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1 Corinthians Lesson 12 Copyright 1999. John Creamer. All rights reserved.
This lesson is very similar to a lesson written two years ago…God,
The Holy Spirit. Although the Scripture references are very similar, the
questions have been changed somewhat to give a different perspective on
the unchanging truths about the Holy Spirit contained in the Scriptures.
Questions: Have you ever seen the television program Biography on A&E? Can you recall some of the people whose lives were portrayed? Why do you think the biographies of well-known people in history is such
an interesting topic for a regularly scheduled television program? If the next few lessons were a type of ‘Biography’ of someone
in the Bible, whose life (lives) would you like to see portrayed? (Ask
the group if they can guess who the ‘biography’ is about.) Scripture: (1 Corinthians 12 NIV) Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not
want you to be ignorant. {2} You know that when you were pagans, somehow
or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. {3} Therefore
I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus
be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except
by the Holy Spirit. {4} There are different kinds of gifts, but the same
Spirit. {5} There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. {6}
There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them
in all men. {7} Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given
for the common good. {8} To one there is given through the Spirit the
message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the
same Spirit, {9} to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by that one Spirit, {10} 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. {11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and
he gives them to each one, just as he determines. {12} The body is a unit,
though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many,
they form one body. So it is with Christ. {13} For we were all baptized
by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and
we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Some may look at this passage in Corinthians and think, “This
is a passage about spiritual gifts—what does this have to do with
a ‘biographical sketch’ of the Holy Spirit?” On one hand…nothing,
yet in another sense…everything. You see, this passage doesn’t
begin with a directive for us to know the background of the Holy Spirit
in order for Him to give each of us our spiritual gift(s). Unfortunately,
many approach any study of the Holy Spirit from the perspective of ‘what
He has promised to give me’…spiritual gifts, insight into the
‘deeper truths’, peace, love, patience, kindness, gentleness,
etc.,…like a ‘spiritual rich uncle’ who has included us
in his will. Certainly there is nothing wrong with that approach, but
this time will be different. Before we get to the particular things God
has done, is doing and will do for us through His Holy Spirit, we will
review His Biography taken from chronological appearances in the Bible.
The first point in our ‘biography’ is that the Holy Spirit
is an equal and non-competing member of the Triune nature of God. Notice
in verses 3-6 the doctrine of the Trinity is clearly upheld as the three—God,
Jesus and the Spirit of God—are all clearly identified; verse 3,
the Spirit of God, “Jesus is Lord” and the Holy Spirit; verse
4, the ‘same Spirit’; verse 5, the ‘same Lord’, and;
verse 6, the ‘same God’. Verse 7…Why were these different manifestations of the Spirit given
to the people? (For the common good of all.) Verse 11..How is it determined who gets what? (The Holy Spirit...not
the recipient…decides.) Verses 12-13…Some Christians today are in a ‘fog’ about
the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers today…they
have never seen evidence of the Holy Spirit in anyone’s life. What
hint could we pick up in verses 12-13 that might explain their lack of
understanding? (Many are not linked to the other parts of the body in
any way. Verse 12 and 13 can only take place in the context of community,
e.g., Christians need to take extra effort to get to know and spend time
with other Christians to know who has the different kinds of gifts, service
and working. Simply attending church and staring at the back of the person
in the pew in front of you is not enough.) Did the Holy Spirit first appear after the resurrection? (Genesis 1:1-2 NIV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth. {2} Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the
surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Some think that the Holy Spirit first appeared in history at Pentecost
immediately following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to this
verse, how long was it before the Holy Spirit appeared in Scripture? (Exodus 31:1-5 NIV) Then the LORD said to Moses, {2} "See, I
have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
{3} and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability
and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- {4} to make artistic designs for
work in gold, silver and bronze, {5} to cut and set stones, to work in
wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. On the topic of being filled with the Holy Spirit, some may think: i The first people ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ were the apostles
at that first Pentecost after the resurrection. ii The Holy Spirit only gives people like ministers, preachers and priests
the ability to do ‘ministry stuff’. Concerning a) above, this took place approximately 1500 years before
the first Pentecost after the resurrection. Concerning b), what did God
tell Moses he filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God to do? Do you think some Christians may be surprised to know that Bezalel’s
gifts from God’s Spirit were not the traditional ‘ministry gifts’
like preaching, teaching, mercy, etc., and that God still gives people
today skills and abilities to do ‘secular’ work as well as ministry? Have you considered which ‘skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds
of (various subjects)’ the Lord has given you with His Spirit? Do we acknowledge our abilities, skills and knowledge as gifts of God’s
Spirit or do we tend to take credit for them ourselves? (Numbers 11:16-17 NIV) The LORD said to Moses: "Bring me seventy
of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among
the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand
there with you. {17} I will come down and speak with you there, and I
will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They
will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have
to carry it alone. Verse 17…What was Moses carrying all by himself? What was God’s plan to alleviate Moses’ burden? (Numbers 11:25-29 NIV) Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke
with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit
on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied,
but they did not do so again. {26} However, two men, whose names were
Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the
elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on
them, and they prophesied in the camp. {27} A young man ran and told Moses,
"Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." {28} Joshua son
of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses,
my lord, stop them!" {29} But Moses replied, "Are you jealous
for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that
the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" How did the young man and Joshua respond to God giving his Spirit to
the elders? What did Moses say to them in verse 29? (Moses was delighted to see God
working in and through the elders. In the same way, truly godly leaders
will be delighted—not threatened—when they see God working in
and through the people under their leadership.) (Judges 3:8-11 NIV) The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so
that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim,
to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. {9} But when they
cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son
of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. {10} The Spirit of
the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war.
The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel,
who overpowered him. {11} So the land had peace for forty years, until
Othniel son of Kenaz died. Verse 10…Why did God give His Spirit to Othniel? (To give him the
ability to be successful in war to save Israel from Aram.) (Judges 6:34 NIV) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and
he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. Why did God give His Spirit to Gideon? (To give him the ability to lead.) (Judges 11:29 NIV) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.
He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from
there he advanced against the Ammonites. Why did God give His Spirit to Jephthah? (To give him the ability to
defeat the Ammonites.) (Judges 13:24-25 NIV) The woman gave birth to a boy and named him
Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, {25} and the Spirit of the LORD
began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. How was God’s Spirit manifested in Samson in verse 6? (He gave him
the ability to tear a lion apart with his bare hands!) (Judges 14:19 NIV) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power.
He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them
of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained
the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house. Why did God give His Spirit to Samson? (To kill one thousand enemies,
armed only with the jawbone of a donkey.) Note: Even though God gives His Spirit to people to do extraordinary
things, the people are still responsible for their own behavior. Because
of a weakness for women, Samson negated his unbelievable physical strength
from God when he allowed himself to be tricked by a woman who had been
bribed by the enemy to betray him. (See Judges 16.) Today, we have seen
the improprieties of men and women filled with God’s Spirit negate
the great things they could have done. Being filled with God’s Spirit
still requires us to be responsible for our behavior. (1 Samuel 10:1, 6-7 NIV) Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured
it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed
you leader over his inheritance? What was God’s plan for Saul? {6} The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will
prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. {7}
Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for
God is with you. Verse 6…What did Samuel tell Saul the effect of God’s Spirit
coming upon him would be? What did Samuel tell Saul he would be able to do as the result of God
giving him His Spirit? (1 Samuel 10:9 NIV) As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's
heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. What happened to Saul? (God changed his heart.) (1 Samuel 15:10-11 NIV) Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel:
{11} "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned
away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was
troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night. Once again, we see a man—filled with God’s Spirit to do great
things—whose potential is cut short because he does not obey God.
What did God say about Saul? (1 Samuel 16:13-16 NIV) So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed
him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of
the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah. David was God’s chosen replacement for Saul. What did God do to
prepare him for the job as king? {14} Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil
spirit from the LORD tormented him. {15} Saul's attendants said to him,
"See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. {16} Let our lord
command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp.
He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will
feel better." In addition to losing his power from God’s Spirit through disobedience,
what else happened to Saul? (2 Samuel 23:1-2 NIV) These are the last words of David: "The
oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most
High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs :
{2} "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my
tongue. In addition to his many accomplishments, what did David say God’s
Spirit helped him do? (1 Chronicles 12:18 NIV) Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the
Thirty, and he said: "We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son
of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you,
for your God will help you." So David received them and made them
leaders of his raiding bands. We often think God gives His Spirit only to the ‘people at the top’
as leaders, but what did He give His Spirit to Amasai to do? (To be ‘in
the middle’, both to follow David’s leadership as well as leading
David’s men. Everyone can’t be the person at the top…someone
has to follow. God knows His Spirit is just as necessary to be a good
follower as it is to be a good leader.) (1 Chronicles 28:11-12 NIV) Then David gave his son Solomon the plans
for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper
parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. {12} He gave him the
plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the
temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of
the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. (2 Chronicles 15:1-2 NIV) The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of
Oded. {2} He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me,
Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with
him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him,
he will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 20:4-17 NIV) The people of Judah came together to seek
help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek
him. {5} Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem
at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard {6} and said:
"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven?
You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in
your hand, and no one can withstand you. {7} O our God, did you not drive
out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it
forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? {8} They have lived
in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, {9} 'If
calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine,
we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name
and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save
us.' {10} "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir,
whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from
Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. {11} See
how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you
gave us as an inheritance. {12} O our God, will you not judge them? For
we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not
know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." {13} All the men of
Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before
the LORD. {14} Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah,
the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and
descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. {15} He said: "Listen,
King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what
the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this
vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. {16} Tomorrow march
down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you
will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. {17} You
will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm
and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow,
and the LORD will be with you.'" (2 Chronicles 24:19-21 NIV) Although the LORD sent prophets to the people
to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they
would not listen. {20} Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son
of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This
is what God says: 'Why do you disobey the Lord's commands? You will not
prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.'"
{21} But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned
him to death in the courtyard of the Lord's temple. (Psalms 51:10-17 NIV) Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast
spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me from your presence or take your
Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the joy of your salvation and
grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. {13} Then I will teach transgressors
your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. {14} Save me from bloodguilt,
O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
{15} O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. {16}
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take
pleasure in burnt offerings. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalms 143:10-11 NIV) Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. {11} For your name's sake,
O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. (Isaiah 11:1-2 NIV) A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from
his roots a Branch will bear fruit. {2} The Spirit of the LORD will rest
on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel
and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- (Isaiah 42:1-3 NIV) "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen
one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice
to the nations. {2} He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in
the streets. {3} A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick
he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; (Matthew
12:18 NIV) "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love,
in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice
to the nations. (Isaiah 59:20-21 NIV) "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those
in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD. {21} "As
for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit,
who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart
from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths
of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD. (Isaiah 61:1-2 NIV) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because
the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent
me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year
of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all
who mourn, (Ezekiel 1:28 NIV) Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on
a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of
the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown,
and I heard the voice of one speaking. (Ezekiel 2:1-2 NIV) He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your
feet and I will speak to you." {2} As he spoke, the Spirit came into
me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. (Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart
of flesh. {27} And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow
my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Zechariah 4:6 NIV) So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD
to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the
LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 7:12-13 NIV) They made their hearts as hard as flint and would
not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent
by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very
angry. {13} "'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called,
I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty. (Matthew 1:18-20 NIV) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came
together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. {19}
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose
her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. {20} But
after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in
a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take
Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy
Spirit. (Matthew 3:16-17 NIV) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of
the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove and lighting on him. {17} And a voice from
heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 4:1 NIV) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to
be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything
I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end
of the age." (Luke 2:25-27 NIV) Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who
was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him. {26} It had been revealed to him by
the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
{27} Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents
brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, (Luke 11:13 NIV) If you then, though you are
evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will
your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (John 3:5-8 NIV) Jesus answered, "I tell
you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of
water and the Spirit. {6} Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives
birth to spirit. {7} You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must
be born again.' {8} The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is
with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:34 NIV) For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God,
for God gives the Spirit without limit. (John 6:63 NIV) The Spirit gives life; the flesh
counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they
are life. (John 14:26 NIV) But the Counselor, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 15:26 NIV) "When the Counselor comes,
whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes
out from the Father, he will testify about me. (John 16:13-15 NIV) But when he, the Spirit
of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on
his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is
yet to come. {14} He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine
and making it known to you. {15} All that belongs to the Father is mine.
That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it
known to you. (Acts 5:30-32 NIV) The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom
you had killed by hanging him on a tree. {31} God exalted him to his own
right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness
of sins to Israel. {32} We are witnesses of these things, and so is the
Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." According to verse 32, to whom does give His Holy Spirit? (Acts 6:3-4 NIV) Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known
to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility
over to them {4} and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry
of the word." (Acts 11:24 NIV) He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith,
and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. According to this verse, what is one of the evidences of a person full
of the holy Spirit? (Romans 5:3-5 NIV) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance; {4} perseverance,
character; and character, hope. {5} And hope does not disappoint us, because
God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he
has given us. (Romans 8:5 NIV) Those who live according to the sinful nature have their
minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance
with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:26-28 NIV) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes
for us with groans that words cannot express. {27} And he who searches
our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes
for the saints in accordance with God's will. {28} And we know that in
all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose. Have you ever tried to pray, but did not really know what to pray for
or how to pray? What good news do these verses hold for someone in that
situation? According to verse 28, what reassurance do we always have about how things
work out in the end? (Romans 8:5 NIV) Those who live according to the sinful nature have their
minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance
with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 14:17 NIV) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and
drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (Romans 15:13 NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of
the Holy Spirit. Many people have the perception that a relationship with God is dull,
boring and depressing—perhaps because some Christian they know lives
that way—but what is God’s plan for the trademarks of our relationship
with Him? (Romans 15:30 NIV) I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and
by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God
for me. Sometimes people lack the motivation to pray for others. According to
this verse, how should we be motivated to pray for others? (Not only by
their urging, but by the assistance of an understanding that we pray for
others out of out love for them that comes from God…i.e., we naturally
pray for those we love…sometimes all we need is to be reminded that
God’s Holy Spirit enables us to love—and pray for—people
we may not naturally love on our own.) (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NIV) When I came to you, brothers, I did not come
with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony
about God. {2} For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except
Jesus Christ and him crucified. {3} I came to you in weakness and fear,
and with much trembling. {4} My message and my preaching were not with
wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,
{5} so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Verse 1…What was Paul ‘proclaiming’ to them? How did he not proclaim the testimony about God to them? According to verse 5, why did Paul rely on God’s Spirit instead
of his persuasive human skills to reveal God to these people? (1 Corinthians 2:10-14 NIV) but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. {11} For
who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within
him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit
of God. {12} We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit
who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
{13} This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but
in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual
words. {14} The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that
come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot
understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. According to these verses, how does a person ultimately come to understand
the testimony about God? (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV) Now it is God who makes both us and you stand
firm in Christ. He anointed us, {22} set his seal of ownership on us,
and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to
come. (2 Corinthians 3:6-9 NIV) He has made us competent as ministers of a
new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills,
but the Spirit gives life. {7} Now if the ministry that brought death,
which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites
could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading
though it was, {8} will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
{9} If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious
is the ministry that brings righteousness! Two ways to try to be ‘right with God’ in these verses…the
covenant of the letter vs. the covenant of the Spirit. What does the letter
do? (Verse 6—kills, verse 8—condemns.) What does the Spirit do? (Verse 6—gives life.) (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the
Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. {18} And we, who with unveiled
faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness
with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (Galatians 4:4-6 NIV) But when the time had fully come, God sent his
Son, born of a woman, born under law, {5} to redeem those under law, that
we might receive the full rights of sons. {6} Because you are sons, God
sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out,
"Abba, Father." Some people treat the Holy Spirit as if in competition with God and Jesus
Christ. How do these two passages refute that ‘identity crisis’? (Galatians 2:21 NIV) I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness
could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" If righteousness could be gained through the law—by being a good
person—then what does that mean we think of Christ’s death? (Galatians 5:4 NIV) You who are trying to be justified by law have been
alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. What is the label for the person who receives Christ and is justified
by faith in His payment for their sins, then reverts to ‘trying to
be good enough to be right with God’? (Fallen from grace.) (Galatians 3:2-5 NIV) I would like to learn just one thing from you:
Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what
you heard? {3} Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are
you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? {4} Have you suffered
so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? {5} Does God give you
his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or
because you believe what you heard? How does a person receive God’s Spirit? What will never enable a person to receive God’s Spirit? (The human effort to ‘be a good person’.) (Galatians 5:16-25 NIV) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not
gratify the desires of the sinful nature. {17} For the sinful nature desires
what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not
do what you want. {18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
law. {19} The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality,
impurity and debauchery; {20} idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions {21} and
envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before,
that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. {22}
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, {23} gentleness and self-control. Against such things there
is no law. {24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful
nature with its passions and desires. {25} Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit. Verses 19-21…What are the acts of the sinful nature? Verses 22-23…What is the fruit of the Spirit? Verse 16…What determines which we are? (The one we choose to be
led by.) (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV) Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man
reaps what he sows. {8} The one who sows to please his sinful nature,
from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the
Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. What will happen to those who ‘sow’ to please their selfish
desires? (Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed,
you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, {14} who
is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those
who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 2:17-22 NIV) He came and preached peace to you who were far
away and peace to those who were near. {18} For through him we both have
access to the Father by one Spirit. {19} Consequently, you are no longer
foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members
of God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. {21} In him the whole
building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
{22} And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling
in which God lives by his Spirit. These verse clearly define the unique and complementary roles the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What does Jesus do? What does the Spirit do? What does God do? (Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV) For this reason I kneel before the Father, {15}
from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. {16}
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power
through his Spirit in your inner being, {17} so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established
in love, {18} may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how
wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, {19} and to know
this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure
of all the fullness of God. These verses also describe the unique roles of the trinity in our lives.
Verses 16 & 17…What does God do for us through His Spirit? (He
gives us the power through His Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in
our hearts through faith.) What is the ‘bottom line’ goal for us in verse 19? (To be filled
to the measure of all the fullness of God.) (Ephesians 4:3-7 NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace. {4} There is one body and one Spirit-- just
as you were called to one hope when you were called-- {5} one Lord, one
faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is over all and
through all and in all. {7} But to each one of us grace has been given
as Christ apportioned it. (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some
to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
{12} to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up {13} until we all reach unity in the faith and
in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ. How would you summarize these verses? (God wants us to have unity through His Spirit, and His plan to achieve unity is through the diversity of His gifts to us.) BOTTOM LINE: CLOSE WITH PRAYER. |