Living in the Spirit - Genesis, Acts and 1 Corinthians - July 19, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – Living in the Spirit – July 19, 2009

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Experiencing God Triune-ly.”

Our scripture is Genesis 1:2, Acts 5:3-4; Acts 4:29-31; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

We study the third person in the Trinity, THE HOLY SPIRIT this week. GOD, THE FATHER, GOD, THE SON and GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT has always existed and will always exist. GOD and THE HOLY SPIRIT were prominent in the Old Testament and revealed the coming of the CHRIST the Messiah. GOD manifested Himself in the person of JESUS, born of the Virgin Mary. In essence, we can think of JESUS as the first Spirit or GOD filled Christian.

In last week’s study the Apostle Philip asked JESUS to show them the Father. JESUS’ response was reported in John 14:9-10:

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?[5] Jn 10:30,38 The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works.

JESUS had GOD, THE FATHER living within HIM. As believers, we have THE HOLY SPIRIT living within us. JESUS had to return to heaven before the HOLY SPIRIT could return to earth to indwell believers. John 14:26:

26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.


Acts 1:4: (JESUS was instructing HIS disciples before HE ascended into Heaven.)

4 While He was together with them,[1] Or He was eating with them, or He was lodging with them He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” [He said, “is what]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you heard from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

JESUS, through HIS death as a human, not only paid the price for sin but also sanctified the human body for believers to receive the HOLY SPIRIT the instant they accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR. When we study the life of JESUS, HE showed us the confidence and trust all believers can have in the security of GOD’S presence in our lives.

I am reminded of the instant when there was a fierce storm and the disciples were afraid, yet JESUS was fast asleep in the boat that was about to be swamped – Luke 8:22-25:

22 One day He and His disciples got into a boat, and He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. 24 They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

How could JESUS be asleep during this fierce moment? HE trusted GOD in all aspects of HIS life. GOD was HIS protector and GOD was guiding HIS life. HIS faith was in GOD, not in the circumstances surrounding HIM. Easy to say when you are not in a bad situation. I had to be reminded of HIS care just within the past few days. It boils down to trust and confidence. The indwelling HOLY SPIRIT is our assurance that we are the children of GOD and GOD cares for us, just as HE cared for HIS SON, JESUS.

JESUS was GOD’S opportunity to experience humanity and view life as a human from the perspective of a human. In order for that to happen, JESUS had to be 100% human and 100% Divine. HE had to be capable of sinning and subject to the death of HIS earthly body. HE was tempted in all ways like we are, yet without sin.

Let’s read Genesis 1:2:

2 Now the earth was[1] Or When God began to create the sky and the earth, 2 the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The HOLY SPIRIT was involved with the creation of the world. The word “hovering” is an exciting word to ponder. Think of it as you being the chief engineer responsible for the successful launch of a NASA space project. It is a complex and intricate project where many different systems must work perfectly. You need to make certain that everything is perfect. You have one shot to get it right. “Hovering” is you checking every aspect of the various systems to ensure they are perfect and will do what they are intended to do before you press the button. The HOLY SPIRIT is checking everything to ensure it is perfect.

In the same way the HOLY SPIRIT checks our lives to see if there is anything that is a problem or concern.

Let’s read Acts 5:3-4:

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!”

Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. However, they held back some of the money obtained from the sale of the property. They gave the impression that they had given all the money they received from the sale of the property to the apostles to be used to meet the needs of others. They lied to the HOLY SPIRIT/GOD, which resulted in their death. We must not blaspheme the HOLY SPIRIT. Doing so has dire consequences. Resisting the urging of the HOLY SPIRIT is also dangerous. The HOLY SPIRIT works in the hearts of believers and non-believers to convict them of their sin. The HOLY SPIRIT works in the hearts of believers teaching, revealing, prompting, assuring, and leading them to build an intimate relationship with GOD through CHRIST and obediently serve HIM.

Let’s read John 7:37-39:

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me[6] Other mss omit to Me and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,[7] Jesus may have had several OT passages in mind; Isaiah 58:11; Ezk 47:1–12; Zch 14:8 will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” 39 He said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were going to receive, for the Spirit[8] Other mss read Holy Spirit had not yet been received,[9] Other mss read had not yet been given [10] Lit the Spirit was not yet; the word received is implied from the previous clause. because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

JESUS was attending the Feast of Tabernacles when HE stood up and made these remarks. The Feast was to celebrate the harvest and was also known as the Festival of Ingathering. It also commemorated the time the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness waiting for GOD to allow them to enter the Promised Land. During the festival, the priest would fill a pitcher with water from the pool of Siloam and take it to the altar at the temple and pour it out.

The festival lasted eight (8) days. The pouring of the water was a reminder that GOD had provided water for the Israelites during the time they wandered in the wilderness. However, the pouring of the water did not occur on the eighth day but the priest prayed for rain for the next year. It was on the last day of the festival when JESUS stood and said these words, which could have been either the 7th or 8th day. The emphasis was on the necessity of water to sustain humans and their food source for their physical survival and JESUS is necessary for their Spiritual survival.

Water is the only substance that really quenches thirst. As I wrote this, I had been out doing various projects in the heat of the day, which included a hot dog and ice cream supper for some young people. Of course, there was an ample supply of soft drinks. When I got home, the number one thing I craved the most was a glass of ice water. In fact, I had at least two (2) big glasses of ice water.

JESUS told the Samaritan woman at the well that HE could give her living water, which appealed to her so she wouldn’t have to haul water from the well. JESUS was speaking of Spiritual water that only HE can provide, which quenches thirsty souls seeking the fullness of GOD in their lives.

The HOLY SPIRIT refreshes our souls, enlightens, teaches, reveals un-confessed sin, assures believers of their salvation and the list goes on. The HOLY SPIRIT is the source of life giving spiritual water.

Unbelievers thirst for the things the world has to offer. Believers thirst for spiritual water. The unbeliever seeks truth and completion but in all the wrong places. GOD knows their hearts and will lead those seeking truth to find it in CHRIST. Once we find the truth and accept CHRIST as our SAVIOR, believers thirst for the fullness of CHRIST in their lives. This is accomplished through relationship and obediently serving HIM by yielding his/her life to HIM and ministering to others through the power and gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT. It is an exciting journey.

I read this statement in the commentary published by LifeWay, Summer 2009 – “Some Christians are more open to the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit, but all Christians receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion.”

This has been the experience of my life. It is all about believers yielding themselves to the guidance and control of the HOLY SPIRIT. It is very difficult for believers to shift the control of their lives from flesh control to Spirit control. Even when we make the shift, we battle taking control of our lives back over. The beauty is that GOD understands and works with us along our journey with HIM because HE knows what it is like being a human.

We see in verse 39 that the believer, at that time, had to wait to receive the HOLY SPIRIT. After the resurrection and ascension of JESUS, the FATHER sent the HOLY SPIRIT back to earth on the Day of Pentecost to indwell believers the instant they ask CHRIST to forgive them of their sins and to come into their lives. This is the miracle of rebirth in the Spirit and will continue until the end of time as we know it. JESUS had to pay, in full, the price required by GOD to satisfy the sin debt before the HOLY SPIRIT could indwell the human body. This was accomplished when CHRIST gave HIS life on the cross for all who would believe in HIM as their personal SAVIOR and HIS resurrection is proof that HE paid the price and conquered sin and death.

Let’s read Acts 4:29-31:

29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, 30 while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.

The LORD had healed a man that had been crippled from birth through the Apostles Peter and John. As a result of this healing about 5,000 men became Christians. This upset the religious leaders and they had Pater and John arrested. Later they were released and reported what happened to fellow believers. There was a renewed commitment and determination to serve the LORD JESUS as evidenced by asking GOD to give them boldness and to continue showing HIS power through healing, signs and wonders. They were not shrinking away but rededicating themselves to serve in the face of threats. Their confidence and trust was in GOD and their desire was to continue to obediently serve HIM. As a result of this renewed dedication and recommitment, there was a shaking and filling of those assembled with the HOLY SPIRIT. The believers were empowered to speak GOD’S message of salvation with boldness.

Some believers might interpret this as a second blessing by the HOLY SPIRIT. Those gathered were already Christians but Luke speaks of all being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. Such an experience is like a second encounter with CHRIST following salvation. It was a renewal and recommitment to serve the LORD with all of their being. Believers held nothing back in the face of threats from the religious leaders. It is an overwhelming moment. It is a moment that will never be forgotten.

Believers must keep in mind that they receive all of the HOLY SPIRIT the moment they ask CHRIST to forgive them of their sin and ask HIM to come into their lives. However, there are overwhelming moments as we grow and mature in the LORD. As we give more of ourselves to HIM and commit to obediently serve HIM.

It happened to me many years ago when I was battling to allow the LORD to take my life fully and completely. I had the notion that I had to be strong enough to live the Christian life. The Christian life was to be lived in my own strength. I tried living what I believed to be the Christian life for a period of time only to discover that it was both frustrating and impossible. I became very frustrated and on my way to work one morning, while driving onto I-26, I asked the LORD to take my life as it was the good and the bad, and help me to live the Christian life. I can tell you in the twinkling of an eye HE took my life as it was. That moment was a life changing moment because for the first time in my life, I knew without a doubt that I belonged to GOD, through CHRIST. I have to quickly add that I have not always pleased HIM but I have always had the assurance that I was HIS child. This moment was me releasing my control to HIS control. It was a commitment of my life to HIM.

I have experienced another moment similar just a few years ago, but not as dramatic, when I studied “Experiencing God” written by Dr. Henry Balckaby and Claude King.

In retrospect, I think I became a Christian when I was about nine (9) or ten (10) years old. I had the notion that works sustained my salvation. I believed I could be in heaven one moment and out the next. I did not understand the miracle of the rebirth and that GOD had me in HIS hand and was my assurance of eternity. From that moment on the road to work experience, I have never doubted my salvation or security in HIM. My prayer is for all believers, as well as, all people to know this truth. Commit your life to HIM right now. If you want to wait to see if you can hold out being a Christian, I can tell you, you cannot. Place your life into CHRIST’S hands.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7:

4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything.[2] Lit God acts all things in all 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:

The Apostle Paul addressed some of the gifts manifested through believers by the
HOLY SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT knows the plans and purpose of GOD, THE FATHER. HE gifts believers to carry out HIS plans and purpose. Even though there are many different gifts, they are all from one source, GOD, as distributed by the HOLY SPIRIT. A spiritual gift is for ministering to others in a variety of ways.

The HOLY SPIRIT is a person. We see this in Romans 8:16:

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

Believers have to be careful not to become envious of those having a certain gift.
Some church denominations believe that every born-again believer must display the receiving of the HOLY SPIRIT by manifesting the gift of speaking in tongues. Tongues are a gift for a purpose. They are important to any church. There are many more gifts, which GOD wants HIS children to have and use for HIS purpose and to benefit others according to HIS plans and purpose.

Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12:11: (This statement follows a list of various gifts.)

11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills.

The HOLY SPIRIT distributes gifts as HE wills. Believers can desire certain gifts but it is GOD’S decision who receives a gift or gifts.

Every believer has at least one (1) Spiritual gift. I can hear some saying know, “Not me.” Well, you do.

The Apostle Paul makes it clear:

- There are different gifts but the same Spirit or GOD as the source.

- There are different ministries but the same Lord or GOD as the source.

- There are different activities but the same GOD as the source.

- Paul represents the Trinity in these verses. There is GOD. The LORD represents CHRIST and the Spirit represents the HOLY SPIRIT. They are mentioned separately but yet all are the same. Their purpose is to gift believers to benefit others. The gifts of GOD are many and varied for the purpose of serving HIM and ministering to others.

- The Greek root word for “gift” is “grace”. Spiritual gifts could be thought of as “grace-gifts”.

- Spiritual gifts are GOD’S grace being manifested though believers to serve HIM.

Seek the fullness of CHRIST in your life and HE will use you to serve HIM and minister to others. It is all about relationship. Seek to have the most intimate, loving relationship with HIM. Ask HIM in prayer to help you build this relationship by revealing to you any barrier that prevents it. I can tell you it is an awesome journey. Not easy but awesome. Blessings to all who desire to really know and serve HIM.