The Holy Spirit
Course: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church
Course Text: John 7:37-39, ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)’
Course Goal: That the student will understand the Holy Spirit now seeks to minister through the whole body of Christ. That the student will seek to develop his or her ministry in the knowledge that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is for the whole body.
Course Outline
Section One: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Lesson 1: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament (Joel 2:28-29)
Lesson 2: The Gifts of the Spirit in the ministry of Elijah and Elisha.
Section Two: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels
Lesson 3: The Gifts of the Spirit in the ministry of Jesus (Isaiah 61:1-2)
Lesson 4: The Time of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39)
Section Three: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts
Lesson 5The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:16-18, 39)
Lesson 6 The Character of the New TestamentChurch (Acts 4)
Section Four: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the PresentDayChurch
The try of the Holy Spirit in the Assembly
Lesson 7The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Believer (3 rivers)
Lesson 8 The Baptism with the Holy Spirit upon the Believer
Lesson 9 The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Assembly
Section Five: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ
Concluding Lesson 10: The plan and purpose of God for the Church.
The Holy Spirit
Course: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church
Section One: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Introductory Lesson 1
Lesson Title: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Text: Joel 2:28-29, ‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.’
Introduction: An Old Testament understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Many people, even in Pentecostal and CharismaticChurches, have an Old Testament understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Miracles are not just New Testament phenomena.
In the Old Testament there are miracles that have no comparison in the New Testament.
Joshua made the sun stand still when the Israelites needed longer daylight.
Hezekiah saw the shadow go back as a sign that he would live for 15 more years.
These miracles involved the moving of the earth.
Introductory Story: Example of a reported miracle
The raising of a dead man in Nigeria.
Reinhert Bonnke ministries reported the incredible miracle of a man raised from the dead.
The miracle involves a big preacher (Reinhert Bonnke) and a dead man.
He is taken to the place where a big crusade is taking place.
People are praying underneath the auditorium where the meeting is taking place.
The dead man is brought to the place where the people are praying.
He gets up and walks away.
Question: Does this miracle demonstrate New Testament Christianity?
Yes.
Why is this New Testament Christianity?
Main Points;
1. The Gifts of the Spirit operated in the Old Testament
Question: If the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit is New Testament Christianity then why do we see the dead raised in the Old Testament through the anointed ministries of Elijah and Elisha?
1) (1 Kings 17:17-22) Raising of the widow woman’s son in Zarephath.
2) (2 Kings 4:32-37). Raising of the Shunnamite woman’s son.
The Shunnamite woman’s faith was built upon reason.
God promised her a son. God gave her a son.
The son dies prematurely.
God must raise her son from the dead.
3) A man was even raised from the dead when his body was thrown into the grave of Elisha.
2 Kings 14:20-21, ‘And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.’
Question:
If the dead were raised through anointed ministries in the Old Testament then the raising of a dead person under an anointed ministry is not a unique characteristic of New Testament Christianity?
What makes the raising of a dead man in Nigeria a demonstration of New Testament Christianity?
The Holy Spirit ministering through the body of Christ
I was teaching this one time at a Nigerian Bible School in London and a young lady brought to my attention the fact that the miracle concerning the man who was raised from the dead actually happened at the prayer meeting of the believers that was taking place at the time of the crusade. The miracle happened through the anointed ministry of the body of Christ not just through the ministry of a big preacher. This is New Testament Christianity.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit has not changed. It is the body of Christ that is different.
The Holy Spirit ministers through all believers not just a selected few.
- The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was through a limited number of leaders who were anointed.
a)The Holy Spirit equipped Moses and others for ministry. Numbers 11:14-30.
i)The anointing was on Moses equipping him for the ministry God that called him to do. When the responsibility for ministry was shared a portion of the anointing that was upon Moses was taken from him and came upon the 70 elders.
ii)The Gifts of the Spirit operated when the Spirit came upon those called to service (ministry). The 70 began to prophecy. Numbers 11:24-30. They moved in the gifts of the Spirit.
iii)Two of the 70 were still in the camp amongst the people and they began prophesying to the people. No problem with those who prophesied outside the camp – prophesy had no impact. The two who were among the people had a great impact.
b)Moses knew the difference between the moving of the Spirit and an attack on his leadership.
i)Jealous anger can arise when people minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit was regarded by some as an attack upon the leadership of Moses.
ii)Good leadership will encourage ministry amongst God’s people. Moses said ‘would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them' (11:29). Moses desired that all God’s people would minister in the Holy Spirit - his desire is fulfilled in the New Testament Church, the body of Christ.
- The outpouring of the Spirit. The prophet Joel prophesied that the limited way in which the Holy Spirit operated would one day end and the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all believers - Joel 2:28-29.
a)In the Old Testament Gifts of healings only operated occasionally through anointed prophets. Those who desired healing needed to go to the anonted prophet
Naaman
The maid of Naaman’s wife spoke about the ministry of Elisha
Naaman could receive healing by going to Elisha to be healed, 2 Kings 5:3.
Joel spoke about a time when the Holy Spirit would be poured upon the Handmaids not just big preachers, Joel 2:29.
b)Promise of the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all believers. Joel prophesied that the day would come when the Holy Spirit would be poured upon ‘all flesh’ meaning ‘believers’.
Old men – dream dreams
Young men – see visions
Even upon the maid servants . Spirit poured out.
Summary
The Holy Spirit ministered in the Old Testament through a small number of people who God raised up to lead the people of Israel.
1)Raising the dead was seen in the Old Testament. The gifts of the Spirit operated through the ministries of Elijah and Elisha.
2)When the anointing came upon the 70 leaders they moved in the gifts of the Spirit. This was not a threat to the leadership of Moses for he desired all of God’s people to be anointed of the Holy Spirit
3)The prophet Joel prophesied that God would pour out His Spirit upon all believers.
Course: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church
Section One: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Lesson 2
Lesson Title: The Gifts of the Spirit in the ministry of Elijah and Elisha.
Text: Luke 4:24-28 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Introduction: The Ministries of Elijah and Elisha were characterised by the operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
All of the New Testament gifts of the Holy Spirit apart from tongues and interpretation of tongues are evident in the Old Testament.
Word of Wisdom enabled Elijah to speak with authority. Decree a thing.
Word of Knowledge enabled Elijah to know the plans of the Syrian army
Gift of Faith enabled Elijah to ask for water to be poured on the altar
Working of Miracles in daily provision.
Gifts of Healings so that Naaman could receive his healing
Prophecy – school of the prophets
Discerning of spirits to see the hosts of God surrounding the Syrian army
Introductory Story:
Main Points
- The ministry of Elijah.
The ministry of Elijah was a demonstration of Holy Spirit anointed ministry in the Old Testament.
Who was Elijah? A Tishbite. (1 Kings 17:1);
He was not born with special privileges. (James 5:17-18)
- Prayerful – ‘The Lord before whom I stand’
- Righteous before God
- Fearless before men
The Gifts of the Spirit empowered Elijah to
- Speak with authority. Decree a thing ‘it will not rain…’1 Kings 17:1
- Supernatural provision. Food in time of famine ravens and the widow woman. (1 Kings 17:2-8, 1 Kings 17:9-16). God had prepared a woman to provide for him probably through a Word of Wisdom. She had no means, but God had spoken to her, 1 Kings 17:10-24. (Gift of Faith, Working of Miracles).
- Miraculously raise the dead. (1 Kings 17:17-24)
- Miraculously bring fire from heaven. (1 Kings 18).
- The Ministry of Elisha
Receiving the Anointing of Elisha required determination
Elisha had to be determined to receive the anointing of Elijah.
Total surrender
1 Kings 19:19-21. He destroyed his natural means of provision (no going back).
He killed the yoke of oxen and burnt the yoke (made a feast for the people).
He gave himself to follow Elijah
Unstoppable (2 Kings 2)
Elijah tried to stop him to test him. Tarry here – Bethel, Jericho,
He could not be stopped. He went across the Jordon
He asked for a double portion of the anointing of Elijah.
He had to be there at a specific time.
There must always be determination.
If we wait for something to happen – usually nothing happens.
Elisha knew he was called but he still had to run after the man of God.
The anointing could only be received by unstoppable determination.
Did the same things as Elijah - same anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The Gifts of the Spirit in the ministry of Elisha
Elisha – 2 Kings 4:27 'Lord has hid this from me.' Needed Word of Knowledge to know what had happened, and a Word of Wisdom to know what God was going to do.
The operation of the gifts of the Spirit in the ministry of Elisha. 1 Kings 6:8-10 ‘Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.’
- Elisha tells where the enemy – Elisha knew the plans of the enemy by a Word of Knowledge.
- Elisha prays for the eyes of his servant to be opened – discerning of spirits 2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
- Gifts operate to destroy the plans and intentions of the enemy. 2 Kings 6:18 ‘And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.’
All the gifts operate in the Old Testament apart from tongues and interpretation. This is unique to the New Testament.
- The gifts are not automatic. For the Gifts to operate something always had to be done.
- Elijah had to go to Brook Cherith – ravens came
- Widow woman had to always use the last
- Elijah stretched himself upon the child
- Healing the waters of Jericho – put salt in the spring (2 Kings 2:21)
- Alliance King Jehoshaphat (Judah), King Jehoram (Israel), King of Edom, told to dig ditches (2 Kings 3:16)
- Widow had to pour oil into empty vessels
- Shunammite woman had to act on the word – promise of a child (4:17)
- Elisha laid on the young man’s body and put his mouth to his mouth (4:34-35).
- Meal put in pot took away the poison (4:41)
- Feeding 100 men with 20 loaves – had to give the food out (4:43-44).
- Naaman washed 7 times in Jordon river (5:14)
- Stick in water made the axe head float (6:6-7)
- Elisha and servant went out to Syrian army led them to Samaria (6:19-20).
- Smiting the Syrians – King smote arrows on ground just 3 times (13:18-19).
Exception: Man raised to life when his body was thrown on Elisha’s (13:21).
Summary:
Course: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church
Section Two: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels
Lesson 3
Lesson Title: The Gifts of the Spirit in the ministry of Jesus (Isaiah 61:1-2)
Text: Isaiah 61:1-2 ‘The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;’
Theme: The Lord Jesus Christ ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit
Introduction:
When Jesus was a young man the doctors of the law were impressed with his intellectual ability, Luke 2:47.
In Nazareth Jesus increased in favour with God and man, Luke 2:52.
They were impressed with His character.
When the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus at His baptism the attitude of the religious leaders changed towards Him.
Then He came in the power of the Holy Spirit and the men of Nazareth and the religious leaders sought to kill Him, Luke 4:16-30, 19:47.
Introductory Story:
The humiliation of Christ Philippians 2:5-11.
The Son of God became Man.
He identified Himself with us so that we can be identified with Him.
‘The Son of God became the Son of Man so that sons of men can become the sons of God.’
Jesus became like us so that we can become like Him.
He was obedient to the Father and anointed of the Holy Spirit.
Main Points:
1. Before the ministry of Jesus. The Holy Spirit ministered through a selected few who were anointed for ministry.