The Holy Spirit:A Seven Lesson Study for Small

Groups andSunday School Classes

ByLarry V. Brown

June 2014

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY NOTES REGARDING THIS SERIES……………………………………………………3

LESSON ONE OF SEVEN:INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY SPRIT………………………………………………………………………………6

LESSON TWO OF SEVEN:THE NATURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…………………………………………………………………………………9

LESSON THREE OF SEVEN:NAMES AND TITLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT………………………………………………………………14

LESSON FOUR OF SEVEN:THE MINISTRIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT……………………………………………………………………16

LESSON FIVE OF SEVEN:SPIRITUAL GIFTS DISPENSED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT………………………………………25

LESSON SIX OF SEVEN:THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…………………………………………………………………………………35

LESSON SEVEN OF SEVEN:MISCONCEPTIONS & SPECIFIC TOPICS REGARDING THE HOLY SPIRIT…40

APPENDIX: STUDENT LESSON OUTLINES……………………………………………………………………44

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………68

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Introductory Notes Regarding this Series:

This series is intended as an overview-style study for an informal interactive

setting, such as a Sunday School class or adult/young adult Bible study. Many

excellent and exhaustive volumes exist on the topic of the Holy Spirit; the

present series presents an abbreviated overview on this rich topic, drawn from

both biblical and scholarly sources. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture

citations are from the English Standard Version.

In all lessons, questions, or follow-on discussions in this or other teaching

series, Scripture must be considered the absolute and final authority.

Instructors employing this series should consider the lesson plans “talking

points,” with each brief bullet warranting additional exposition/explanation by

the instructor. In this vein, the lessons are not prescriptively detailed such as

to be read verbatim, but are key points/topics the instructor should employ

and elaborate upon.

Participants are encouraged to interact with the instructor by completing the

attached lesson outlines, asking relevant questions, and “fact-checking” the

information with cited or relevant Scripture.

Importantly, a study of this length cannot comprehensively address all facets

of an eternal being; this study highlights important points that each bear

further follow-on study. Undertaking an overview of Deity is somewhat akin to

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explaining the operation of an automobile by stating “One replenishes the

fuel, starts the engine, and engages the transmission, steering, and brakes to

operate the vehicle.” Such a description is obviously simplistic; this overview

intends to focus on key aspects while encouraging further study/research on

the details mentioned.

Also importantly, the attached lesson outlines for students/class members are

instructional aids employing the fill-in-the-blank method to encourage the

student to follow along and to provide notes to aid in further research of

specific topics. (Blank terms in the student notes are highlighted in yellow in

the instructor guide). While the instructor lesson notes contain extensive

source citations/footnotes, the attached lesson outlines do not. For this

reason, the lesson outlines should not be used or distributed without the

instructor notes, which fully attribute the ideas and details to the source

authors and provide resources for students wishing to follow up on specific

topics.

As Wesley noted about his sermons, the desired approach and style of this

series is ad populum; plain truth for plain people; overly technical or obscure

theological terms are avoided except where absolutely necessary.1

1 John Wesley, The Holy Spirit and Power. (Plainfield NJ: Logos, 1977), vi.

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For the instructor, the author strongly encourages the reading and use of

cited Scripture during the lessons – or, if time does not permit such, a

“homework-style” assignment of verses for students to read prior to each

lesson.

Perhaps most importantly among these notes, whether this series is

undertaken as an individual or as a group, the insight and wisdom of the Holy

Spirit himself should be prayerfully sought before embarking on this study,

and before/during each lesson.

The author is both indebted and grateful to

Dr. Harold Willmington, under whom the author was honored to

sit while studying the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

Larry V. Brown

Lynchburg VA, 2014

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Lesson One of Seven:Introduction to the Holy Sprit

Instructor notes: while this lesson appears shorter than subsequent lessons, itis intended to allow time for first-meeting logistics, and for any student questions to note for future lessons. However, the instructor should not attempt to answer questions during this session that are covered in later sessions; these questions are intended to help the instructor prepare for the occasion when they arise during the appropriate lesson.

I. The study of the Holy Spirit is vitally important for the

Christian:

A. The Holy Spirit is the point at which the Trinity becomes

personal. God the Father is often thought of as distant

and less approachable, the biblical record of God the Son

is two millennia removed from us, but God the Holy Spirit

is active in our lives and actually resides within us as

believers.2

B. The Holy Spirit is currently more active at this time than

at any other in history. The Old Testament focuses on the

Father, the Gospels focus on the Son, but from Acts

forward to the present time, the Holy Spirit has been the

most active member of the Godhead.3

2 Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998), 863.3 Ibid.

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C. Our culture values the experiential; the Holy Spirit is

the vehicle of the Trinity which most affects our emotions

and experiences; it is generally through the Holy Spirit

that we are most acutely aware of God’s presence.4

D. Non-biblical teachings such as evolution and humanism make

understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in Creation

and Inspiration crucial to defending our beliefs.5

E. The Holy Spirit has been called the “forgotten member of

the Trinity;”6 this is tragic, and this series of lessons

is intended to bring the Holy Spirit from the background

into the forefront, a position he greatly deserves.

II. Study of the Holy Spirit is not easy; several things make

it difficult:

A. The current role of the Holy Spirit seems subservient

to the Father and Son.

B. The Holy Spirit is represented in Scripture with less

tangible imagery than that used for the Father and the

Son.

4 Ibid, 864.5 Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today. (Belmont CA: Wadsworth, 2002), 261.6 Ibid, 261.

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C. Older Bible translations used the term “Holy Ghost,”

which gave a negative connotation in many believers’

minds.7

7 Erickson, 863.

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III. Key points about Holy Spirit – if you miss the later

lessons, remember these points:

A. The Holy Spirit is fully part of the Trinity and possesses

all aspects of deity:

1. Omniscience – the Holy Spirit is all-knowing.8

2. Omnipresence – the Holy Spirit is ever-present.9

3. Omnipotence – the Holy Spirit is all-powerful.10

B. The Holy Spirit, as deity, is worthy of worship.11

C. The Holy Spirit has all aspects of personality; he is

referred to in Scripture with masculine pronouns, not as a

vague impersonal “it.”12

D. Every believer receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit at

Conversion; this baptism is a universal Conversion

experience and not a separate phenomenon to be sought.13

8 Harold L. Willmington, The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. (Lynchburg, VA: Liberty HomeBible Institute, 1987), 21.9 Ibid. 10 Ibid. 11 Arthur W. Pink, The Holy Spirit. (Blacksburg VA: Wilder Publications, 1999), 197.12 Towns, 266.13 Erickson, 888.

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E. Conversely, the filling of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s

life is both commanded and repeated as a believer

progresses in the Faith.14

As a rough parallel, parents adopting a child permanently impart their name

and relationship to a child at the time the adoption decree is issued; this can

be equated to the one-time baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, these parents

will continually and repeatedly exhort and encourage the child throughout his

life; this parallels the repeated filling of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.

IV. Conclusions

In a departure from many standardized lesson plans, this first

lesson ends with a prayer in the Puritan tradition, “Spiritus

Sanctus,” which in Latin means “Holy Spirit.” This prayer is

presented in both the initial and final lessons of the series –

in this lesson to aid in an overview of the Holy Spirit’s

majesty, power, and awe, and in the final lesson to review and

“wrap-up” the topic:

O Holy Spirit,

As the sun is full of light,the ocean full of water,

14 W.A. Criswell, The Baptism, Filling & Gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,1973), 27-8.

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Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.Vain are all divine purposes of loveand the redemption wrought by Jesusexcept thou work within,regenerating by thy power,giving me eyes to see Jesus,showing me the realities of the unseen world.

Give me thyself without measure,as an unimpaired fountain,an inexhaustible riches.I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness,imperfect vision, languid service,prayerless prayers, praiseless praises.Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee.

Come as power,to expel every rebel lust,to reign supreme and keep me thine;Come as teacher,leading me into all truth,filling me with all understanding;

Come as love,that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;Come as joy,to dwell in me, move me, animate me;Come as light,illuminating the Scripture,moulding me in its laws;

Come as sanctifier,body, soul and spirit wholly thine;Come as helper,with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step;Come as beautifier,bringing order out of confusion,loveliness out of chaos.

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Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me,and make me redolent of thy fragrance.15

15 Bennett, Arthur G. Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. (Edinburgh, Scotland: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975).

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Lesson Two of Seven:The Nature of the Holy Spirit

I. The Holy Spirit is fully part of the Trinity, possesses

deity, and is worthy of worship:

A. The Holy Spirit possesses deity in the same fashion and

to the same degree as the Father and Son.16

B. Hebrews 9:14 refers to Holy Spirit as “eternal Spirit;”

only God is eternal, all else is created.17

C. Matthew 28:19 encourages us to pray in the name of “the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” listed together

as equal parts of the Godhead.18

D. The Holy Spirit is linked with the Father and Son at

the Baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17.19

II. The Holy Spirit exhibits characteristic of personality;

“Him,” not “It.”

A. Jesus uses the masculine pronoun referring to the Holy

Spirit – for us this is equivalent to saying something

like “his decision” instead of “its decision” – “his

16 Erickson, 873.17 Ibid., 874.18 Ibid., 875.19 Ibid., 877.

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decision” indicates personhood, “its decision” indicates

something less than a person.20

20 Ibid., 876.

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B. The Holy Spirit can be affected as a person:

A. Lied to – In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira attempted

to deceive others to impress; Peter asked them why

they had lied, not to the other Church members, but

to the Holy Spirit.21

B. Grieved – Ephesians 4:30 instructs us not to grieve

the Holy Spirit.22

C. Quenched – 1 Thess 5:19 states “Do not quench the

Spirit.”23

(Both grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit are

addressed in more detail during Lesson Seven.)

C. The Holy Spirit is capable of love (e.g., Romans 15:30 –

“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and

by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in

your prayers to God on my behalf. (emphasis added)); love

is a key characteristic of personality.24

III. Emblems used to illustrate the Holy Spirit:

21 Ibid., 878.22 Ibid. 23 Ibid. 24 Towns, 268.

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Elmer Towns provides the following list of emblems used in

Scripture to depict the Holy Spirit, Table 1, with the

significance of each:

Table 1: Emblems Uses to Illustrate the Holy Spirit25

Em blem M eaningDove The Dove speaks of the beauty and gentleness of the Spirit's character.Seal The Seal indicates the security and perm anence of the Spirit's grace.Holy Anointing OilThe Oil represents the Spirit's character and testifies to his Deity.Act of Anointing Anointing represents the Spirit's consecration and guidance.Fire The Fire is an em blem of the purification by the Holy Spirit.Rain The Rain shows the abundance and grace of the Spirit's supply.W ind The W ind portrays the searching of the Holy Spirit.Rivers Rivers indicate the abundance of the Spirit's grace.W ater The W ater sym bolizes the cleansing and effectiveness of the Spirit's m inistry.Earnest The Earnest represents the Spirit's prom ise of further future glory.

Adapted from Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today, 2002, 278-279

Of particular note among these emblems is the “Seal,” which

indicates “ownership, finished transaction, identification,

security, genuineness, value, and authority.”26 This Seal

provides one of the surest affirmations of the security of

salvation found in Scripture; upon this term, and the

corresponding “earnest,” we can be certain that genuine

salvation is not subject to later loss or retraction. The key

25 Towns, 278-9.26 Willmington, 1987, 34.

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boldfaced term is “genuine salvation,” which apart from our own

salvation, we as humans cannot ascertain in another person.

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Lesson Three of Seven:

Names and Titles of the Holy Spirit

I. Introduction:

Importantly, the contemporary term “Holy Spirit” is more

accurate than the term “Holy Ghost,” as ghosts are created

beings, and the term ghost generally carries a negative

connotation not befitting the deity and personality of the Holy

Spirit.27

II. While this series generally avoids technical terms, two

Greek terms used in the New Testament help us understand the

Holy Spirit:

A. The Greek term pneuma is often used to represent the Holy

Spirit. This term, roughly equivalent to our term

“breath,” is vital in words such as inspired (“God-

breathed”).28

B. Jesus uses the Greek term parakletos to refer to the Holy

Spirit and to reveal one of his chief functions,

“Comforter.”29

27 Erickson, 863.28 John F. Walvoord, The Holy Spirit. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991), 9.29 Ibid, 11.

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III. The names and titles of the Holy Spirit used in Scripture

reveal different facets of his character and personality:

A. Spirit of God

B. Spirit of Christ

C. Eternal Spirit

D. Spirit of Truth

E. Spirit of Grace

F. Spirit of Glory

G. Spirit of Life

H. Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

I. The Comforter (see parakletos above)

J. The Spirit of Promise

K. The Spirit of Adoption

L. The Spirit of Holiness

M. The Spirit of Faith

These names and titles each give an insight into the Holy

Spirit (e.g., Eternal Spirit alludes to Deity, Spirit of Wisdom

and Revelation ties in with his role in inspiring the writers

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of Scripture, Spirit of Adoption reflects our standing as

children of God).30

Instructor Note: As this lesson is somewhat shorter than others, students could be asked to offer insights as to what the names and titles above represent in the character of the Holy Spirit. Alternatively, as Lesson Four is longer, it is possible to begin Lesson Four as Lesson Three ends.

30 Willmington, 1987, 27-9.

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Lesson Four of Seven:The Ministries of the Holy Spirit

I. Introduction

The ministries of the Holy Spirit are best illustrated

by examining his works – in the natural world, in

individuals, and in groups of people. These works

include past, ongoing, and future ministries. Of note,

one of the most important functions of the Holy Spirit

is to teach us regarding the two central events human

existence/history: Creation and Redemption;31 both

discussed below.

II. The works of the Person of the Holy Spirit:

A.These actions can only be accomplished by the

rational, emotional, active and empowered Person

of the Holy Spirit; no mere influence or “force”

could accomplish these; Table 2 illustrates these

actions:31 Harold L. Willmington, Fundamental Facts About the Holy Spirit: A Coffee-Cup Briefing. (Lynchburg, VA: Liberty Home Bible Institute, 2014), 1.

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Table 2: Actions of the Holy Spirit32

He teaches John 14:26He testifies John 15:26He guides Rom ans 8:14He speaks 1 Cor 2:13He enlightens John 16:13He strives Genesis 6:3He com m ands Acts 8:29He intercedes Rom ans 8:26He sends workers Acts 13:4He calls Revelation 22:17He com forts John 16:7He works 1 Cor 12:11

Adapted from Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today, 2002, 287

Instructor Notes: To illustrate these actions, the instructor should have students read the relevant passages to illustrate the action. If time does not permit a full discussion, the actions teaching, enlightening, interceding, and comforting are suggested as a minimum for illustration.

III. One of the most important works of the Holy Spirit was at

Creation.33

Genesis 1:1-2 stresses the presence and role of the Holy Spirit

at Creation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the

earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over

the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering

over the waters (emphasis added).

32 Towns, 287.33 Willmington, 1987, 43.

23

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IV. The works and ministries of the Holy Spirit continued

after Creation, throughout the Old Testament:

A. The Holy Spirit gave prophecies – Ezekiel 2:2 – “And

as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set

me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.”34

B. The Holy Spirit gave inspiration to writers of

Scripture35 – 2 Tim 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed

out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,

for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

Notably, the Holy Spirit inspired/informed Moses in

writing the first five books of the Bible, which

predated Moses’ time and knowledge.

C. The Holy Spirit gave special skills, such as to

Bezalel to furnish the Tabernacle.36 While not

specifically delineated, the Holy Spirit may have

been a primary source of Noah’s knowledge and skills

in building the details of the Ark.

34 Erickson, 882.35 Ibid. 36 Ibid, 883.

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D. The Holy Spirit restrained sin – (e.g., Genesis

6:3).37

37 Towns, 284.

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V. The works and ministries of the Holy Spirit in the Life

of Christ:

A. At Conception38 – Luke 1:35:

“And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born willbe called holy—the Son of God.’”

B. At Jesus’ Baptism39 – Matt 3:16:

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.”

C. Filling Jesus with the Holy Spirit40 – Luke 4:1:

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.”

D. Jesus’ miracles were a result of the Power of the

Holy Spirit41 – Matthew 12:28:

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

38 Willmington, 1987, 55.39 Towns, 287.40 Willmington, 1987, 55.41 Ibid, 56.

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E. Presence of the Holy Spirit brought “immediate

conflict with the forces of evil”42 – if this was true

for Jesus, we should expect the same!

F. Elmer Towns summarizes the role of the Holy Spirit in

the life of Christ in the following chart, Table 3:

Table 3: The Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ43

Incarnation Hebrews 10:5

Birth Matthew 1:18

Growth Luke 2:40, 52

Baptism Luke 3:21-22

Temptation Luke 4:14

Ministry Luke 4:18-19

Miracles Matthew 12:28

Death Hebrews 9:14

Resurrection Romans 8:11

Glorification John 16:14

Adapted from Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today, 2002, 287

42 Erickson, 886.43 Towns, 287.

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VI. The works and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of a

believer:

A. Conviction44 – John 16:7-11:

““But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage thatI 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. “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sinand righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness,because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; andconcerning judgment, because the ruler of this world hasbeen judged.”

B. Conversion45 – John 3:3-8:

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say toyou, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of waterand the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not be amazedthat I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

C. Empowering46 – Ephesians 5:18:

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,but be filled with the Spirit”

44 Erickson, 888.45 Ibid. 46 Ibid.

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D. Filling47 – Galatians 5:16:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratifythe desires of the flesh.”

E. Sealing48 – Ephesians 1:13-14:

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possessionof it, to the praise of his glory.”

F. Indwelling49 – John 14:10-17:

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, 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. Whatever you ask in my name, this Iwill do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Ifyou ask me anything in my name, I will do it. “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, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and willbe in you.

G. Illumination50 – John 16:13:

47 Towns, 300.48 Willmington, 1987, 86.49 Charles C. Ryrie, The Holy Spirit. (Chicago: Moody, 1997), 95.50 Towns, 303.

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“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

H. Teaching51 – John 14:26:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

I. Intercession52 – Romans 8:26-27:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we donot know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mindof the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

51 Willmington, 1987, 95.52 Ibid, 94.

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J. Sanctification53 – “continued transformation of moral and

spiritual character.”54 2 Thess 3:13 states:

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

K. Restraining sin55 – 2 Thess 2:3-10:

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you notremember that when I was still with you I told you thesethings? And you know what is restraining him now so thathe may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

L. Distributing Spiritual Gifts56 (see Lesson Five)

VII. Role of the Holy Spirit in the future:

53 Ryrie, 25.54 Erickson, 890.55 Ryrie, 15.56 Towns, 306.

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A. Removal of restraint during Tribulation.57 In 2 Thess 2:6-

8, Scripture indicates present restraints against sin will

be removed during the Tribulation:

“And you know what is restraining him now so that he maybe revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will doso until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with thebreath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

B. Outpouring of Holy Spirit during Christ’s Millennial

Reign. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the

Millennium has two major components:

1. He will continue to abide in and energize the Reigning

Christ;58 Isaiah 11:1-2 notes:

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

2. He will indwell believers, empowering them to obey all

of God’s statutes.59

57 Ryrie, 185.58 Robert Gromacki, The Holy Spirit. (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1999), 242.59 Ibid, 242-3.

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Lesson Five of Seven:Spiritual Gifts Dispensed by the Holy Spirit

I. In this lesson, it is important to understand the difference

between three distinct elements:

A. A spiritual gift is present in a believer as a gift of the

Holy Spirit to edify the Church.

B. A natural talent may be present in a believer or non-believer. A

natural talent is an innate ability in a person; a

spiritual gift is bestowed specifically by the Holy

Spirit.

C. The Fruit of the Spirit is a result or outgrowth of obedience to

the Holy Spirit and to Scripture; the Fruit of the Spirit

is discussed in Lesson Six.

II. General points on Spiritual Gifts:

A. Spiritual gifts are generally given in combination, not

singularly.60

B. Spiritual gifts edify the believer, but their primary

purpose is to edify the Church or other believers.61

60 Towns, 312.61 Gromacki, 209.

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C. Spiritual gifts should be developed, but for the building

of the Church and serving others, not for self-

promotion.62

D. The Holy Spirit bestows the gifts in accordance with his

will;63 1 Cor 12:11:

“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, whoapportions to each one individually as he wills.”

E. No one person has all the gifts; nor is there any single

gift all believers possess.

F. All the gifts are important, though they may not be

equally obvious.

G. The gifts are listed in at least four primary places in

Scripture, with some overlap between the lists:

1. Romans 12:6-8:

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes,in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

2. 1 Cor 12:4-11:

62 Towns, 318.63 Towns, 315.

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“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, butit is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another giftsof healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered byone and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

3. Ephesians 4:11:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [pastors] and teachers”, emphasis added.

4. 1 Peter 4:11:

“whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

III. As noted in some of the specific gifts below, there is

some debate as to whether some gifts are still in operation in

contemporary times. Such debates are difficult and involved,

36

and beyond the scope of this series. Instead, consider the

wisdom of Millard Erickson when he stated

“In the final analysis, whether the Bible teaches that theSpirit dispenses special gifts today is not an issue of great practical consequence. For even if he does, we are not to set our lives to seeking them.”64

With that as an introduction, the following are recognized

spiritual gifts in one or more of the four passages above:

A. Prophecy – involves both predicting future events, and

calling others to repentance, both under the inspiration of the Holy

Spirit.65

B. Service/ministry – the gift of service, or of ministering

to the needs of others, is given to some believers to a

greater degree than others, to the extent that they serve

others above even meeting their own needs.66

C. Teaching – involves the ability to explain/apply the

truths of Scripture.67

64 Erickson, 896.65 Gromacki, 210-1.66 Ibid, 216.67 Ibid, 212.

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D. Exhortation – primarily, the gift of encouragement,

especially in drawing on experiences and scriptural truths

to encourage others in troubles/difficulties.68

E. Giving – involves a marked gift of liberality in sharing

resources (money, time, possessions, etc.). Every believer

should give, but the gift of giving involves “above and

beyond” generosity, led by the Holy Spirit.69

F. Mercy – related to exhortation, but may especially apply

in times of grief, loss, or discouragement.70

G. Wisdom – refers to a spiritual insight into the mind or

will of God in doctrinal areas. Traditionally, this gift

was ascribed to the writers of Scripture, and may be

interpreted overly liberally today.71

H. Knowledge – involves the ability to apply Scripture to

practical areas of life.72 2 Peter 3:18 indicates all

believers should grow in spiritual knowledge through

prayer and study: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of

68 Ibid, 216-7.69 Ibid, 217.70 Ibid.71 Ibid, 212-3.72 Ibid, 213.

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our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both

now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

I. Helps – involves aid or assistance to others in poor

material circumstances.73

J. Faith – while every believer is justified by faith, and

should walk by faith, the gift of faith is a special

capacity to pursue great tasks for God or through the

power of God.74

K. Healing – this gift is expressed most commonly (and

perhaps exclusively), in the New Testament era. Healing

via the Holy Spirit, apart from or beyond medical

knowledge/ability, is always a divine act. Divine healing

in the contemporary era can result from intense prayer or

great faith, but still results from divine action, not

from special powers imbued in an individual.75

L. Miracles – like healing above, miracles today are the

result of divine intervention, perhaps intended to draw

73 Ibid, 215-6.74 Ibid, 213.75 Ibid, 213-4.

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attention to the power of God, but unlikely because of an

individual’s special powers.76

M. Discernment/testing of spirits – Scripture is clear

regarding the reality of spiritual warfare, and of the

ability of some spirits to imitate/counterfeit true works

of God. Given this, with miracles and healing, among

others, believers should pray for discernment in detecting

counterfeit works. In a broader sense, believers should

pray for discernment in determining the spiritual veracity

of ideas, claims, or thoughts that may have human, rather

than divine, origins.77

N. Speaking in tongues/interpretation of tongues – this

refers to an ability to speak in a language previously

unknown to the believer. As the believer may not recognize

the actual words, Scripture points out the necessity of

interpretation for the edification of others.78 The

debates regarding whether the tongues are of other human

languages, or languages unknown to humans, and regarding

76 Ibid, 214.77 Ibid, 214-5.78 Ibid, 215.

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whether the gift of tongues is a gift bestowed by the Holy

Spirit in the current age, are beyond the scope of this

series.

O. Apostleship – the gift of apostleship in Scripture is

limited to a select group of men who had encountered the

resurrected Christ and had been specifically commissioned

to preach/witness in the early Church age. While the

functions of the apostle are similar to current

missionaries and evangelists, it cannot be established

that contemporary people have received the gift of

apostleship as used in a New Testament context.79

P. Evangelism – involves the gift of spreading the Gospel of

Jesus Christ. While all believers are called to witness

and share their faith, not all believers are specifically

gifted by the Holy Spirit as evangelists.80

Q. Pastoring – the gift of pastoring is closely tied to the

concept of a shepherd, and especially of representing

Christ, the Good Shepherd. While it encompasses teaching,

pastoring is a broader gift that – like a shepherd –

79 Ibid, 210.80 Ibid, 211.

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provides for, watches over, and “feeds” (i.e., with the

Word of God) those in his charge.81

R. Leadership/Administration – the gift of guiding or

standing before others to enable them to follow God’s

paths, and to promote the effective operation of the

Church.82

IV. Desiring Spiritual Gifts - A Hierarchy of Spiritual Gifts??

A. Scripture instructs us in 1 Cor 12:31 to “earnestly desire

the higher gifts” – implicit in this instruction are two

points:

1. We should seek spiritual gifts, or pursue development

of the gifts we have, and

2. Some gifts are more desirable than others.

B. In 1 Cor 12:28, Paul does seem to list a hierarchy of

important gifts: “God has appointed in the church first

apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles,

then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and

various kinds of tongues.”

81 Ibid, 211-2.82 Ibid, 216-7.

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C. Notably, however, in this same chapter, Paul discusses the

need for each spiritual gift, whether a visible “front-

line” gift, or a gift that may not receive much attention

– every gift is important for the success and vitality of

the Church.

D. For a fuller understanding of the context of this

discussion, a careful reading of 1 Cor 12 is both helpful

and instructive:

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not wantyou to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagansyou were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the sameLord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faithby the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, toanother the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 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.

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For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “BecauseI am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were anear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need ofyou,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need ofyou.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, givinggreater honor to the part that lacked it, that there maybe no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ andindividually members of it. And God has appointed in thechurch first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”

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Lesson Six of Seven:The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

I. Lesson Introduction:

As noted in earlier lessons, the Fruit of the Spirit is not the

same as the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy

Spirit are given to specific individuals by the Holy Spirit.

Conversely, as the name “fruit” implies, the Fruit of the

Spirit is to be cultivated/developed over time by all believers

in their ongoing growth and maturity as Christians. While the

gifts of the Holy Spirit are identified in several passages

throughout the New Testament, the Fruit of the Spirit is found

in a single passage, Galatians 5:22-23:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there

is no law.”

Notably, the “Fruit of the Spirit” is a singular concept

that involves several elements – while love, joy, peace,

etc. are parts of this fruit, there is only one fruit. As

a parallel, consider an apple – a single fruit, but made

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up of different elements – stem, peel, core, seeds, pulp,

etc. The importance of this singular versus plural

distinction is that all of these listed qualities are

present in the true Fruit of the Spirit; it is not a

“pick-and-choose” list. Further, the singular noun

emphasizes the unity and harmonious operation of the Holy

Spirit’s actions.83

II. The individual elements listed are:

A. Love – although the Greek language has different

terms signifying specific types of love, for

contemporary Christians, we should exhibit love for

all others and for God. Love for all others includes

our family and friends, our brothers and sisters in

the Faith, those we do not know (e.g., refugees or

unsaved persons in other parts of the world), and as

Jesus famously teaches, even love for our enemies.

Love for God includes a love and reverence for all

three Persons of the Trinity.84

83 Pink, 186.84 Criswell, 141-2.

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B. Joy – In much of the New Testament, “joy” seems at

odds with many of the experiences described – Jesus

described his joy hours before his Crucifixion, Paul

and Silas were beaten in prison but sang joyful hymns

to the Lord that same night. Such joy comes only from

the inner peace and assurances brought by a mature

relationship with the Lord in all circumstances.85

C. Peace – the peace described here is perhaps best

summed up in Philippians 4:6-7, “do not be anxious

about anything, but in everything by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be

made known to God. And the peace of God, which

surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts

and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (emphasis added) –

Regardless of our circumstances, communion with God

can bring us abiding peace.86

D. Patience – for believers and non-believers in

contemporary society, patience is an elusive virtue.

Human nature encourages instant gratification; only a

85 Ibid, 142.86 Ibid, 143.

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trust in God to provide and care for us – in his

timing, not ours – can produce this type of

patience.87

E. Kindness – kindness, akin to compassionate action, is

the opposite of uncaring apathy. Kindness seeks to

aid others; Ephesians 4:32 discusses this kindness

and links it with forgiveness: “Be kind to one

another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God

in Christ forgave you.”88

F. Goodness – 2 Peter 1:3-5 discusses God’s goodness,

and notes that we should try to reflect his goodness

to others: “His divine power has given us everything

required for life and godliness through the knowledge

of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

By these He has given us very great and precious

promises, so that through them you may share in the

divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the

world because of evil desires. For this very reason,

87 Ibid. 88 Ibid.

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make every effort to supplement your faith with

goodness… (HSCB, emphasis added).”89

G. Faithfulness – faithfulness is noted as an attribute

of our character where we rest secure in God’s

promises and his own faithfulness, we calm ourselves

and trust God.90

H. Gentleness – sometimes translated as “meekness,”

gentleness is a condition where we deal with others –

not just fellow believers – with a gentle demeanor,

not a harsh response.91

I. Self-control – self-control is a condition –

difficult both to attain and to maintain – where we

respond in a measured way, whether to temptation,

sin, or provocation. Those lacking self-control may

quickly lose their temper or their testimony.92

In combination, these attributes of the Fruit of the

Spirit represent a combination of virtues that – as even

89 Ibid, 143.90 Ibid. 91 Ibid, 144.92 Ibid.

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their name implies – is attainable only by the help and

guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Instructor Note: For the more mature student, the instructor may point out that the “Fruit of the Spirit” may also include the context of soul-winning as spiritual fruit; passages such as John 4:35-36 and Romans 1:13 refer to souls won as fruit for the Kingdom.

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Lesson Seven of Seven:Misconceptions & Specific Topics Regarding the Holy Spirit

Note for Instructors: The topics in this lesson may evoke strident responses from your students, who may come from varied experiential backgrounds. The instructor is advised to respect students’ opinions, but to use scriptural precedent (or lack thereof) – and not individual experiences - as the primary basis for discussion/debate.

I. Introduction

As with every lesson in this series, the focus has been on what

Scripture teaches regarding the Holy Spirit. Lesson Seven

continues with that emphasis, and Scripture will remain the

final guide and authority in any issues we discuss.

II. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

A. Lesson One of this series noted that every believer

receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Conversion;

this baptism is a universal Conversion experience and not

a separate phenomenon to be sought. Some teach that the

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate, unique post-

Conversion experience to be sought by believers. A

commonly held “evidence” of this subsequent “baptism” is

that of speaking in tongues; neither this position nor its

“evidence” is supported by Scripture. While proponents of

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this position may experience various feelings, emotions,

or other expressions (e.g., barking, laughing), without

Scriptural support these expressions must be considered,

at best, suggestively induced.

B. Conversely, the filling of the Holy Spirit is a

separate, repeatable phenomenon that fosters

sanctification or equips one for special specific works.

III. Being “Slain in the Spirit”

A. Various proponents of this position hold that one can be

overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit to such a degree that they

fall backwards, with varying degrees of consciousness.

B. This position/practice has no scriptural warrant and must

be viewed skeptically. While the Holy Spirit may indeed

overcome a person, in every recorded scriptural case of a

person encountering a Holy Being, they fell forward, not

backward. Further, falling backward (away from God’s

representative) was generally a sign of displeasure from

God (e.g., Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5).

IV. Grieving the Holy Spirit

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A. Ephesians 4:30, in a list of instructions for

believers, warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit; in

contemporary language we may say “sadden” or “bring

sorrow to” instead of “grieve”: “And do not grieve the

Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day

of redemption.”

B. The Holy Spirit can be grieved in several ways. Notably, In

Ephesians 4 and 5, Paul list several such ways: believers

can act like nonbelievers in their conduct and actions,

yield to sinful temptations, steal, lie, lose control of

their temper, fail to forgive, or participate in sexual

immorality.93

C. One specific way, very relevant to our times, to grieve the

Holy Spirit is to doubt the historicity and

inspiration/reliability of Scripture, perhaps most

especially the Genesis account of Creation, and the accounts

of Jesus’ Resurrection in the Gospels.

V. Quenching the Holy Spirit

In 1 Thess 5:19 Paul states “Do not quench the Spirit.” Just a fire

can be quenched (extinguished), the desired action of the Holy

93 Gromacki, 16.

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Spirit can be quenched by our failure to obey his leading, or by

preventing him from doing what he wants to do in our life, in

another’s life, or in a worship service.94

Note for Instructors: At this point, you may wish to add other material you feel was not addressed fully in previous lessons, or answer any student questions that remain from previous lessons.

VI. As we close this series, let’s recall the Puritan prayer

“Spiritus Sanctus” that we introduced in Lesson One. After our

studies together, this prayer will likely seem more vibrant and

easily understood; I encourage you to incorporate it into your

personal devotional and prayer time:

O Holy Spirit,

As the sun is full of light,the ocean full of water,Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.Vain are all divine purposes of loveand the redemption wrought by Jesusexcept thou work within,regenerating by thy power,giving me eyes to see Jesus,showing me the realities of the unseen world.

Give me thyself without measure,as an unimpaired fountain,an inexhaustible riches.I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness,imperfect vision, languid service,prayerless prayers, praiseless praises.Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee.94 Ibid.

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Come as power,to expel every rebel lust,to reign supreme and keep me thine;Come as teacher,leading me into all truth,filling me with all understanding;

Come as love,that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;Come as joy,to dwell in me, move me, animate me;Come as light,illuminating the Scripture,moulding me in its laws;

Come as sanctifier,body, soul and spirit wholly thine;Come as helper,with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step;Come as beautifier,bringing order out of confusion,loveliness out of chaos.

Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me,and make me redolent of thy fragrance.95

95 Bennett.

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APPENDIX: STUDENT LESSON OUTLINESLesson One of Seven: Introduction to the Holy Sprit

I. The study of the Holy Spirit is vitally ____________ for the

Christian:

A. The Holy Spirit is the point at which the ____________ becomes

personal. God the Father is often thought of as distant and

less approachable, the biblical record of God the Son is two

millennia removed from us, but God the Holy Spirit is active in

our lives and actually resides within us as believers.

B. The Holy Spirit is currently more active at this time than at

any other in history. The ___________ focuses on the Father,

the Gospels focus on the Son, but from Acts forward to the

present time, the Holy Spirit has been the most active member

of the Godhead.

C. Our culture values the _________________; the Holy Spirit is

the vehicle of the Trinity which most affects our emotions and

experiences; it is generally through the Holy Spirit that we

are most acutely aware of God’s presence.

D. Non-biblical teachings such as ________________ and

_____________ make understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit

in Creation and Inspiration crucial to defending our beliefs.

E. The Holy Spirit has been called the “_____________ member of

the Trinity;” this is tragic, and this series of lessons is

intended to bring the Holy Spirit from the background into the

forefront, a position he greatly deserves.

II. Study of the Holy Spirit is not easy; several things make it

difficult:

56

A. The current role of the Holy Spirit seems _____________________

to the Father and Son.

B. The Holy Spirit is represented in Scripture with less tangible

__________ than that used for the Father and the Son.

C. Older Bible translations used the term “_________________,”

which gave a negative connotation in many believers’ minds.

III. Key points about Holy Spirit – if you miss the later lessons,

remember these points:

A. The Holy Spirit is fully part of the Trinity and possesses all

aspects of ___________:

1. ________________ – the Holy Spirit is all-knowing.

2. ________________ – the Holy Spirit is ever-present.

3. _________________– the Holy Spirit is all-powerful.

B. The Holy Spirit, as deity, is worthy of _____________.

C. The Holy Spirit has all aspects of __________________; he is

referred to in Scripture with masculine pronouns, not as a

vague impersonal “it.”

D. Every believer receives the ______________ of the Holy Spirit

at Conversion; this baptism is a universal Conversion

experience and not a separate phenomenon to be sought.

E. Conversely, the _________________ of the Holy Spirit in a

believer’s life is both commanded and repeated as a believer

progresses in the Faith.

As a rough parallel, parents adopting a child permanently impart their name and relationship to a child at the time the adoption decree is issued; this can be equated to the one-time baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, these parents will continually and repeatedly exhort and encourage the child throughout his life; this parallels the repeated filling of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.

IV. Conclusions

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In a departure from many standardized lesson plans, this first

lesson ends with a prayer in the Puritan tradition, “Spiritus

Sanctus,” which in Latin means “Holy Spirit.” This prayer is

presented in both the initial and final lessons of the series – in

this lesson to aid in an overview of the Holy Spirit’s majesty,

power, and awe, and in the final lesson to review and “wrap-up” the

topic:

58

O Holy Spirit,

As the sun is full of light,the ocean full of water,Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.Vain are all divine purposes of loveand the redemption wrought by Jesusexcept thou work within,regenerating by thy power,giving me eyes to see Jesus,showing me the realities of the unseen world.

Give me thyself without measure,as an unimpaired fountain,an inexhaustible riches.I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness,imperfect vision, languid service,prayerless prayers, praiseless praises.Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee.

Come as power,to expel every rebel lust,to reign supreme and keep me thine;Come as teacher,leading me into all truth,filling me with all understanding;

Come as love,that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;Come as joy,to dwell in me, move me, animate me;Come as light,illuminating the Scripture,moulding me in its laws;

Come as sanctifier,body, soul and spirit wholly thine;Come as helper,with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step;Come as beautifier,bringing order out of confusion,loveliness out of chaos.

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Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me,and make me redolent of thy fragrance.

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Lesson Two of Seven: The Nature of the Holy Spirit

I. The Holy Spirit is fully part of the Trinity, possesses deity,

and is worthy of worship:

A. The Holy Spirit possesses deity in the same ______________ and

to the same _________________ as the Father and Son.

B. Hebrews 9:14 refers to Holy Spirit as “______________ Spirit;”

only God is eternal, all else is created.

C. Matthew 28:19 encourages us to pray in the name of “the Father,

the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” listed together as equal parts

of the __________________.

D. The Holy Spirit is linked with the Father and Son at the

_______________ of Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17.

II. The Holy Spirit exhibits characteristic of personality; “Him,”

not “It.”

A. Jesus uses the __________________ pronoun referring to the Holy

Spirit – for us this is equivalent to saying something like

“his decision” instead of “its decision” – “his decision”

indicates personhood, “its decision” indicates something less

than a person.

B. The Holy Spirit can be affected as a person:

a. __________ to – In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira attempted

to deceive others to impress; Peter asked them why they

had lied, not to the other Church members, but to the

Holy Spirit.

b. ______________ – Ephesians 4:30 instructs us not to

grieve the Holy Spirit.

c. ______________ – 1 Thess 5:19 states “Do not quench the

Spirit.”

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(Both grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit are addressed

in more detail during Lesson Seven.)

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C. The Holy Spirit is capable of _________ (e.g., Romans 15:30 –

“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the

love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers

to God on my behalf. (emphasis added)); love is a key

characteristic of personality.

III. Emblems used to illustrate the Holy Spirit:

Elmer Towns provides the following list of emblems used in Scripture

to depict the Holy Spirit, Table 1, with the significance of each:

Table 1: Emblems Uses to Illustrate the Holy Spirit

Em blem M eaningDove The Dove speaks of the beauty and gentleness of the Spirit's character.Seal The Seal indicates the security and perm anence of the Spirit's grace.Holy Anointing OilThe Oil represents the Spirit's character and testifies to his Deity.Act of Anointing Anointing represents the Spirit's consecration and guidance.Fire The Fire is an em blem of the purification by the Holy Spirit.Rain The Rain shows the abundance and grace of the Spirit's supply.W ind The W ind portrays the searching of the Holy Spirit.Rivers Rivers indicate the abundance of the Spirit's grace.W ater The W ater sym bolizes the cleansing and effectiveness of the Spirit's m inistry.Earnest The Earnest represents the Spirit's prom ise of further future glory.

Adapted from Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today, 2002, 278-279

Of particular note among these emblems is the “___________,” which

indicates “ownership, finished transaction, identification,

security, genuineness, value, and authority.” This Seal provides one

of the surest affirmations of the security of salvation found in

Scripture; upon this term, and the corresponding “earnest,” we can

be certain that genuine ________________ is not subject to later

loss or retraction. The key boldfaced term is “genuine salvation,”

which apart from our own salvation, we as humans cannot ascertain in

another person.

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64

Lesson Three of Seven:

Names and Titles of the Holy Spirit

I. Introduction:

Importantly, the contemporary term “Holy Spirit” is more accurate

than the term “Holy Ghost,” as ghosts are ________________ beings,

and the term ghost generally carries a negative connotation not

befitting the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit.

II. While this series generally avoids technical terms, two Greek

terms used in the New Testament help us understand the Holy Spirit:

A. The Greek term pneuma is often used to represent the Holy

Spirit. This term, roughly equivalent to our term “__________.”

is vital in words such as inspired (“God-breathed”).

B. Jesus uses the Greek term parakletos to refer to the Holy Spirit

and to reveal one of his chief functions, “___________.”

III. The names and titles of the Holy Spirit used in Scripture

reveal different facets of his character and personality:

A. Spirit of ________

B. Spirit of ________

C. ____________ Spirit

D. Spirit of ___________

E. Spirit of ___________

F. Spirit of ___________

G. Spirit of ____________

H. Spirit of ____________ and Revelation

I. The __________________ (see parakletos above)

J. The Spirit of __________________

K. The Spirit of __________________

L. The Spirit of __________________

M. The Spirit of __________________

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These names and titles each give an insight into the Holy Spirit

(e.g., Eternal Spirit alludes to Deity, Spirit of Wisdom and

Revelation ties in with his role in inspiring the writers of

Scripture, Spirit of Adoption reflects our standing as children of

God).

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Lesson Four of Seven: The Ministries of the Holy Spirit

I. Introduction

The ___________________ of the Holy Spirit are best illustrated by

examining his works – in the natural world, in individuals, and in

groups of people. These works include past, ongoing, and future

ministries. Of note, one of the most important functions of the Holy

Spirit is to teach us regarding the two central events human

existence/history: Creation and Redemption; both discussed below.

II. The works of the Person of the Holy Spirit:

A. These actions can only be accomplished by the rational,

emotional, active and empowered Person of the Holy Spirit; no

mere influence or “________________” could accomplish these;

Table 2 illustrates these actions:

Table 2: Actions of the Holy Spirit

He teaches John 14:26He testifies John 15:26He guides Rom ans 8:14He speaks 1 Cor 2:13He enlightens John 16:13He strives Genesis 6:3He com m ands Acts 8:29He intercedes Rom ans 8:26He sends workers Acts 13:4He calls Revelation 22:17He com forts John 16:7He works 1 Cor 12:11

Adapted from Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today, 2002, 287

III. One of the most important works of the Holy Spirit was at

_________________.

Genesis 1:1-2 stresses the presence and role of the Holy Spirit at

Creation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

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Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface

of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters

(emphasis added).

IV. The works and ministries of the Holy Spirit continued after

Creation, throughout the Old Testament:

A. The Holy Spirit gave ______________ – Ezekiel 2:2 – “And as he

spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet,

and I heard him speaking to me.”

B. The Holy Spirit gave _____________________ to writers of

Scripture – 2 Tim 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God

and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and

for training in righteousness.” Notably, the Holy Spirit

inspired/informed ____________ in writing the first five books

of the Bible, which predated Moses’ time and knowledge.

C. The Holy Spirit gave special skills, such as to Bezalel to

furnish the ____________. While not specifically delineated,

the Holy Spirit may have been a primary source of Noah’s

knowledge and skills in building the details of the Ark.

D. The Holy Spirit restrained __________ – (e.g., Genesis 6:3).

V. The works and ministries of the Holy Spirit in the Life of

Christ:

A. At ________________ – Luke 1:35:

“And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son ofGod.’”

B. At Jesus’ _________________ – Matt 3:16:

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from thewater, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw

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the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.”

C. ______________ Jesus with the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:1:

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordanand was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.”

D. Jesus’ _______________ were a result of the Power of the Holy Spirit – Matthew 12:28:

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

E. Presence of the Holy Spirit brought “immediate ________________

with the forces of evil” – if this was true for Jesus, we

should expect the same!

F. Elmer Towns summarizes the role of the Holy Spirit in the life

of Christ in the following chart, Table 3:

Table 3: The Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ

Incarnation Hebrews 10:5Birth Matthew 1:18Growth Luke 2:40, 52Baptism Luke 3:21-22Temptation Luke 4:14Ministry Luke 4:18-19Miracles Matthew 12:28Death Hebrews 9:14Resurrection Romans 8:11Glorification John 16:14

Adapted from Elmer L. Towns, Theology for Today, 2002, 287

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VI. The works and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of a

believer:

A. __________________________ – John 16:7-11:

““But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I goaway; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I goto the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”

B. ___________________________ – John 3:3-8:

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it,but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; sois everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

C. _____________________ – Ephesians 5:18:

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit”

D. __________________ – Galatians 5:16:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

E. ________________________ – Ephesians 1:13-14:

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed

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with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

F. __________________________ – John 14:10-17:

“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father isin me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, 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. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in theSon. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. “If youlove 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, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

G. ______________________________ – John 16:13:

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

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H. ________________ – John 14:26:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

I. ________________________ – Romans 8:26-27:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to thewill of God.”

J. _______________________ – “continued transformation of moral

and spiritual character.” 2 Thess 3:13 states:

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruitsto be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

K. ________________________ sin – 2 Thess 2:3-10:

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in histime. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Onlyhe who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the LordJesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

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L. Distributing Spiritual Gifts (see Lesson Five)

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VII. Role of the Holy Spirit in the future:

A. Removal of ______________ during Tribulation. In 2 Thess 2:6-8,

Scripture indicates present restraints against sin will be

removed during the Tribulation:

“And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

B. _____________________ of Holy Spirit during Christ’s Millennial

Reign. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the Millennium

has two major components:

1. He will continue to abide in and __________________ the

Reigning Christ; Isaiah 11:1-2 notes:

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit ofknowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

2. He will indwell believers, _______________________ them to

obey all of God’s statutes.

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Lesson Five of Seven: Spiritual Gifts Dispensed by the Holy Spirit

I. In this lesson, it is important to understand the difference

between three distinct elements:

A. A spiritual ___________ is present in a believer as a gift of the

Holy Spirit to edify the Church.

B. A natural ________________ may be present in a believer or non-

believer. A natural talent is an innate ability in a person; a

spiritual gift is bestowed specifically by the Holy Spirit.

C. The _______________ of the Spirit is a result or outgrowth of obedience

to the Holy Spirit and to Scripture; the Fruit of the Spirit is

discussed in Lesson Six.

II. General points on Spiritual Gifts:

A. Spiritual gifts are generally given in combination, not

singularly.

B. Spiritual gifts edify the believer, but their _________________

purpose is to edify the Church or other believers.

C. Spiritual gifts should be _______________, but for the building

of the Church and serving others, not for self-promotion.

D. The Holy Spirit _____________ the gifts in accordance with his

will; 1 Cor 12:11:

“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

E. No one person has _________ the gifts; nor is there any single

gift all believers possess.

F. All the gifts are __________________, though they may not be

equally obvious.

G. The gifts are listed in at least four primary places in

Scripture, with some overlap between the lists:

a. Romans 12:6-8:

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“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given tous, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation;the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

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b. 1 Cor 12:4-11:

“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 sameGod who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered byone and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

c. Ephesians 4:11:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,the shepherds [pastors] and teachers”, emphasis added.

d. 1 Peter 4:11:

“whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

III. As noted in some of the specific gifts below, there is some

debate as to whether some gifts are still in operation in

contemporary times. Such debates are difficult and involved, and

beyond the scope of this series. Instead, consider the wisdom of

Millard Erickson when he stated

“In the final analysis, whether the Bible teaches that the Spirit dispenses special gifts today is not an issue of great practical consequence. For even if he does, we are not to set our lives to seeking them.”

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With that as an introduction, the following are recognized spiritual

gifts in one or more of the four passages above:

A. _________________ – involves both predicting future events, and

calling others to repentance, both under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

B. ________________/ministry – the gift of service, or of

ministering to the needs of others, is given to some believers

to a greater degree than others, to the extent that they serve

others above even meeting their own needs.

C. Teaching – involves the ability to ______________/apply the

truths of Scripture.

D. Exhortation – primarily, the gift of ______________, especially

in drawing on experiences and scriptural truths to encourage

others in troubles/difficulties.

E. _______________________ – involves a marked gift of liberality

in sharing resources (money, time, possessions, etc.). Every

believer should give, but the gift of giving involves “above

and beyond” generosity, led by the Holy Spirit.

F. __________________ – related to exhortation, but may especially

apply in times of grief, loss, or discouragement.

G. _________________ – refers to a spiritual insight into the mind

or will of God in doctrinal areas. Traditionally, this gift was

ascribed to the writers of Scripture, and may be interpreted

overly liberally today.

H. Knowledge – involves the ability to __________________

Scripture to practical areas of life. 2 Peter 3:18 indicates

all believers should grow in spiritual knowledge through prayer

and study: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and

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Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the

day of eternity. Amen.”

I. _____________________ – involves aid or assistance to others in

poor material circumstances.

J. _____________ – while every believer is justified by faith, and

should walk by faith, the gift of faith is a special capacity

to pursue great tasks for God or through the power of God.

K. __________ – this gift is expressed most commonly (and perhaps

exclusively), in the New Testament era. Healing via the Holy

Spirit, apart from or beyond medical knowledge/ability, is

always a divine act. Divine healing in the contemporary era can

result from intense prayer or great faith, but still results

from divine action, not from special powers imbued in an

individual.

L. Miracles – like healing above, miracles today are the result of

________________ intervention, perhaps intended to draw

attention to the power of God, but unlikely because of an

individual’s special powers.

M. Discernment/___________________ of spirits – Scripture is clear

regarding the reality of spiritual warfare, and of the ability

of some spirits to imitate/counterfeit true works of God. Given

this, with miracles and healing, among others, believers should

pray for discernment in detecting counterfeit works. In a

broader sense, believers should pray for discernment in

determining the spiritual veracity of ideas, claims, or

thoughts that may have human, rather than divine, origins.

N. Speaking in _____________/interpretation of tongues – this

refers to an ability to speak in a language previously unknown

to the believer. As the believer may not recognize the actual

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words, Scripture points out the necessity of interpretation for

the edification of others. The debates regarding whether the

tongues are of other human languages, or languages unknown to

humans, and regarding whether the gift of tongues is a gift

bestowed by the Holy Spirit in the current age, are beyond the

scope of this series.

O. ____________________ – the gift of apostleship in Scripture is

limited to a select group of men who had encountered the

resurrected Christ and had been specifically commissioned to

preach/witness in the early Church age. While the functions of

the apostle are similar to current missionaries and

evangelists, it cannot be established that contemporary people

have received the gift of apostleship as used in a New

Testament context.

P. Evangelism – involves the gift of spreading the Gospel of Jesus

Christ. While all believers are called to ____________ and

share their faith, not all believers are specifically gifted by

the Holy Spirit as evangelists.

Q. Pastoring – the gift of pastoring is closely tied to the

concept of a __________________________, and especially of

representing Christ, the Good Shepherd. While it encompasses

teaching, pastoring is a broader gift that – like a shepherd –

provides for, watches over, and “feeds” (i.e., with the Word of

God) those in his charge.

R. ___________________/Administration – the gift of guiding or

standing before others to enable them to follow God’s paths,

and to promote the effective operation of the Church.

IV. Desiring Spiritual Gifts - A Hierarchy of Spiritual Gifts??

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A. Scripture instructs us in 1 Cor 12:31 to “earnestly desire the

higher gifts” – implicit in this instruction are two points:

1. We should seek spiritual gifts, or pursue

______________________ of the gifts we have, and

2. Some gifts are _________________ desirable than others.

B. In 1 Cor 12:28, Paul does seem to list a hierarchy of _________

gifts: “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second

prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,

helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.”

C. Notably, however, in this same chapter, Paul discusses the need

for ___________ spiritual gift, whether a visible “front-line”

gift, or a gift that may not receive much attention – every

gift is important for the success and vitality of the Church.

D. For a fuller understanding of the context of this discussion, a

careful reading of 1 Cor 12 is both helpful and instructive: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you wereled astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy 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. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one andthe same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized

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into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all weremade to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist ofone member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I amnot a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not makeit any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If thewhole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body thatwe think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christand individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, andvarious kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets?Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”

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Lesson Six of Seven: The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

I. Lesson Introduction:

As noted in earlier lessons, the _________________ of the Spirit is

not the same as the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy

Spirit are given to specific individuals by the Holy Spirit.

Conversely, as the name “fruit” implies, the Fruit of the Spirit is

to be cultivated/developed over time by all believers in their

ongoing growth and maturity as Christians. While the gifts of the

Holy Spirit are identified in several passages throughout the New

Testament, the Fruit of the Spirit is found in a single passage,

____________________ 5:22-23:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,

self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Notably, the “Fruit of the Spirit” is a ___________ concept

that involves several elements – while love, joy, peace, etc.

are parts of this fruit, there is only one fruit. As a

parallel, consider an apple – a single fruit, but made up of

different elements – stem, peel, core, seeds, pulp, etc. The

importance of this singular versus plural distinction is that

all of these listed qualities are present in the true Fruit of

the Spirit; it is not a “pick-and-choose” list. Further, the

singular noun emphasizes the unity and harmonious operation of

the Holy Spirit’s actions.

II. The individual elements listed are:

A. Love – although the Greek language has different terms

signifying specific types of love, for contemporary

Christians, we should exhibit love for all ___________

and for ________. Love for all others includes our family

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and friends, our brothers and sisters in the Faith, those

we do not know (e.g., refugees or unsaved persons in

other parts of the world), and as Jesus famously teaches,

even love for our enemies. Love for God includes a love

and reverence for all three Persons of the Trinity.

B. Joy – In much of the New Testament, “joy” seems at odds

with many of the experiences described – Jesus described

his joy hours before his ___________________________,

Paul and Silas were beaten in prison but sang joyful

hymns to the Lord that same night. Such joy comes only

from the inner peace and assurances brought by a mature

relationship with the Lord in all circumstances.

C. _____________ – the peace described here is perhaps best

summed up in Philippians 4:6-7, “do not be anxious about

anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

(emphasis added) – Regardless of our circumstances,

communion with God can bring us abiding peace.

D. Patience – for believers and non-believers in

contemporary society, patience is an _____________

virtue. Human nature encourages instant gratification;

only a trust in God to provide and care for us – in his

timing, not ours – can produce this type of patience.

E. ___________________ – kindness, akin to compassionate

action, is the opposite of uncaring apathy. Kindness

seeks to aid others; Ephesians 4:32 discusses this

kindness and links it with forgiveness: “Be kind to one

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another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in

Christ forgave you.”

F. __________________ – 2 Peter 1:3-5 discusses God’s

goodness, and notes that we should try to reflect his

goodness to others: “His divine power has given us

everything required for life and godliness through the

knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and

goodness. By these He has given us very great and

precious promises, so that through them you may share in

the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the

world because of evil desires. For this very reason, make

every effort to supplement your faith with goodness…

(HSCB, emphasis added).”

G. _____________ – faithfulness is noted as an attribute of

our character where we rest secure in God’s promises and

his own faithfulness, we calm ourselves and trust God.

H. ________________ – sometimes translated as “meekness,”

gentleness is a condition where we deal with others – not

just fellow believers – with a gentle demeanor, not a

harsh response.

I. Self-control – self-control is a condition – difficult

both to attain and to maintain – where we respond in a

____________________________ way, whether to temptation,

sin, or provocation. Those lacking self-control may

quickly lose their temper or their testimony.

In combination, these attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit

represent a combination of virtues that – as even their name

implies – is attainable only by the help and guidance of the

Holy Spirit.

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Lesson Seven of Seven:Misconceptions and Specific Topics Regarding the Holy Spirit

I. Introduction

As with every lesson in this series, the focus has been on what

_______________ teaches regarding the Holy Spirit. Lesson Seven

continues with that emphasis, and Scripture will remain the final

guide and authority in any issues we discuss.

II. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

A. Lesson One of this series noted that every believer receives

the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Conversion; this baptism is a

universal Conversion experience and not a

________________________ phenomenon to be sought. Some teach

that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a separate, unique post-

Conversion experience to be sought by believers. A commonly

held “evidence” of this subsequent “baptism” is that of

speaking in tongues; neither this position nor its “evidence”

is supported by Scripture. While proponents of this position

may experience various feelings, emotions, or other expressions

(e.g., barking, laughing), without Scriptural support these

expressions must be considered, at best, suggestively induced.

B. Conversely, the filling of the Holy Spirit is a separate,

___________________ phenomenon that fosters sanctification or

equips one for special specific works.

III. Being “Slain in the Spirit”

A. Various proponents of this position hold that one can be

overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit to such a degree that they

_____________ backwards, with varying degrees of consciousness.

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B. This position/practice has no scriptural warrant and must be

viewed _______________. While the Holy Spirit may indeed

overcome a person, in every recorded scriptural case of a

person encountering a Holy Being, they fell forward, not

backward. Further, falling backward (away from God’s

representative) was generally a sign of displeasure from God

(e.g., Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5).

IV. Grieving the Holy Spirit

A. Ephesians 4:30, in a list of instructions for believers,

warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit; in contemporary

language we may say “_____________” or “bring sorrow to”

instead of “grieve”: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of

God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

B. The Holy Spirit can be grieved in several ways. Notably, In

Ephesians 4 and 5, Paul lists several such ways: believers

can act like nonbelievers in their conduct and actions,

yield to sinful temptations, steal, lie, lose control of

their temper, fail to forgive, or participate in sexual

immorality.

C. One specific way, very relevant to our times, to grieve the

Holy Spirit is to _____________________ the historicity and

inspiration/reliability of Scripture, perhaps most especially

the Genesis account of Creation, and the accounts of Jesus’

Resurrection in the Gospels.

V. Quenching the Holy Spirit

In 1 Thess 5:19 Paul states “Do not quench the Spirit.” Just a fire

can be quenched (_________________), the desired action of the Holy

Spirit can be quenched by our failure to obey his leading, or by

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preventing him from doing what he wants to do in our life, in

another’s life, or in a worship service.

VI. As we close this series, let’s recall the Puritan prayer

“Spiritus Sanctus” that we introduced in Lesson One. After our

studies together, this prayer will likely seem more vibrant and

easily understood; I encourage you to incorporate it into your

personal devotional and prayer time:

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O Holy Spirit,

As the sun is full of light,the ocean full of water,Heaven full of glory, so may my heart be full of thee.Vain are all divine purposes of loveand the redemption wrought by Jesusexcept thou work within,regenerating by thy power,giving me eyes to see Jesus,showing me the realities of the unseen world.

Give me thyself without measure,as an unimpaired fountain,an inexhaustible riches.I bewail my coldness, poverty, emptiness,imperfect vision, languid service,prayerless prayers, praiseless praises.Suffer me not to grieve or resist thee.

Come as power,to expel every rebel lust,to reign supreme and keep me thine;Come as teacher,leading me into all truth,filling me with all understanding;

Come as love,that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;Come as joy,to dwell in me, move me, animate me;Come as light,illuminating the Scripture,moulding me in its laws;

Come as sanctifier,body, soul and spirit wholly thine;Come as helper,with strength to bless and keep, directing my every step;Come as beautifier,bringing order out of confusion,loveliness out of chaos.

Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me,and make me redolent of thy fragrance.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bennett, Arthur G. Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Edinburgh, Scotland: Banner of Truth Trust, 1975.

Criswell, W.A. The Baptism, Filling & Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.

Gromacki, Robert. The Holy Spirit. Nashville: Word Publishing, 1999.

Pink, Arthur W. The Holy Spirit. Blacksburg VA: Wilder Publications, 1999.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Holy Spirit. Chicago: Moody, 1997.

Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. Belmont CA: Wadsworth, 2002.

Walvoord, John F. The Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991.

Wesley, John. The Holy Spirit and Power. Plainfield NJ: Logos, 1977.

Willmington, Harold L. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty Home Bible Institute, 1987.

Willmington, Harold L. Fundamental Facts About the Holy Spirit: A Coffee-CupBriefing. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty Home Bible Institute, 2014.

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