He is first mentioned moving over the surface of the waters.

week 11: holy spirit 1) Who is the Holy Spirit? Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God. So it says the man Ananias lied to the Spirit and then says he did not lie to a man but to God. So, the Holy Spirit is God himself. He is individual in His person and 1 in God. He is in the Father and Son and they are in Him. All function in perfect harmony, being interdependent on one another with separate functions making the whole. They are one because they are three, not in spite of being three persons. Think of a family. Each individual is no less by being part of the one family. A healthy family has unique parts and function in loving communion. 2) Let s look at the relationship between the Holy Spirit and man in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit is about action. He is often recognized by verbs. Genesis 1:2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. He is first mentioned moving over the surface of the waters. The Holy Spirit came on people in the Old Testament to do or say something or empower someone to complete a task for the will of God. Sometimes His presence was there for years with a person and sometimes for seconds or minutes. 1 Chronicles 12:18a Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said,... 32

Ezekiel 11:5 Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, Say, Thus says the Lord, So you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts Judges 15-14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands. Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. We no longer have to be in fear of God taking away His Spirit. His New Testament covenant in Christ promises that. Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 1 Kings 8:11... So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. 3) The promise that Jesus made and prophesied about. It was unspeakable that God would come dwell as a man with His people, taking on a humble state. The followers or disciples of Christ did not want Him to leave them. John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 33

John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;... John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God... John 15:26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me... Matthew 12:31 Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. The gospel of Matthew is primarily written to the Jewish community. These were religious people, many of whom knew about God but didn t know Him. They were being warned of the danger of not accepting the witness of the Holy Spirit about Jesus. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Here, Jesus promise comes to pass on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 34

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:41-42 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Simon (a Reed) transformed into Peter (a Rock). He was full of pride and overcome by fear. But on the day of Pentecost he is humble and boldly proclaiming the promises of God under the Power of the Holy Spirit. His confidence was no longer coming from himself but in who he had become in Christ. So then, what was the difference maker?... The Holy Spirit! Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,... 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? Colossians 1:27... To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 35

Romans 8:14-16 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 4. So we know the Spirit is a person, but who is He? John 14:16-17 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Psalms 139:7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 1 Corinthians 2:10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God. 36

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 5. What does the Holy Spirit do? He has an internal ministry working inside of us and an external ministry working through us and with us to the world and to other believers. Romans 8:26-27 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, We can t figure God out on our own. We often can t see or interpret with our natural mind what scripture, Word or example someone or even ourselves need to hear for encouragement or gentle correction. That is what the Holy Spirit is for and why we need Him so much. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 37

6. Our response: How are we to live and behave? 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? Romans 8:13... for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Romans 8:1-17 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. 38

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,... 1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;... Read all of 1 Corinthians 12 to learn more on the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:11-12 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 Peter 1:3-11 Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render 39

you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, selfcontrol; against such things there is no law. When God says through Peter, our former sins, this is because all of our sins (past, present and future) are now in the past and were made our history the moment we accepted Christ and the Spirit entered our hearts to reside permanently, making us His home, sealing us all the way home beyond this life until we are before the face of Jesus Himself. Romans 7:14-20 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We actually need to be reminded that we are who Christ made us to be from His work on the Cross. The Holy Spirit convicts us of righteousness. 40

Week 11: Biblical Foundation 6 Holy Spirit Questions about the reading for this week (Acts 1-6) 1. Do you have any questions or confusion about the actual text what it says? 2. Do you have any questions or confusion about the interpretation of the text what it means? 3. Did God show you anything personal during your reading what does it mean to me? Questions about today s topic 1. Did you learn anything new about the Holy Spirit today? If so, please share with the group. 5. Travis talks about this gift of having the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us as a gift specific only to believers. He also mentions how in his life, he has encountered non-believers who just didn t seem to make any sense when they argued against God s word. He explains that it is not their fault they cannot understand. They don t understand God s word because they have not accepted him into their hearts and thus do not have the gift of the Holy Spirit in them. Have you ever encountered someone like this? How can understanding this concept help you in dealing with and praying for people who do not have the gift of the Holy Spirit? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 2. Travis says that often in the bible the Holy Spirit can be recognized with verbs because He is acting on believers. Can you name a time in your walk with the Spirit where He moved specifically in your life? 3. When you pray, what part of the trinity (Father, Son, or Holy Spirit) do you find yourself praying to? In other words, which member of the trinity (if any one in particular) to you feel most comfortable with? (There is no wrong answer!) 4. Does the concept of the trinity confuse you? If so, what specifically? 83