ANSWERS TO YOUR BIBLE QUESTIONS
The Holy Spirit
I hope you have noticed how our lessons have interlocked with one another. Each subject takes us into the following subject. This will be done in another lesson, then we will branch out into other subjects that are deeper and more of the meat, as the Bible calls it.
The Holy Spirit is a very important subject and necessary for the continuance of our spiritual life. But it too is a misunderstood subject. Many people abuse the Holy Spirit also, proclaiming something is of the Spirit when it isn’t.
Although every church believes in the Holy Spirit, it is a controversial subject. Today, we want to answer many questions regarding the Spirit such as, when does one receive it, what is the evidence of the Holy Spirit, what will the Spirit do for us, etc.
1. What promise did Jesus make?
Jesus promised His followers another Comforter. If He promised them another Comforter, who was their Comforter then? It was Jesus Himself. Jesus comforted them. He healed their diseases. He encouraged them. He was their Comforter. Because He was going to leave them, He promised them another Comforter, and what was the Comforter He was going to send to them? It was the Holy Spirit (verse 26).
2. How do we receive the Spirit? Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Acts 2:38-39
Some people feel you have to pray a long time, fast, and do other things before God will give you the Spirit. But verse 38 says, if we repent, if we are baptized. Then we shall receive the Holy Spirit. It is God’s promise, so if we comply with the first two requirements, then we shall receive the Holy Spirit. We do not have to pray for it a long time nor fast for it. It is promised. We must believe God.
3. We shall receive power. Acts 1:7-8
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:7-8
We are glad to know the Holy Spirit will give us power. Power to do what? Power to live for Him for we cannot do it by our own strength. It is the Holy Spirit in us that enables us to live for God and live the life that we desire to live.
4. We will be strengthened by the Spirit. Ephesians 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;Ephesians 3:16
5. We cannot see the Spirit. John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.John 3:8
Can you see the wind as it blows through the trees? No, you can’t. But you can see what it is doing to the tree and you can feel it. So it is with the Spirit. You cannot see the Spirit, but you can see what effect God is having on an individual. “...so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” You can see what the Spirit is doing in their lives, and you can feel the Spirit in your own life.
6. God’s Spirit will guide us. John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.John 16:13
Not only will the Holy Spirit give us power, but will also guide us into truth. There were many concepts that the apostles could not understand, but when the Spirit came upon them, they understood. So it is important that we give our lives over to the guidance of the Spirit as we study the Bible.
7. Has the Holy Spirit always been for all people?
If God took of the Spirit that was upon Moses and gave it to others, then the Spirit was present in olden times but not in everyone. It was only in the leaders of God’s people.
8. Take not thy Spirit from me. Psalms 51:11
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.Psalms 51:11
We see that David had the Spirit and he was a leader of God’s people.
9. Spirit upon all flesh.
Joel prophesied that a time was coming when the Spirit of God was going to be poured out upon all flesh — men, women and young men. This was done on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Everyone may have the privilege of having the Holy Spirit in his or her life. It is for all now, but at one time it was not.
10. Will the Holy Spirit leave us? Genesis 6:3
And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.Genesis 6:3
The Holy Spirit will leave us only when we become disinterested in God and in His way of life. But if we remain true to God, the Spirit will abide with us forever.
11. What is the evidence of the Spirit?
The evidence is our obedience to God and the fruit that we bear. When people see this, then they will know the Spirit of God dwells in us.
12. How are we to walk?
“…ye cannot do the things that ye would.” What does this mean? It means that we used to live to please ourselves but now we live to please God. Now we cannot always do the things we would like. God comes first, and He takes first place in our life. Our life is planned and programmed around God. So it becomes necessary to refrain from some activities.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.Galatians 5:25
13. Wine goes into new bottles. Luke 5:37-38
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luke 5:37-38
The wine here refers to the Holy Spirit. In the same manner that new wine was never put into old bottles, so God does not put His Spirit into old carnal lives (bodies). After we are born again and cleaned up, God gives us His Spirit. We are then able to hold (retain) it.
14. What is the temple now? 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Just as God used to dwell in the temple of old, which was at Jerusalem, today our bodies are the temple of God and now He dwells in us. We must not defile this temple, for God will not dwell in a defiled temple.
15. How important is it to be spiritually minded? Romans 8:1, 4-6, 9
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
Romans 8:1, 4-6, 9
16. David’s prayer and request. Psalms 51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalms 51:10-12
Notice those words, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation…” Do you experience joy in serving God? If you do not receive joy in serving God, then something is seriously lacking. David says he felt joy in serving God and wanted that joy to return. May we serve the LORD in spirit and in truth.
SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit is necessary to have in our lives as we serve the LORD. God will lead us, God will give us power, and God will give us joy.
Material from the book Answers to Your Bible Questions by Wesley Walker.
More info: http://BibleAnswers.press
