Bible Study Notes 12/3/2024

Word Alive! Bible Study ©2024

Fall Series: Experiencing The Holy Spirit In & With Us © 2024

Concord Baptist Church of Boston in Milton

Conley Hughes, Jr., Senior Pastor

Tu., 26 Nov. & 3 Dec. 2024 Lesson 12, Parts 1 & 2, pp. 171-183

Quiet Time: H&M Blackaby, Experiencing the Holy Spirit

Releasing To Receive –  When we hear the word “surrender” we immediately harbor deep feelings of invasion and capture. While the term is expressly used when referring to the necessary actions of a person  who has endangered or harmed others; it also speaks of releasing aspects of life, which conflict with what is best for us. Chapter 3 in the Book of Ecclesiastes speaks of the time-cycle of life, where we must engage in certain actions, given where we are. For example, one of fourteen couplets of wisdom, reads, “There is a time to embrace, and a time to release,” (Ecc. 3:5)  Solomon, who is believed to have written these couplets, was thought to be speaking of human relationships. The notion of knowing when to retain them, and when to move on. But the verse also has implications for our spiritual destiny.  Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit would be sent to all believers. The Spirit’s mission is to indwell the lives of all believers who, by faith in Jesus Christ have come into a saving relationship with God. We then must receive (embrace) the Spirit’s presence in our lives; seek His counsel, and follow the guidance given to us. Although God has given us the promise of eternity, this can neither be understood nor attained by human effort. (Read, Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT).  It is only through spiritual discernment and understand that we can learn what is God’s purpose for us. The world frowns on our Christian thinking because their opinions are most often the result of human reasoning alone. However, the spiritual discernment given to the mature believer comes from the Holy Spirit. The wisdom of God is greater than the wisdom of the humans He created. (Read, 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, NLT).  The late and prolific Christian writer, Oswald Chambers, said: “Every element of our own self-reliance, must be  put to death by the power of God. The moment we recognize our… complete dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God  will exhibit His power.”  The defense of our faith is never based on human propositions or opinions. Jesus told the disciples; the Holy Spirit would “teach” them how to defend their faith. (Read, Luke 12:11-12, NLT). As Christians we must release our entire beings to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Holy Spirit teaches and perpetually reminds us what spiritual wisdom is and the truth. (Read, John 14:26, NLT). In an era in history where misleading conspiracies and untruth is peddled as truth, we can remain confident in the truth the Holy Spirit gives.  The retention of that truth in us is secured through the Holy Spirit. In the early Christian community, there were some believers who had come to the faith through the ministry of John the Baptist. John taught people that his ministry was one of “repentance.” This meant people who were willing to renounce their sins and live better lives were baptized by John. But John told them, the Messiah would come after Him, and they would be baptized with water and fire, which was a reference to the Holy Spirt. Paul came upon such a group and asked, had they received salvation and a baptism in which they received and acknowledged the Holy Spirit in them. They were unaware of this and were baptized upon a profession of faith in Jesus; and received the Holy Spirit. (Read, Acts 19:3-7, NLT). We must be willing to release self, to receive the Holy Spirit!

Releasing To Receive , Part 2 –  It’s impossible for any of us to release what we have not first received.  Scripture points to the heart as the source of our feelings, behavior and actions. One verse warns, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (See, Proverbs 4:23, NIV). The Holy Spirit seeks to fill our hearts and total beings with godly things. The way we think, act and have compassion for others, are related to the Spirit’s presence in us. Jesus promised  when the Holy Spirit enters and  overshadows us, we would become vessels to express His character and proclaim His message of Good News in the world. (Read, Acts 1:8, NLT). It is the Holy Spirit alone, who empowers us to become effective witnesses and ambassadors for Jesus Christ in the world. We note in Acts 1:8 that the circle of influence we have through the Spirit begins where we are. It then  widens to places that reach a global context. Bearing in mind the Holy Spirit working through us, Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater work, because I am going to be with the Father!”  (John 14:12, NLT)  It’s estimated when Jesus ascended to heaven forty days after the Resurrection, there may have been about 247 million people on earth. Today, an estimated 8.2 billion people may well inhabit planet earth. As Jesus intimated, the opportunity to reach more people with His message is greater than when He was on earth. The Holy Spirit was given, that we might receive His presence. Evidence of the Spirit’s presence is seen in our spiritual character formation, and in how we’re enabled with spiritual gifts to empower others. We note this in the life of Philip, one of the first leaders in the early Christian community. Philip was led by the Holy Spirit to travel a long road, where he met a man who was seeking an answer to the meaning of life, and the Messiah. The Holy Spirit led Philip to mentor the man in an understanding of the Good News, and the man became a Christian believer. (Read, Acts 8: 29-31; 35-39a, NLT).  The gifts the Spirit entrusts us with are intended to teach, nurture, and buildup the Church – which is the visible representation of Jesus Christ on earth. The Apostle Paul refers to the church as the Body of Christ. Like the human body, the Body of believers must be organized, functional, effective, and life producing. (See, 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7, NLT). We note Philip’s encounter with the African official did not take place in a church building or on a religious campus. The meeting occurred where the man was. We are called to met people where they are in life – and to lead them into an understanding of the Good News of forgiveness, hope and salvation through Jesus Christ. To do this, we must receive and acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s presence in us. When an infant is born, the “gentle pat” of the physician or midwife is important and instructive. The main two purposes are : 1. To stimulate breathing, for the cry removes any obstructions in the baby’s breathing area. And 2, to stimulate muscle movement, so the organs can function properly. The “gentle pat” is essential, because it serves to release any restrictions that could compromise life. As believers, must “release” any impediments, that could restrict our ability to fully acknowledge and receive the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in us.  As Paul warned, “Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire…” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, NLT).

Key Idea:

What We Believe!

1. “The Holy Spirit is in you and accompanies you!”

Key Verses:

Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT

“Yet God has made everything beautiful  for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so,  people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

1 Corinthians 2:13-14, NLT

“When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them  and they can’t understand what the spirit means.”

Luke 12:11-12, NLT

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

John 14:26, NLT

“But when the Father sends  the Advocate as my representative – that is,  the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

Acts 19:3-7, NLT

“Then what baptism did you experience? He [Paul] asked.” And they replied, “ The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one  who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.”

Acts 1:8, NLT

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit  comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere  - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts  4:7-13, NLT

“They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose  name, have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because  we have done a good deed  for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all people of Israel that he was healed  by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God  raised from  the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, “The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary  men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with  Jesus.”

Acts 8:29-31; 35-39a NLT

“The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him… So, beginning with the same Scripture Philip told him the Good News about Jesus…”Look there’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized? He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away."