Topic: The Holy Spirit In Action [Sunday, 5th November 2017]
OPENING PRAYER: Father, fill me wilt to the Holy Spirit power to enable me witness for you anywhere I find myself
BIBLE PASSAGE: Act 1:1-19
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
MEMORY VERSE: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” – Act 1:8
LESSON INRODUCTION: Having studied the personality of the Holy Spirit and His attributes, we need to look at the significance and the ministry of the Holy Spirit order to see Him in action.
TEXT REVIEW: Acts 1:1-19
i. The creative power of the Holy Spirit was first seen in action at the creation when the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) began to move upon the face of the deep, Gen. 1:2, and when the mortal was transformed through God’s impartation of His Spirit Gen. 2:7.
ii. The Holy Spirit being the Spirit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding spoke through David several years before the birth of Jesus on the manner through which Jesus would be betrayed and suffer from the hand of Judas. Acts 1:16-19 and what would become the reward of the betrayer. This indicates that the Holy Spirit is a SPEAKING SPIRIT and He worked with David.
iii. The Holy Spirit was with the LORD Jesus and spoke to the apostles and commanded them to wait for the promise of the Father. Acts 10:38; Acts 1:4-5
Three powers of the Holy spirit are demonstrated here:
i. He is the Commander of the church Act1:2,4
ii. He is the One who makes promises and never breaks them. Acts 2:1-39.
iii. He is the Baptizer, Acts 1:5, and the Restorer of the Kingdom. Acts 1:6-8
iv. Restoration of God’s kingdom to Israel would be practically impossible without the Executive Power of the Trinity which is the Holy Spirit through the defeat of the accusers, the devil. Rev. 12:10
LESSON OUTLINES
Lesson Outline 1: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
i. The Holy Spirit id the seed of God’s Power planted in a believer when such believer is baptizer is baptized in the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8
ii The power of the Holy Spirit strengthens believers to witness for Christ.
iii. The fearful and timid Peter was supernaturally turned to a fearless and bold preacher. He preached the immovable word of God with power. Acts 2:14-47
iv. The Holy Spirit is the consuming fire of God. It is the fire of the Holy Spirit that distinguishes a true believer from a false believer. Matt. 3:11-12
v. The Holy Spirit is the divine wind of God’s church and the enabling grace behind a fruitful Christian life. Eze. 37:1-10; 1 Cor. 2:4; Luke 4:14-19
Class Activity 1: Identify the significance of the Holy Spirit in the church.
Lesson Outline 2: THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The ministry of the Holy Spirit, amongst many, includes the following:
i. He quickens our mortal bodies, Rom. 8:11; which makes it illegal for God’s divine nature. Matt. 3:12; 2 Pet. 1:4.
ii. He guides into all truth. John 16:12-13 by enlightening the believers’ understanding on all issues of all life. He is, therefore, our only insurance against the deadly and enslaving grip of ignorance. By this divine guidance, we will always have solutions to every problem that may confront us.
iii. He reveals things to come. Acts 21: 4, 10-12.
iv. He reminds of things taught. John 14:26 especially in the times of need e.g. The LORD Jesus in His encounter with the temper.
v. He reproves the world of sin. The sinner gets conviction not by gimmicks but the Holy Spirit. Zech. 4:6
vi. He reproves the world of righteousness by making them to live righteous in the midst of a perverse generation.
vii. He reproves the world of judgment. John 16:11.
viii. He testifies of the truth, which makes it easier, therefore, for a true believer to decree a thing and it is established unto him. Rom. 8:26-27
ix. He intercedes for the saints. Rom. 8:26-27
x. He gives spiritual gifts unto hungry men and women who earnestly covet them. 1 Cor. 12:4,11
Class Activity 2: mention the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believers and the church.
SUMMARY: The role of the Holy Spirit in believers and church are so much significant. Without such role, the believers/church will be worthless.
CONCLUSION: We need the Holy Spirit to run our Christian race.
EVALUATION: What is the ministry of the Holy Spirit?
ASSIGNMEENT: Differentiate between the ministry of the Holy Spirit and demons in five points.
Sunday School Hymn:
Verse 1
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
Verse 2
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
Thy friendship suits me well;
Both young and old will sing Thy song
We long for Sunday School.
Verse 3
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, Great Teacher
Does manifest in thee.
Verse 4
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
This testimony’s sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on thee.
Verse 5
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
Though the sun be so bright
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
Verse 6
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see thee;
Will Thou pass over me today
Without my being blest?