This study was first taught on May 20, 2018

Topic: The Birth of the Church (3)The Role of the Holy Spirit

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Background
In our last meeting, we noted that even though the birth of the church was prophesied over the Centuries, and even as recently, at the time, as during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus, yet when the Church was born, it happened suddenly!

By the word “suddenly” we mean that the birth of the church was in an unexpected manner, at an unexpected hour, without premonition, without warning, hastily, and, instantly! Indeed, nothing could have prepared the disciples of the Lord Jesus, as they gathered that morning on the Day of Pentecost!

We noted that the birth of the church being sudden, even though it had been prophesied over the Centuries, was in keeping with the nature of God. according to Isaiah 48:3, God noted that even though He would have spoken about what He want to do, yet when He does it, it would be sudden, and we saw a number of instances of this, including the Exodus of Israel out of Egypt, the return of the exiles from Babylon, and, the appearing of the Lord Jesus in the temple.

We thus counselled that we should keep on doing what God has asked us to do, and keep on walking in purity, for although no man knows when the end shall be; yet it draws nearer that when we first believed!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 2:1-4
Today, whenever the word “Pentecost” is mentioned, most people immediately think of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, in certain quarters, “Pentecost” or “Pentecostal” are considered synonymous with the Holy Spirit. As we study today, may the Holy Spirit help us to appreciate His significance with respect to the Church of God, and well beyond the word, “Pentecost”; this we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
In our study today, we shall be looking at the role of the Holy Spirit, as it concerns, more specifically, the birth of the Church of God. If we don’t limit our discussion to the role of the Holy Spirit to the birth of the church, we shall have to do a study of the whole Bible! May God help us to see, and appreciate the role, significance, and place of the Holy Spirit in the birth of the Church, and indeed, in the Church itself, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
John 7:37-39; 14:16-18, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-13; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:45, 47-49; Romans 8:9; Acts 19:1-7; Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-11, 41; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ezekiel 36:24-27; Colossians 2:16-23; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.

Conclusion
2 Corinthians 5:17-20; 1 Peter 1:2
The Holy Spirit basically gave birth to the Church of God, for without Him, the ‘church’ would just be like the one gathered at Ephesus by the idol worshippers of ‘Diana of the Ephesians’ in the public place in Acts 19:23-41—dead, lifeless, worldly, and fleshly! It was the Holy Spirit within and upon the gathered group of 120 that formed the church of God! Any gathering, therefore, that does not acknowledge the Holy Spirit, neither gives Him place, nor heeds Him, is not the Church of God, even if they may be so called!

The Holy Spirit at the birth of the Church made it clear to all, that His role is to bring together not only Jews, but also people of every nation, tongue, tribe, ethnicity, skin colour, socio-economic strata, etc. And in bringing all men together, it is in pursuance of the Will of God. Thus, another role of the Holy Spirit from the birth of the Church was to gather people together to accomplish God’s Will; not the will of man!

To be able to achieve this, the Holy Spirit made the Early Church acceptable to the Father, so that they could represent Him on the earth—to do what He wants done for mankind—telling men of the goodness and mercy of God in the provision God has made for their eternal salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ—and not what they (the people gathered) want to do for themselves. If the church today is to be significant in the world, it must desist from following its own will, and rather, seek the Will of the Father and execute it (Matthew 6:9-10)!

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