Living Waters

Lesson 2

“The Holy Spirit in History”

 

1. Into Our History

Suggested Ice-breaker:

Preparation: Before the study, collect of two or three (the more the better) things that have sentimental value and clearly don not have monetary value (e.g., a dirty baseball that your father gave you after winning a little league game). Hand these items to your guests and ask them to hold on to them. Whatever you do, don’t share with them how much you value these things (perhaps even treat them casually).

Execution: As you open the meeting, have each person display that item and ask them (and perhaps the rest of the group), to identify the item. Hopefully, if done right (ask them to describe the object in as much detail as they can), they will say something like, ‘Oh, it’s just a dirty base ball,’ or ‘A hat that looks like it’s been chewed up by a dog.’

After the group has given their assessments, you can dramatically challenge the group concerning their initial evaluation of these objects. For example, say something like (of course, cater it to your history and item), “So Bob, do you think it is just a dirty baseball that someone found in a field, but do you realize that my Father gave me that baseball when I was eleven as my team won the little league championship? Further, as an adult, when I visited my father, we would pull out this very same baseball and play catch in his front yard…” (You get the point).

Application: There is an important parallel with this exercise and the Holy Spirit. This parallel is suggested in the observation, that the Holy Spirit has been often been called,” The forgotten member of the Trinity.”

Question: Why would someone label the Holy Spirit this way?

The Holy Spirit is the least described member of the Trinity. There isn’t nearly the same kind of details given in Scripture about his personality as is given for the Father and the Son. Because of this, some have mistakenly concluded that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but a force. Also, believers often trivialize or are casual about the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This study is designed to highlight the often overlooked, though invaluable, work of the Holy Spirit.

Obviously, the illustration is not meant to suggest that the Holy Spirit is intrinsically without value, like a dirty baseball or a chewed up hat, but has value as I place importance upon Him. The point is, just as the ball or hat does not seem to have any value due to the absence of adornment or external pomp and flair, in the same way the Holy Spirit is superlatively valuable, even though He is relatively quiet or unseen in comparison with the Father and the Son.

Question: Christians often believe that the Holy Spirit began His work when Jesus ascended back to the Father (Luke 24:49). What is your opinion?

Actually, Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit, as part of the triune Godhead, was at work even before our world was created. (II Tim 1:9)

Question: Do you know where in Scripture the Holy Spirit is first mentioned?

The first mention of the Holy Spirit is found in Gen 1:2. Let's read that and follow the Holy Spirit through the scriptures and see Him at work.

2. Into the Bible

A. The work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament:

1. In Creation.

Gen 1:2: “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

As we can see, the Holy Spirit was present at the creation and active in creation.

2. In Redemption.

The Holy Spirit was at work seeking to redeem mankind. The Holy Spirit strove with man while Noah preached and prepared the ark.

3. In Inspiration.

The Holy Spirit inspired the Scriptures of the Old Testament.

4. Question: Can you name some of the ways the Holy Spirit moved in the lives of men, as well as the nation of Israel?

B. The work of the Holy Spirit in New Testament:

1. In the life of Jesus.

Examples: Wisdom- Matt 13:54, Word of knowledge- John 4:17-18, Prophecy- Matt 26:21 & Mark 14:27-30, the Resurrection- Rom 8:11.

2. In the life of the church.

3. In the world.

John 16:7-10: 7 “ But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me.”

3. Into Our Lives

In Joel 2:28-29, a promise is made that the Spirit will be poured out on every class of people. Acts 1:8 indicates that believers are to be the recipients of this out-pouring, so that their lives can become a witness to a needy world.

Question: How would you rate your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Notes

Foundations of Christian doctrine; Kevin J. Conner; Bible Temple Publishing; 1980.

Obviously, the illustration isn’t meant to suggest that the Holy Spirit is intrinsically without value like a dirty baseball or a chewed up hat and only comes to have value as I place importance upon Him , the point is just as the ball or hat don’t seem to have any value due to the absence of adornment or external pomp and flair, so in the same way the Holy Spirit is superlatively valuable, even though He is relatively quiet or unseen in comparison with the Father and the Son.

E.g., Job 26:13: 13 “By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens;” Job 33:4 : 4 “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Isaiah 40:12-13: 12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him?” Psalm 104:30: 30 “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.”

Genesis 6:3: 3 “Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." 1 Peter 3:18: 18 “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17: 16 “ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Peter 1:21 - 2:1: 21 “… for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

Genesis 41:38-39: 38 “Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?" 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.”

Exodus 35:30-33: 30 “Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 "And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; 32 to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, 33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.”

Numbers 11:16-17: 16 “ The LORD therefore said to Moses, "Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 "Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.”

Numbers 11:25 : 25 “ Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again.”

Luke 1:13-15: 13 “ But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.”

Because the work of the Holy Spirit is so vast, we will only touch briefly in this area.

Matthew 1:18: 18“ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 4:1: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Acts 2:1-4: “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13: 12 “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-13: 12 “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” Ephesians 2:20-22: 20 “…having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22: 21 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” 1 John 2:20: 20 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.” 1 John 2:27: “ 27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”

John 16:8-11: 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”