70. The Spirit-Led Church
Being the friend of Holy Spirit
In Your Bible Read This
John 14, 15 -26; chapter 15.26 - 16.15
Here Is Your Memory Verse
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Cor. 13.14
Afterwards Talk About
This
When you are witnessing or praying for a sick person, what
difference
will it make now you know that you do not go alone to minister to
them?
Something To Do Before
Next Time
Begin to relate to Holy Spirit as you would with any other
dear friend.
We should not pray to him but we can certainly talk with him and
share our lives.
Don’t be surprised if he speaks back as he did in Acts 13.2,
and Acts 16, 6-10.
Written Diploma Work
The Bible talks about Holy Spirit using many titles and
pictures like dove,
water, oil, comforter, or breath. See how many you can find, at
least 10.
Meditate On This Passage
Acts 16, 6-10
Pray For Cuba - 10,000,000 Caribbean people
Repression, rationing and lack, past persecution of 3% believers
Widespread occult spiritism
Do You Know What You Are Asking?
At the end of our church services we often bless each other with the words of our memory verse, but have you ever thought what we are desiring for each other?
Who Is The Holy Spirit ?
Some people think that the Holy Spirit is just a kind of energy, power or lightning. But they could not be more mistaken.
The Holy Spirit Is A Person.
In fact he is a very important person, the Third Person in God's 'family tree,' the Trinity: Mat. 28.19; 2 Cor. 13.14. He is a spirit person, as much a person as you are but without the limitations of a body. We can pray daily: 'Holy Spirit, fill me with your power, guide me, give me wisdom and courage,' because he is a definite, specific person we can talk to and relate to.
Why Is This Important?
It means you can relate to God easily. A man can never relate to a force, an energy or a mere inanimate influence, and not even to man’s best friend, a dog. God wants us to have a personal relationship with him and, knowing that we can only relate to a person, he has given us Holy Spirit to be our personal friend, our helper and our comforter.
For the disciples who had spent three years with Jesus, Holy Spirit came and took the place of Jesus with them and in fact was even closer because he was inside each one. Because Holy Spirit is a Spirit person he was able to be with all the disciples, all the time, not limited to being in one place at a time as Jesus permitted himself to be. The same is true today. Holy Spirit, God himself is with all of us, always.
Is Holy Spirit A Real Person?
Doctors say that a real person must have a mind, a will and emotions. That’s the test we must put to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Always Calls Him A Person
In just one particular conversation Jesus calls Holy Spirit "him" fifteen times, and "he" ten times. John 16.7-15. Jesus also gives him a personal title, Counsellor, meaning the One who stands alongside you as a lawyer to defend you. John 14.15-17. Holy Spirit is the One who takes hold together with us against our weak-ness and infirmities. Romans 8.26
What Does This Mean To Me?
We can grow into deep friendship with a companion or with a marriage partner, so how much more can we surely build an intimate two-way friendship with a totally trustworthy Divine person and friend who loves me, lives in me, speaks to me and wants to work with me and through me.
- He is ‘Holy’ Spirit and his holiness can saturate my inner desires and empower me to be holy. 1 Peter 1.15
- I am never alone. 2 Cor. 13.14
- He has all the gifts of God to share with me as I face the needs of each day. Isaiah 11.2-4, Luke 4.18
- As a witness for Jesus I never have to strive to do God's work in convicting others of their sin, lack of righteousness and imminent judgement. Only the Spirit of God can do the work of God. I can do my part, and relax allowing Holy Spirit to do his own Divine work. John 16.8. Our job is to minister the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3.6
- At church we can yield to the Holy Spirit and risk allowing him to direct our worship, prayers, future plans and our ministry to each other.
- Acts 2, 1-4 tells us how God sent Holy Spirit just as Joel prophesied, and Jesus promised in John 14.16. You no longer have to wait for him, just ask him to come and fill your life, and make him welcome.
Tanzania |
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| People Name | Language | Population |
| Han Chinese (Cantonese, Nung) | Chinese, Yue | 15,000 |
| Wasi | Chasi | 40,000 |