1. In John 14:16-17, what did Jesus say He would do regarding the Holy Spirit. Can an unbeliever receive the Holy Spirit?
2. Acts 2:1-4 gives the account of how the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit because they obeyed and tarried in the Upper Room just as Jesus told them to do. What was the effect or outcome of those disciples or followers of Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit?
3a. Eight years after Pentecost Philip preached the Word to the people at Samaria and they received salvation and were baptized. Did they receive the Holy Spirit when they believed and were baptized? Read Acts 8:5-17
3b. Was there any outward evidence that the people of Samaria were baptized in the Holy Spirit? Read Acts 8:18-19
4. Ten Years after Pentecost we see the account of Peter preaching to Cornelius’ and his household. Read Acts 10:1-48 and list the highlights of this story.
5. Twenty years after Pentecost in Acts 19:1-6, we read about Paul asking believers at Ephesus if they had received the Holy Ghost. What does this say to you about being saved versus being baptized in the Holy Spirit?
6a. Read in Acts 9:10-17, the account of Paul and His experience of getting baptized in the Holy Spirit? Does it say he spoke in tongues?
6b. Read what Paul states in 1 Corinthians 14:18. According to this passage do you think he spoke in tongues when he was baptized in the Holy Spirit?
7. According to Mark 16:15-18 what do true believer’s do?
8. Is the promise of the Holy Spirit for you today? Acts 2:39
Why Did God Create Us?
Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7
We were created to glorify God. You can read it in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” And again in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” The way to accurately glorify God is to allow Him to work through you. To truly glorify Him, you need to give Him every part of your life. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Many Christians only allow God to rule in part of their lives. God cannot be glorified the way He deserves if we do not give Him everything!
Picture the world champion Lego builder. He has built people, buildings, animals, etc. out of Legos. You give him a tub of Legos and tell him to glorify himself as a master Lego builder. His finished product is a stack of 5 Lego blocks. Not that impressive. However, all you gave him was 5 blocks. The world champion Lego builder cannot glorify himself with 5 blocks the way he should be glorified. God cannot be glorified the way He deserves either when you only give Him part of your life. God is the Master Creator who designed you and the world you are living in. If you give Him your whole life, He can and will turn it into something beautiful. Once you do the Romans 12:1 and give Him every part of your life, now you must do the Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” You renew your mind by daily reading the Word of God (Joshua 1:8) and memorizing key scriptures that remind you of God’s promises and what He has instructed you to do. As you do this, God will manifest Himself and reveal His plans for your life (John 14:21). As you follow that plan, God will be glorified!
Jude 1:20 – But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
1 Corinthians 14:15-17 –15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
Bonus: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 – 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by ]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.