KNOWING THE PERSON AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

רּוח (ruach) pneu=ma (pneuma)

Both words mean “wind” or “breath”Part of the Godhead – TrinityDifficult to imagine – why?All 3 Persons are:

Omnipotent: Zech 4:6; Lk 1:35; Rom 15:19Omnipresent: Ps 139:7Omniscient: I Cor 2:10Eternal: Heb 9:14Equal: Acts 5:3-4

Principles & Person1. The Holy Spirit is God; - He is a Person, not a

thing

2. We cannot focus on the Holy Spirit too much. Why?

3. The Holy Spirit gives gifts for use in ministry

4. The Holy Spirit is a distinct Person within the Godhead, not a force ... has intellect. 1 Cor 2:10 ... has knowledge. 1 Cor. 2:11 ... has emotions. Eph 4:30 ... has his own will & makes decisions. Acts

16:6 ... Loves. Rom 15:30

Things only a Person would

do ... He teaches us about God and ourselves. John 14:26 He tells the truth. John 15:26 He guides. John 16:13He convinces / convicts. John 16:8He prays for us. Romans 8:26-27He commands. Acts 13:2

He can be grieved. Eph 4:30He can be quenched, His fire can be put

out. 1 Thess 5:19

He is not fragile…… He is Holy

Word & SpiritAll scripture God breathed, useful for…2 Tim 3:16

…… Spirit gives birth to spirit. Jn 3:6The Spirit gives life ….. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. Jn 6:63

competent to be ministers of a new covenant, … of the Spirit. Letter kills, Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6

Winds as messengers, flames of fire his servants. Ps 104.4

……He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Lk 3:16

Suddenly a sound like a violent wind came from heaven and they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire……. Acts 2:2-3

Receiving the Holy Spirit

Read Acts 8:9-17Discuss what happenedWhat happened in Acts 19:1-7?What does Paul’s question suggest he expected to find at Ephesus?Why is this important?Is it possible to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit?

The Controversy: 2nd Blessing?One Baptism, many fillings?

Why? We are leaky vessels!Baptism (water or Spirit) should be corporate, NOT individual experience!Principle more important than mechanics!Personal testimony of mechanisms used …Dangers of over-generalisation & rules – can’t put God in a box

What does Scripture say? Main theme for many: transition

1. God gave Holy Spirit to Apostles (Acts 2:1–4).

2. Apostles were witnesses to Jews in Jerusalem and throughout all Judæa (Acts 2:5–8:3)

3. They witnessed in Samaria, Holy Spirit is clearly given to the Samaritans (Acts 8:14–17) by laying on of hands of Apostles Peter and John.

4. Finally, the Apostles go to the Gentiles (remotest areas of the civilized world - Acts 10:1–28:31).

Many thus conclude that tongues only given as sign of work of Spirit in new group

Cessationism

Definition – taken from I Cor 13:8 & 10 Interpretation depends on word ‘complete’2 main views: (1) Scripture (2) Christ Main emphasis – do spiritual gifts still operate today?If “tongues” ceased, why not knowledge? Do we now know fully, just as we are fully known?

I Cor. 13:8-12‘H a)ga/ph ou)de/pote pi/ptei: ei&te de\ profhtei=ai, katarghqh/sontai: ei&te glw=ssai, pau/sontai: ei&te gnw=si$, katarghqh/setai.

e)k me/rou$ ga\r ginw/skomen kai\ e)k me/rou$ profhteu/omen: o%tan de\ e&lqh| to\ te/leion, to\ e)k me/rou$ katarghqh/setai. o%te h&mhn nh/pio$, e)la/loun w($ nh/pio$, e)fro/noun w($ nh/pio$, e)logizo/mhn w($ nh/pio$: o%te ge/gona a)nh/r, kath/rghka ta\ tou= nhpi/ou.

ble/pomen ga\r a&rti di' e)so/ptrou e)n ai)ni/gmati, to/te de\ pro/swpon pro\$ pro/swpon: a&rti ginw/skw e)k me/rou$, to/te de\ e)pignw/somai kaqw\$ kai\ e)pegnw/sqhn.Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, 27 th Revised Edition

Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if there are languages, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be brought to an end.

For our knowledge is imperfect, and so is our prophesying; but when the perfect state of things is come, all that is imperfect will be brought to an end.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, felt like a child, reasoned like a child: when I became a man, I put from me childish ways.

For the present we see things as if in a mirror, and are puzzled; but then we shall see them face to face. For the present the knowledge I gain is imperfect; but then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Weymouth

Spiritual GiftsTo one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

I Cor 12:8-10 (from The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)

MinistriesI Cor 12:28-30

In the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?(from The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)

Why Tongues?~ 10 reasons1. It is Scriptural ~ I Cor 14:5, 39

2. Promised by Jesus ~ Mk 16:17

3. God speaks supernaturally to men ~I Cor 14:21

4. Men speak supernaturally to God ~ I Cor 14:2

5. Allows us to magnify God ~ Acts 10:46

6. It edifies us ~ I Cor 14:4

7. With interpretation it edifies the church8. Allows spirit to pray to Spirit ~ I Cor 14:14-15

9. To by-pass the intellect in praise ~ I Cor 14:21

10.As a sign to unbelievers ~ I Cor 14:22

Questions?

Can we be saved without speaking in tongues?

Can we be filled with the Spirit without speaking in tongues?

Why do some say tongues are Satanic?

Acknowledgements

http://frankviola.org/2012/11/12/spiritbaptism1/

“In the Day of Thy Power” by Arthur Wallis (© 1956 Christian Literature Crusade).

http://kukis.org/Tongues/Tongues.htm#Summary

Barry Goddard: “Another Look at........ (3) The Person & Work of the Holy Spirit” (Oct. 1995)

Harold Horton: What is the Good of Speaking with Tongues?