This study was first taught on April 10, 2012

Topic: If there is no Holy Spirit …(1)

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week, we began a new mega-theme, THE HOLY SPIRIT. We saw that it is possible for someone to be in a church and may have never heard of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. We noted that in some Christian groupings, and even denominations, the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, is not really given any significant place. Our overall objective in the course of the study on “The Holy Spirit” is to determine how much space the Holy Spirit should be given in our meetings and worship.

One of the things we immediately sought to do last week, therefore, was to know what or who the Holy Spirit is. We saw that there are many people whom we may call disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, who may, in fact, have never heard of, let alone, know about the Holy Spirit! And those who may have heard of the Holy Spirit, only know about the Holy Spirit, but have not received Him into their hearts.

We saw that the Holy Spirit is not a ‘what’, neither is He a thing, nor is He a god (or deity). Indeed, the Holy Spirit is God, and the Third Person of the Godhead. We saw that the Holy Spirit is equal in essence and power with God, the Father, and, God, the Son; and, just as God, the Father is God, and God, the Son, is God, so also is the Holy Spirit, God! The God of the bible is One because, all Three are One—they are united in purpose, and never contradict One Another! Thus, we saw that the Holy Spirit as God was involved in Creation; in baptisms—of Jesus, and of the believer in Christ; in the doxology; and, in the manifestation of spiritual gifts. We also saw that the Holy Spirit as a Person, is always described as a ‘He’, and never as an ‘it’ nor as a ‘she’. Also, as a Person, the Holy Spirit possesses intelligence—knows things, speaks, and teaches. We also saw that He can express emotions, such as being grieved to the point of withdrawing Himself from man.

We however, observed that the Holy Spirit does not want to withdraw from man by choice. On the contrary, He wants to be man’s best friend in a very close and intimate relationship. Indeed, the Holy Spirit wants a continual communion/fellowship with the believer in Christ. Hence, the salvation plan of God includes the fellowship of man with the Holy Spirit! So, immediately after a man gets born again, the next step is to enter into, and begin a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 19:1-4
Our scripture text lets us into the comment of the disciples of John’s doctrines and teachings, who said that they had “not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” We shall be looking at what can happen to people who may be in church, but who do not know that there is a Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit teach us, and help us tonight, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
When a man admits that he has never heard of the Holy Spirit, nor has knowledge of Him or His works, then certain things will become apparent about that man’s life.
Genesis 1:1-4; Job 33:4; Isaiah 40:21-22; Genesis 2:7; Ezekiel 37:1-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Corinthians 3:6; John 6:63; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Acts 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; John 16:7-11.

Conclusion
If a man has no knowledge of the Holy Spirit, or His works, he would believe that there was no Creation of the heavens and the earth, nor could man have been made by God. Such individuals will not only believe the Big Bang and Evolution Theories, but will propagate it! They would believe that the Universe just happened and that man ultimately evolved from planktons! Such were the people (many of them Cardinals and Bishops) in the Catholic Church many Centuries ago who persecuted the people who said that the earth is round and not flat! Indeed, anyone who attempted to make such a suggestion was either imprisoned for heresy, or blasphemy, or even burned at the stakes!

When a man has no knowledge of the Holy Spirit, even if he concedes the creation of man to God, he will come away with a belief that man is a zombie who cannot be responsible for the sins he is committing; he would therefore expect God to stop man from committing sin. And if God does not stop man from committing sin, then it means that there really is nothing wrong with what man is doing!

For those who do not know that there is a Holy Spirit, they believe that the bible is a novel, or a mystical book which the ordinary man on the street should not venture to read! Such men believe that there are various interpretations to the bible, and that the bible is essentially a source of special knowledge, which does not include the kingdom of God, or salvation for that matter. And when such men preach from the bible, they will depend on their oratory prowess, and their speech will be motivational, emotional, and carnal! For this reason also, their speech lacks the power to change the lives of men. Hence, sin abounds unabated in the gathering where such men superintend over. There is never any conviction of sin, of righteousness, nor, of judgment in their meetings. Everyone does as he likes and it is acceptable unto them.

For those who know that there is a Holy Spirit Who is God, however, they cannot but believe without question, the biblical account of the Creation of the heavens and the earth, the creation of man, and the introduction of sin into the world. For those who know the Holy Spirit, they know that the bible is the inspired (by the Holy Spirit) word of God, which truthfully documents events in the lives of the people of God, and which is useful for the transformation of human lives and the salvation of man in its entirety. Men who know, and walk with the Holy Spirit, preach the gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, with the effect of true repentance and salvation in the lives of the hearers, having been convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

May we all come to know the Holy Spirit, and experience His awesome power, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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