LESSON FOUR
BOOK B
THE PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
One of the major purposes of the death and especially the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, was the sending of the Holy Spirit to planet earth. The Holy Spirit has been upon planet earth from the beginning but has not been available to the majority of people until this advent. He would anoint various prophets or kings or certain gifted and called priests but could not anoint all flesh. God's mercy allowed for the former but the latter came because a perfect man died for the people of the earth.
Father God now was able to allow the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all flesh. Everyone now is able to be filled with the Holy Spirit. another name that John the Baptist used was "baptised" but not with water but with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist, whose whole ministry was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, said that He would baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with power.
No for the Kingdom of God to come fully upon planet earth we had to have the Holy Spirit come down and occupy the hearts of men and women who were able to obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON
The Holy Spirit has a variety of purposes and missions to accomplish here on earth but He is not just a force or power but a person. He is the third person of the godhead or the family of God. there is God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit. The power of God comes to us through the Holy Spirit and He is the only one of the godhead that is presently resident here on the earth's surface.
It is the power of the Holy Spirit that heals us and does miracles.
"Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" Galatians 3:5
"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God". 1 Cor. 2:4,5
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE POWER OF GOD AND GIVEN TO US ALL
The power of Almighty God is given for our usage from God. It is given to everyone who wants it. However, it does not automatically come. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that does these things. It is Him that does these miracles but you have to be filled with Him before they can satisfactorily take place on a consistent basis.
"John baptised you with water", he reminded them "but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit in just a few days". Acts 1:5 (Living Bible)
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8
Jesus said that power would come as a direct result of the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit. He said for them not to go out and bear witness to Him without this power. A resident power that would live within and amongst them.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance". Acts 2:4 (NKJ)
Notice it didn't say that a few select people were chosen but that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and that they all exhibited speaking in tongues as a direct result. This was the noticeable difference.
"And it shall come to pass in those days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy......." Acts 2:17 (NKJ)
All flesh meant everyone who was interested and involved with the Lord Jesus Christ. Not all the world but all the followers of Christ who wanted it. Not all the world but all the followers of Christ who wanted it. There were many followers of Jesus in those days but only 120 were in the upper room praying when they were initially baptised with the Holy Spirit and power came upon them. Certainly later many others came into this experience with the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES
this is a direct evidence that the Holy Spirit has baptised a person. they beginning to speak with other tongues. All you have to do is ask God the Father through Jesus Christ for this and act in faith, ask in faith, and it will not be withheld from anyone who seeks it.
Speaking in other tongues is a supernatural result of the in-dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. It is not a language that you know but it is a language. Maybe more than one. It is not known to you though. It does not come through the brain but through the Spirit to speak out through the mouth. Many people are scared of the Holy Sprit not realising that He is God and loves them. He would never hurt or scare them. However He is supernatural and not some inward experience of the human mind. He is a real person that exists as a person.
"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands Him; however in the spirit he speaks mysteries". 1 Cor. 14:2
Speaking in tongues can be interpreted as the Lord gives us utterance in a church service say, for instance. The Bible says that you can actually pray for the interpretation. 1 Cor. 14:13
This speaking in tongues never happened in the Old Testament. it is strictly a result of the New Covenant that God has made with man. The New Testament outpouring of the Holy Spirit has never been seen before in the Old Testament. It is something completely new and for this age. The last age.
GOD WANTS EVERYONE BAPTISED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus told all of His disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit. He said that He would send the Holy Spirit from the Father's throne in heaven. He would send Him to earth and that Jesus had to leave earth in order for the Holy Spirit to come. They both couldn't be on earth at the same time.
Jesus said that we shouldn't go out doing His work without the power of the Holy Spirit. It brings weak religion and fastens people's faith on to something other than the power of God to deliver and heal and save and change people's lives. No, God is not involved in all religions. Not even in all who call themselves Christians. Because of this very fact. the power of God is the aspect of God that delivers and sets people free. This is the work of the gospel.
All you have to do is ask. But ask rightly, from the bottom of your heart and believe that God gives to all that ask. Act in faith believing that you receive. God will place His Holy Spirit in your heart and the first thing that will realise this is your tongue which will speak in another language. If you don't give yourself permission then it will not happen. However if you do you will speak in other tongues as a direct result of being baptised in the Holy Spirit and with power. His power not yours. His Holy spirit and not man's ingenuity.
FURTHER READING
John chapters 14-16 inclusive
Luke 11:5-14. 1 Cor. 12:1-9. 1 Cor. 14:1-40
