14,18)
Jesus predicts His presence
Jesus predicts the presence of the Holy Spirit. However, He tells them to wait for the gift promised by the Father (Acts 1:4–5,8; Luke 24:49).
Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, at Pentecost, the disciples, who waited ten days in Jesrusalem according to Jesus’ command, were filled with the Spirit and received:
- New languages (Acts 2:4–12)
- New boldness (Acts 2:14)
- New power (Acts 2:37–41)
Save this worksheep by pushing the EMAIL-button
Close in prayer.
CLEAR EMAIL