The Holy Spirit
Junior Level

Introduction: Today’s lesson focuses on The Holy Spirit of God.  Who he is and what he does. 

Handout:  The Holy Spirit

Outline:

  1. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.  We know that God and His spirit have always been.  We see the Spirit of God first mentioned in Genesis at Creation. 

Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Just as God’s Holy Spirit moved upon the face of the waters, to wonderfully create the heavens and the earth, we find that he moves into the hearts of man to create in him a new creature through Christ Jesus during the new birth or being born again.  In Acts we read where the Holy Spirit came to earth to stay with believers.  We see that The Holy Spirit is here on a mission. 

Mission 1.  The Holy Spirit draws man unto the Father through Christ and Salvation. 

John 3:3-6 “ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  4.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time unto his mother’s womb, and be born?  5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.

Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Acts 2: 3, 4 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”


 

2. We know that God’s spirit came to earth to dwell with the children of God when Jesus left after he had died on the cross and rose the third day.  Before Jesus died, God would send his spirit to accomplish a certain task but his spirit did not dwell with men constantly.  When Jesus died God made a way for people to be saved through accepting Christ and the spirit then would dwell in the heart of that believer forever.  After Jesus died and rose again he ascended up to heaven in order to sit at the right hand of the Father to make intercession for us.  However, Jesus said that he would not leave us comfortless.  We know that he is here on a mission. 

      Mission 2.  The Holy Spirit is here to Comfort and Lead the Children of God.

Romans 8: 34 “Who is he that condemneth?  It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

John 14:1, 2 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  2.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”

John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”

John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Acts 5:32 “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom god hath given to them that obey him.”

When God’s Holy Spirit leads us a certain way, it is better for us to obey and follow. Obedience is better than sacrifice. (1Samuel 15:22) 

Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”


3.  The Holy Spirit of God will lead us in the ways that are right.  When we are lead by the Spirit, we have everything we need to succeed.  God will never lead us to do anything without first equipping us to succeed through Christ Jesus.  The Spirit equips us to walk in the spirit so that we can do the will of the Father.

Mission 3.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to be victorious.

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.”

Romans 8:4 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

Acts 2:17 – 18 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18.  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:”

The word of God lets us know that we can do all things through Christ. 

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

1John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

There is a saying, if God brings you to something, he will bring you through it.  That is so true.  God will never expect you to do anything that he will not lead and guide you through it.  All we have to do is trust and obey the Holy Spirit and he will take care of the rest.   Satan will always show us our short comings and remind us that we are not qualified to do what the Spirit leads us to do, and if we have the mindset of the flesh we see that in our flesh we cannot do it.  However, we must continue to think, and walk in the Spirit knowing that we can do all things through the Holy Spirit.

4.  Our Father loves us so much.  Not only did he send his only begotten Son, Jesus to die for our sins, so that we could have an intimate relationship with him, and be forgiven.  He also gave us his Holy Spirit to live and dwell in our hearts to lead and guide us in the right direction so that we can grow and live in the plan and destiny he has for us, and to comfort us in times of pain and trouble.  What a wonderful Father we have.  If we always strive to obey the Spirit of God and walk therein, he will never lead us wrong.  He is on our side.  What a wonderful gift God gave us when He gave his Holy Spirit to dwell with us. 

2 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Ephesians 3:19 “and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Ephesians 3:21 “Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Discussion:  Discuss the differences the Holy Spirit as made in your everyday lives.

Dear Heavenly, Righteous Father,
There is none like you.  There never has been and there never will be.  You are worthy to be praised.  More than worthy are you.  We come to you today to thank you for watching over us and our families yet another week.  We thank you for sending your Son to die for us so that we could be saved.  We thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to live and dwell in us.  We thank you for leading and guiding us in the directions that are the best for us.  We ask you to continue to protect us and our families.  We ask you to help us to continue to walk in your spirit and to obey your voice and do as you would have us to do.  We thank you that we are equipped through your Spirit to do your will.  We ask you to help, comfort and provide for those that have been hurt through natural disasters this past year.  Please remind and help us to love and serve others in the attitude of Christ.  Thank you for your protection and comfort in our own lives.  We give you all the praise, glory and honor that is due to your name.  In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

~*Cindygirl*~
May 7, 2023