Sun. 15/2/2015
Quarter’s Theme: Discovering Spiritual Maturity
Unit 3 Theme: Standing Steadfastly In Spiritual Height (Lessons 10-12)
CONSECRATION & DEDICATION MONTHS
Sunday 15/2/ 2015
LESSON 11
THE MINISTRY OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B 80, 194.
Devotional Reading: 1 COR. 2:10-16
Topic For Adults
HUNGER AND THIRST FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
Topic For Youths
REPENT AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Topic For Intermediates
THE COMFORTER
Scripture Lessons
ROM. 8:18-25; JN. 14:26; LK. 24:49; EPH. 1:3-14; ACTS 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 2:37-39;
Memory Verse:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love”
(Eph. 1:3-4) NKJV .
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 15/2/2015
Five-Fold Ministry Of The Holy Spirit
Eph. 4:7-14
The Holy Spirit endows some individuals within the Church to be leaders. These people are endowed with the gifts of the Spirit; they operate at a level that will make the Church fulfil its mandate. Each of such individuals is equipped either to operate as an Apostle, a Prophet, an Evangelist, as a Pastor or as a Teacher. No one should take up the position of his own without being equipped by the Holy Spirit to operate in that ministry. The five-fold ministries are meant to prepare Christians for the work of the ministry, to edify the Church and to build up the body of Christ in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Without these ministries, the Church members continue to live at the level of spiritual babes, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and false teachings. In some congregations, people get carried away by desire to have titles, they appoint for themselves people with these titles without the endowment of the Holy Spirit. Human titles cannot take the place of the Holy Spirit gifts.
Point of Emphasis: God appoints men into positions, in order to get members prepared for the ministry.
Prayer Point: Holy Spirit, appoint and equip our leaders, so we may be built up into mature spiritual individuals.
BACKGROUND
Many people are confused about the ministry of the Holy Spirit today because
of the misconception they have about His ministry. While some reduce
the operation to mere speaking in tongues, some are critical and judgmental, others abuse the ministry and some have developed a heart of unbelief. This lesson is intended to enlighten us about the Scriptural trusts about the Holy Spirit.
NOTES ON THE TEXT
I. UNDERSTANDING THE HOLY SPIRIT: ROM. 8:18-25; JN. 14:26
The Holy Spirit is not a force or a mere presence but a person whom we can relate with. He possesses the attributes of a person. He has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11), will (1 Cor. 12:11), mind (Rom. 8:27), intelligence (Neh. 9:20). He can speak (Acts 13:2), He reacts to issue as the case may be (Isa. 63:10; Matt. 12:31-32; Acts 5:3, Heb. 10:29). If you relate with Him as a person, He will make you open to an incredible experience of the wonder of God’s majesty.
He is a person with a mission. He is not the tongue we speak but the power of God at work within us. He helps and teaches us all things. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Jesus to the believer and reveal Jesus through him or her.
He is Holy. The Spirit of God is holy (Joel 2:28; 1 Pet. 1:15-16).
He is the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4-5). The promise of the Father is for us if we respond in faith, He will manifest Himself (Acts 2:1-4).
We must understand also that the Holy Spirit comes with power (Lk. 24:49), gifts (Rom. 12:1-8; Eph. 4:8-13; 1 Cor. 12:1-11) and fruits i.e. the character qualities the spirit display in Christian’s life (Gal. 5:22-24). These make up the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. You can experience all these if you can activate them by faith.
II. CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT: EPH. 1:3-14; ACTS 2:37-39
The Holy Spirit is meant for every believer who meets these conditions. To receive the Holy Spirit one must:
1) Repent and believe the gospel. Eph. 1:3-14; Acts 2:37-39; Acts 8:4-6, 12,14-17.
2) Renounce every wicked way (Acts 8:9-13, 18-24).
3) Align your core value with the Bible. Believe only the things that are written in the Bible.
4) Get rid of human doctrines that are not Biblical.
5) Aspire to be filled with the fullness of God. Hunger and thirst for the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1).
6) Have faith in God. The Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. Believe it.
7) Have a strong faith to ask for the Holy Spirit without wavering.
8) Open your mouth to speak out the utterance which you are divinely given.
III. UNDERSTANDING SPEAKING IN TONGUES: ACTS 2:1-4
Sequel to the promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples on the day of Pentecost, the believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke with differs tongue as the Spirit gave them utterance. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian today and allows us to minister and speak with the same power from the same Spirit.
Though the issue of speaking in tongues has generated and is still generating a lot of controversies in Christendom, our concern is not on the various schools of thought as they lay claim on as the truth but on what we know from the Bible.
- It is evident from Acts 2:1-4 that the speaking in tongues attests to the inner working of the Holy Spirit. It is not only work, they are many.
- The Holy Spirit gives the utterance but the disciple does the speaking (Acts 2:4). It is not something you mimic or rehearse.
- Speaking in tongues is one of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives to edify our spirit and enables us to communicate mysteries unto God (1 Cor. 14:2,4). These dual purpose should prompt every believer to activate it by faith.
- Speaking in tongues is more beneficial for personal on private communion with God while prophecy and interpretation of tongues are more profitable in public worship (1 Cor. 14:3,5-40).
The best way for you to prove that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is real is for you to experience it.
CONCLUSION
For anyone to live a godly life and do exploit in the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit is indispensable. It is, therefore, mandatory for you to embrace, understand the Holy Spirit, His works and manifestation. Since understanding begins with acquiring of right information, this lesson is in the right direction to help you to experience the Holy Spirit in a greater measure.
QUESTIONS
- Can you describe the Holy Spirit?
- Are there conditions to be met for one to experience the Holy Spirit? Name them.
- Do you think you have experienced the Holy Spirit? If yes, how? If no, what can you do to experience it.
- What can we do to avoid the confusion generated by some about the Holy Spirit?
- Why is the Holy Spirit indispensable for anyone who wants to live a godly life?
French
DIMANCHE 15/02/2015
LE QUINTUPLE DU MINISTERE DU SAINT-ESPRIT
EPH. 4:7-14
Le Saint-Esprit dote quelques individus dans l’église pour être des dirigeants. Ces gens sont dotés de dons de l’Esprit ; ils opèrent à un niveau qui fera que l’église remplira son mandat. Chacun de pareils individus est équipé à opérer soit comme apôtre, prophète, évangéliste, pasteur ou moniteur. Personne ne doit s’investir de la position qui lui revient sans être équipé par le Saint-Esprit pour opérer dans ce ministère, pour édifier l’église et pour bâtir le corps de Christ dans la connaissance de Jésus-Christ. Sans ces ministères, les membres de l’église continuent de vivre au niveau de bébés spirituels, flottant à tout vent de doctrine et à de faux enseignements. Dans certaines congrégations, les gens sont emportés par le désir d’avoir des titres (honorifiques), ils nomment pour eux-mêmes des gens avec ces titres sans la dotation du Saint-Esprit. Les titres humains ne peuvent pas remplacer le Saint-Esprit.
Point essentiel : Dieu nomme les gens à des postes dans le but de préparer les membres pour le ministère.
Axe de prière : Saint-Esprit, nomme et équipe nos dirigeants, pour que nous puissions croître pour devenir des individus spirituellement mûrs.