TOPIC: THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [SUNDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER 2017]
OPENING PRAYER: Father, let my class and church experience fresh fire of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
BIBLE PASSAGE: LUKE 11:9-13
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
MEMORY VERSE: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” – Acts:2:38
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
Now that we understand the significance and the ministry of the comforter, hopefully, the Holy Spirit would have discovered in us clean vessels and temples, ready for divine occupation. Yo need to receive Him without hesitation.
TEXT REVIEW: Luke 11:9-13
Attempt to obtain the opposite of the commandments of the Lord in Luke 11:9-13 is fearful. Verse 9 gives three conditional statements in the affirmative. Ask, it shall be given, seek, and ye shall find, knock, it shall be opened unto you. If these statements are presented in the negative they could be expressed as follows:
Do not ask for anything and nothing shall be given to you; do not seek for anything and you shall find anything. Do not knock at any door and no door shall be opened to you. This passage could be explained in the light of FAITH and WORK. That is when you prayed the prayer of faith (James 5:15), you must work the work of faith. 1Thess. 1:3. Take a step of faith to support it. Apostle Paul combined the duo of ‘FAITH’ and ‘WORK’ in this passage: “Wherefore also, we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of his calling and fulfil all the good pleasure of this goodness and the work of faith with power”. 2Thess. 1:11. Although, the Holy Spirit is available, (Luke 11:13) yet, believers must ask. Asking is the work of faith. A son must ask his father for bread. A son must ask his father for fish. A son must ask his father for egg. Luke 11:11-12.
Similarly, a son/daughter of the kingdom must not take the Baptiser for granted. He/she must ask, seek and knock to find. Luke 11:9-10.
LESSON OUTLINE 1: HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The following steps will guide any sincere candidate for the baptism of the Holy Ghost:
i. Be born again. Jn3:3; Acts3:19
ii. Be desirous and thirsty for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ps37:4; Ps42:1; Isa55:1
iii. Believe that the promise of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is for you and all believers. Acts2:33
iv. Identify the Lord Jesus Christ as the right source of the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Matt3:11.
v. Have confidence also in His word, which will never fall to the ground but is forever settled in Heaven. Jn7:37-39; Ps119:89
vi. Then ask Him and He will answer, for “He that asketh receiveth”. Luke11:10
vii. Praise and thank God in advance for your baptism because He is the giver of good gifts. Joshua1:17; 1Thess5:18.
Class Activity 1: Class should discuss why some members have not received the Holy Spirit. Practical examples could be used to support the reasons.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: THE ACTUAL BAPTISM, THE BAPTISER AND THE EVIDENCE.
i. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Baptizer. Matthew3:11
ii. To be baptized, you must come to God’s presence
iii. You must woship God with praise, thanksgiving and right mind
iv. You must focus on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Heb12:1-2;11:6
v. You must ask God in prayer and in faith
vi. Prepare to release your tongue to the Holy Spirit utterances. Acts2:1-4; 10:44-46
vii. The Holy Spirit baptism brings power to the believers. Luke24:49
viii. The Holy Spirit endues the believers with the divine ability to do “grater works” or exploit. John14:12
Class Activity 2: Discuss the benefits which your class stands to gain if all members are baptised in the Holy Spirit.
SUMMARY:
You need the Baptiser to be baptized in the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
EVALUATION:
List the steps to baptism in the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION:
If you ask God in faith, you will receive the baptism of the Holy spirit and you will have the evidence of speaking in new tongues
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, baptize me today, in the name of Jesus.
ASSIGNMENT:
Set hours/days apart this week and pray until you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You may see your teacher or Pastor to lay hand on you to receive the baptism. Acts 8:17