5 The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit – Discussion starters
- Optional or Essential? What would the Christian life be like without the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do for us? How does the Holy Spirit help us live the life of a true Christian and not just as a follower of God in name only? Do you want to be filled with the Spirit? How can studying these daily lessons help you in that pursuit?
- The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Is baptism of the Holy Spirit a one-time event? If so, how can it take place on a continuing basis? Explain how the use of the present participle in John 1:33 helps enforce that concept. What happens to
us after we are baptized and experience the new birth? How is the Holy Spirit involved? What would your daily life be like if you had never accepted the Holy Spirit? - Being Filled with the Holy Spirit. Before we can live in the power of the Spirit, what has to happen? Did God send enough of the Holy Spirit to you as a new believer to supply all of your needs for the rest of your life? If not, how often do you need to go back and refill your soul with the Holy Spirit?
- Conditions 1. What is the single most important condition you and I have to meet to receive the Holy Spirit in our lives? How do we qualify for meeting that condition? What does trusting the Lord have to do with receiving the Holy Spirit? True or False: The more you pray, the closer God comes to you. Is that statement true or false? What is a better way to explain the result of praying more, not less?
- Conditions 2. What does obedience have to do with receiving the Holy Spirit? Is obedience as a choice part of the act of receiving the Holy Spirit? What will impurity in our hearts do to the fire God has placed in our hearts? Why is self such a handicap in trying to make the Holy Spirit a part of our lives?
- Christ-centered living. Can we focus on Christ alone and in this way find the path to a Christ-centered life? If not, what is required? Is it important for us to make up our minds and determine in our hearts to follow Jesus? As you reflect on your own life, can you see evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in you? What are some examples that you can think of that point to a Spirit-led life?
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Without the Holy Spirit of God then we are not complete human beings
John The Baptist, the first record of Baptism of the Holy Spirit is found in at least one reference, Mark 1:1-8. Isiah 40:3 is a foot note that is taken from the scripture in mark. I would suggest reading the entire chapter of Isiah 40:1-31. For the do it yourself improvement programs, verse 18 asks, how well do we understand God? Our efforts to save our selves are nonproductive. How important do we regard ourselves? Let me know.
Were only New Testament people baptized with the Holy Spirit?
"unless you are baptized by the Spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." -- so won't we conclude that old testament people would have needed the Holy Spirit as well?
It's interesting to see how many times the Holy Spirit comes to people in the Old Testament.
David claimed the Holy Spirit in his life.
Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit.
Daniel showed by his life that he had the Holy Spirit as testified by the king.
Daniel 4:8 in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],
4:9...I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee
There are many more.
I like the emphases brought out -- the baptism of the Holy Spirit isn't a one time thing -- it is a continuing condition of a person in tune with God. While there are times when the presence of the Holy Spirit is given in fuller measure, and a person experiences a surge of His power in their lives, yet we need Him daily, and He enables us to grow ever closer to God and to do what God wills for us to do.
If Jesus is a God,why he still need to pray when He was on the earth?
Question:
How can Jesus be God when the Hebrew Bible says God is not a man? Cf. Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hosea 11:9.
Answer:
None of those biblical texts say God CANNOT be a man, but say that God IS not a man, a major difference:
"God IS not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" Numbers 23:19"And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he IS not a man, that he should have regret." 1 Samuel 15:29
"I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath." Hosea 11:9
It is true that during the Old Testament period God hadn’t become a man, but this doesn’t deny that God could choose to later become a man, specifically in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Hebrew Bible even predicts that the Messiah of David is actually God in the flesh:"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." Isaiah 9:6-7. Here, the Messiah is a child who is born, showing that he is truly human, while also being the Mighty God at the same time. "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘Yahweh is our righteousness.’" Jeremiah 23:5-6. The Messiah is David’s Branch, implying that he is a human descendant of David, while also being Yahweh our righteousness. These texts clearly indicate that God will become man in the Person of the Messiah, whom the NT says is the Lord Jesus!