This study was first taught on May 27, 2018

Topic: The Birth of the Church (4): The Manifestation of the Holy Spirit

(use the audio to study)

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Background
In our last meeting, we saw the pivotal role the Holy Spirit in the birth of the Church of God. indeed, but for the Holy Spirit, the Church could not have been born!

The 120 disciples who gathered on that fiftieth day after the Sabbath following the crucifixion of the Lord were just that—a gathering or assembly of disciples—but when the Holy Spirit came within and upon them, they became the Church of the Living God—the Body of Christ on the earth! Also, the Holy Spirit, by the events on the day that the Church was born, was the Unifier of men and women under God to bring about the execution of the Will of God! This He achieved by making them acceptable to God, and thus enabled to do God’s Will acceptably.

In our conclusion, therefore, we observed that the Holy Spirit must be given His proper place in the Church today, otherwise, what we call ‘churches’ would really be cults, social clubs, or congresses of people gathered to discuss their own concerns! Furthermore, the role of the Holy Spirit in binging in people who have been saved and sanctified into the Church must not be replaced with men’s programs aimed at a bloated assemblage of men and women who have not been, or, who have no desire to be saved and sanctified! Indeed, if today's church is to be significant in the world, it must desist from pursuing its own will; and rather, make the Will of the Father, and the execution of His Will, its purpose, pursuit, and, passion!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 2:1-4; 1 Kings 19:9-13
On the day the Church was born, there were certain events which occurred, and which have now become synonymous with the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Our second scripture text, however, suggests that we ought to be wary of ascribing some occurrences to the Holy Spirit or indeed, God Almighty. We pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to receive understanding and discernment, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
When we speak of the “manifestation of the Holy Spirit”, we are speaking of what shows that the Holy Spirit is operating in a place; we are speaking of the evidence or proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is unseen, it is by means of certain events that He can be said to be present. It is such events/occurrences that attest to the presence or activity of the Holy Spirit, that we seek to study.
Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-32; 1 Kings 19:11-13; Acts 2:2-4; 4:31; 10:44-48; 19:1-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1-3; Acts 2:5ff; 1:8; 1 Corinthians 14:21-25; Acts 3:1-11; 4:5-13; 8:5-23; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; 13:1-3; 14:1-5, 13; Galatians 5:16-25.

Conclusion
The Holy Spirit may not necessarily show Himself in certain events/occurrences that we have always associated Him with—the wind, earthquake, etc. He can be experienced in a very personal and practical way, but even that should not be sacrosanct! Which begs the question, “So, how can we be sure of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit?”

Hence, we should note that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is not just about:
• Speaking in tongues, but also in other spiritual gifts.
• Spiritual gifts, but that you may edify the body!
• Edification of the body superficially, but the manifestation of fruit—the fruit of the Spirit—which is itself, the result of a crucified and sanctified life!

The true manifestation of the Holy Spirit is thus, both the display of the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit—to display the former without the latter makes such a manifestation suspect; for the display of the latter is indeed, the evidence of Christ abiding in, and with us! The absence of the love of Christ (a fruit of the Spirit), eventually cost the church in Ephesus her candle stick (John 14:18-24; 1 John 5:2-3; Revelation 2:1-5)—a mark of the true church of God (Revelation 1:20)! May this not be our portion, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

LET US PRAY!

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