lcs talk 3: the fellowship of the holy spirit. goal: to understand the role of the holy spirit

LCS Talk 3: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY

SPIRIT

Goal:

To understand the role of

the Holy Spirit.

1) The Holy Spirit’s importance was stressed by Jesus Himself.

John 16:7

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate

will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

2. So God wants for us a life in the Holy Spirit.

2. So God wants for us a life in the Holy Spirit.

a) The life in the Holy Spirit was normal for the early Christians, where in the Book of Acts we see the Holy Spirit acting among them, guiding them, giving them the gifts of the Holy Spirit

b) We need to know the Holy Spirit too not just as doctrine, but as the 3rd Person of the Holy Trinity who truly affects our lives.

b) We need to know the Holy Spirit too not just as doctrine, butas the 3rd Person of the Holy Trinity who truly affects our lives.

c) While we know the Father and the Son – many do not know the role of the Holy Spirit.

3. Today, Christianity looks weak – lacking in power and effectiveness.

3. Today, Christianity looks weak – lacking in power and effectiveness.

a) But Christians have not always been weak. The early Christian movement was dynamic, strong, and attractive.

b) From a small sect, it toppled the Roman Empire.

b) From a small sect, it toppled the Roman Empire.

• That same power is available to us today. This is the power of the Holy Spirit.

4. What needs to happen?

a) We need to realize that true Christian living is not just a matter of human willpower but a new heart, a new life, and a personal relationship with God thru the action of the Holy Spirit.

b) With the Holy Spirit, we gain:


Union with God. We meet Christ.

Eph 2:18

“For through Him we both have

access to the Father by one

Spirit.”


A new nature. We live Christ.

2 Cor 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in

Christ, the new creation has

come: the old has gone, the

new is here!”


Power to serve as Jesus’ witnesses. We share Christ.

Acts 1:8

“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.”

5. This new life in the Holy Spirit is available to all who turn away from a life of sin and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Receiving the Holy Spirit.(what does it mean?)

1. The Experience of the early disciples.

Luke 24:49

“I am going to send you what my

Father has promised; but stay in the

city until you have been clothed with

power from on high.”

a) Jesus promises the Holy Spirit.

b) The disciples did as they were told and stayed in Jerusalem and waited.

b) The disciples did as they were told and stayed in Jerusalem and waited.

c) The day of Pentecost arrives (Acts 2).

Summary of the day of Pentecost:

V.1-4. An exciting event. Coming of the Holy Spirit manifested by noise like a strong wind, tongues of fire, speaking in tongues.V.5-13. It created a big stir among the crowd.V.14-21. Peter explained they were not drunk.V.22-36. Peter proclaims the gospel.V.37-39. Peter tells them the response needed. “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you and you will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”V.40-41. The disciples were transformed from frightened men into bold, powerful apostles and 3,000 are converted!V.42-47. The Holy Spirit created bonds of love and unity among the new Christians. The Church was born.

Acts 2:1-47

Acts 8:14-17

The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had received the word

of God, so they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for

the believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit have not

yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the

Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received

the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44-46

While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who

were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had

accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should

have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking

in tongues and glorifying God.

Acts 19:6

And when Paul laid his hands on

them, the Holy Spirit came upon

them, and they spoke in tongues

and prohesised.

2. So what does receiving the Holy Spirit (or being baptized in the Spirit)

mean for us today?

• Jesus is the One baptizing us in the

Holy Spirit.

In Mark 1:8, John the Baptist

proclaims:

“I have baptized you with water, He will

baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

a) We can experience the same power and

gifts of the Spirit that the early Christians

did:


gifts of the Spirit that the early Christans

did:

• The same relationship with Jesus.



did:


• The same transforming power.



did:



• The same deep worship.



did:



• The same deep worship.

• The same power for speaking the gospel.

b) We can receive the same spiritual

gifts.

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

Prophecy

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

Prophecy

Faith

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

Prophecy

Faith

Healing

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

Prophecy

Faith

Healing

Miracles

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

Prophecy

Faith

Healing

Miracles

Discerning of Spirits

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

Prophecy

Faith

Healing

Miracles


Different kinds of Tongues

1 Cor 12:1, 4-11

Wisdom

Knowledge

Prophecy

Faith

Healing

Miracles


Different kinds of Tongues

Interpretation of Tongues

c) A word on the gift of Tongues


1 Cor 14:2

“For anyone who speaks in a

tongue does not speak to people

but to God. Indeed, no one

understands them; they utter

mysteries by the Spirit.


1 Cor 14:14

“For if I pray in tongue, my Spirit

prays, but my mind is unfruitful.”

d) It is an important first step, and is

often the gateway to a fuller life in

the Spirit.

3. How can we receive the baptism in the Spirit?

a) God has promised us the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:9-13

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone

who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door

will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg,

will give him a scorpion? 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!”

a) God has promised us the Holy Spirit.

b) So we take God up on His promise and ask our Father to give us the Holy Spirit.

c) We can be sure we will receive the Spirit because God said so.

d) We just need to ask in faith.

4. What being baptized in the Spirit means for us?

a) As Catholics, we were first baptized in the Spirit in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

a) As Catholics, we were first baptized in the Spirit in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

b) However many baptized and confirmed Catholics have not been conscious in living a vibrant life in Christ thru the Holy Spirit.

c) In this LCS, we renew our baptismal commitment, accept Jesus as Savior and Lord – and ask for a renewed Infilling of the Holy Spirit.


d) With the prayer of baptism in the Spirit, we will experience a fuller release of the Holy Spirit in our lives.


d) With the prayer of baptism in the Spirit, we will experience a fuller release of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

e) Brief personal testimony on the workings of the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION:

CONCLUSION:

• Many Catholics do not know the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit’s importance in our Christian lives.

CONCLUSION:

• Many Catholics do not know the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit’s importance in our Christian lives.

• To truly know Christ, we must know and have fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION:

• God offers each of you new life – this new life in the Spirit is the normal Christian life.

CONCLUSION:

• God offers each of you new life – this new life in the Spirit is the normal Christian life.

• God desires it for all – let us desire it as well.

Group discussion

Group discussion

Share about your experience of God’s Spirit in your life.

lcs talk 3: the fellowship of the holy spirit. goal: to understand the role of the holy spirit

Documents