"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13.
"Christ has made provision that His church shall be a transformed body, illumined with the light of heaven, possessing the glory of Immanuel. It is His purpose that every Christian shall be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere of light and peace. There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. "—Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 19.
You may have the blessing of the Holy Spirit! You can have the Spirit's guidance in ministry! You can receive power and strength for ministry!
The Holy Spirit is Christ's representative and successor on earth. Your success in ministering to others is dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency, to make effectual the salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer. The Spirit is constantly seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures."—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 52.
You will discover in this lesson
1. The promise Jesus made of the Holy Spirit.
2. How Christ's followers receive the Spirit.
3. The guidance given by the Spirit for ministry.
4. How the Holy Spirit provides power for such ministry.
PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. What promise did Christ make to His followers? John 14:16, 17.
John 14:16-17 (NIV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17) the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
2. What would the Holy Spirit do for the disciples? John 14:26. State these two special functions:
John 14:26 (NIV) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
3. How did Jesus outline the role of the Spirit in this world? John 16:7-11.
John 16:7-11 (NIV) But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8) When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9) in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10) in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11) and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
List the works of the Holy Spirit:
RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
4. How did Peter say one receives the Holy Spirit? Acts 2:38.
Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
5. What is a condition to receiving the Holy Spirit? Acts 5:32.
Acts 5:32 (NIV) We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
Summarize what you find in this text:
6. What else comes with the infilling of the Spirit? Romans 5:1-5.
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2) through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4) perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
7. How freely is the Spirit offered to us? John 7:37-39.
John 7:37-39 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39) By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
SPIRIT GUIDES IN MINISTRY
8. How did the Spirit guide Philip in his personal ministry? Acts 8:26-29.
Acts 8:26-29 (NIV) Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27) So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28) and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29) The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."
9. What Spirit-directed ministry was launched at Antioch? Acts 13:1-5.
Acts 13:1-5 (NIV) In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3) So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4) The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5) When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
How did the Holy Spirit enter in to this important event?
10. How was the apostle Paul guided in his ministry? Acts 16:6-10.
Acts 16:6-10 (NIV) Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7) When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8) So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9) During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10) After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11. How do Christians receive power for witnessing? Acts 1:8.
Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
12. How do you get courage to witness for the Lord? Acts 4:29-31.
Acts 4:29-31 (NIV) Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30) Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
13. What counsel is given to those who resist the promptings of the Spirit? Ephesians 4:29, 30.
Ephesians 4:29-30 (NIV) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
AN AVENUE OF MINISTRY
Literature Distribution
Tracts, magazines, and small books are messengers of gospel truth. Christians for centuries have been giving tracts and leaflets to spread the good news of salvation—truly a tremendous seed-sowing ministry. Thousands of people can testify to the saving influence of gospel literature in their own experience. This giveaway literature has been scattered "like the leaves of autumn."
You can carry tracts in your pocket, purse, and car to give away when traveling. Tracts may be enclosed in letters when writing to relatives and friends. Mass distribution from door to door is a good church project. Follow-up of interested people is recommended by sponsoring a complimentary subscription to one of our missionary journals such as Signs, These Times, or Message. Check with your pastor, teacher, leaders or Adventist Book Center for available literature.
Unless otherwise designated, scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.