Bible Study Notes 7/23/2024

Word Alive! Bible Study ©2024

Spring Series: Experiencing The Holy Spirit In & With Us © 2024

Concord Baptist Church of Boston in Milton

Conley Hughes, Jr., Senior Pastor

Tu., 9 & 23 July 2024 Lesson 5, Parts 1 & 2. pp. 69-82

Quiet Time: H&M Blackaby, Experiencing the Holy Spirit

The Gift of Relationship – The most important and intimate expression of the Holy Spirit’s presence is the relationship we have with the Spirit. As we seek a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, so will we desire a more intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. We often place more attention on gifts, as outward signs of the Spirit’s presence. But we must seek a relationship with the Spirit, which involves intentional listening and remaining in fellowship with Him. This point is emphasized in the devotional book, Experiencing the Holy Spirit. The authors (Blackaby) explain: “Why are so many Christians frustrated, sensing there has to be something more? There are probably several reasons, but a major reason is that Christians are seeking gifts of the Holy Spirit and not the Holy Spirit Himself. They want power but not a relationship with the One who whose presence gives power… We must learn to understand that there are no gifts apart from an intimate relationship with the Spirit.” The relationship and fellowship Jesus intends for us to have with the Holy Spirit is transparent and truthful. The Holy Spirit engages us and in us, to “help” us think, understand, and navigate the circumstances of our lives. (Read, John 14:16-17, NLT). There is a human tendency to be cautious of intimacy, which is a level of closeness, which involves openness and some vulnerability. The intimacy that flows from God’s divine order, is always good for us, and would never harm us. While it is healthy to be guarded with many human encounters, we should have no fears when it come to our relationship with the Spirit of God. It’s possible, however, for some believers to fail in acknowledging the Spirit’s presence. In the early Christian movement, Paul encountered a small group of believers who likely were church leaders, but had no fellowship with the Holy Spirit, because they had not properly made a faith profession. Paul taught them the correctness of a true faith profession in Jesus Christ – after which they received salvation and the Holy Spirit’s presence. The gifts they received were evidence of their salvation, and not a condition or pre-requisite for salvation. These eleven believers now had a relationship with the Holy Spirit. (Read, Acts, 19:1-7, NLT). As believers acknowledge the Holy Spirts presence, the relationship must mature through our trust in how the Spirit is leading us. The Apostle Paul said, “For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” (I Corinthians 2:10b, NLT). One of the great gifts God gives us is the assurance that comes from trusting the Holy Spirit who lives in us. To acknowledge the Spirit’s presence beside us as well, is a wonderful gift. Philip was led by an angel to travel from Jerusalem toward Gaza where he met an Ethiopian official. The man had much power and prestige in his country but was seeking a deeper meaning in life. The Spirit guided Philip in his conversation to the man with detailed questions. Philip taught this man the Good News, and he became a believer. Philip’s relationship with the Holy Spirit led him to the man and led him to his next assignment. (Read, Acts 8:29-31’35; 38-39, NLT). While we must always seek the Spirit’s discernment in our relationships, we never should be hesitant in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. An honest and healthy relationship with Jesus Christ, will ensure our intentional relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit truly lives in and is with us at al times along life’s journey.

A Gift of Relationship, Part 2 – From the beginning, God the Creator knew it was not good for humans to live in isolation, so the first humans (Adam and Eve) were placed in relationship, which became the foundation for family, community, and nations. (Genesis 2:18, NJV). The necessity for relationship is also the foundation for our covenant-relationship with the three-fold divine nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As Christians it is important that we maintain and cultivate our relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is through our saving faith in Jesus Christ, that we have relationship to the Father and the Holy Spirit.  One of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives each believer is a special relationship where we can come to experience the Spirit’s presence and work in us. As we cultivate a relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so are we called to experience and cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Our primary way of relating to the Holy Spirit is through prayer. We should acknowledge the presence of the Spirit each day. We should become intentional in developing confidence in seeking His wisdom for guidance and discernment in all that we do. We must pray for a desire to engage with the Spirit, as the Levite did when he desired God’s presence. (Read, Psalm 42: 1-5, NLT). When we engage in genuinely focused prayer, however short or extended; we will become increasingly transparent about our need for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We can appreciate what we learn from the prayers we read in the Scriptures. Especially in the psalms we should note that each of these prayers is intensely transparent; honest; personal, and specific to the needs or petitions. (Read, Psalm 61:1-4, NLT; and Psalm 4:1;3, NLT). The petitioner is genuine in the requests: “Hear me;” “Lead Me;” “Answer Me;” Listen to Me.” The prayers are more than requests. Each prayer contains an affirmation of God’s sovereignty and praise for His goodness. The late Christian theologian and author, Dr. Howard Thurman, said prayer has two major elements: response and requests. He believed, rightly so, we must first and foremost acknowledge the awesome holiness of God as we engage in prayer. This opens the door for fellowship and intimacy with God. That assurance of closeness with God, then gives us the confidence to requests those provisions and petitions we are seeking. It is the Spirit of God who gives us discernment in prayer. There is nothing we could pray for, that the Spirit is unaware of. (Read, I Corinthians 2:10, NLT). The Holy Spirit gives us discernment in what to pray for, and the confidence to believe in God’s promises. (Read, I John 5:14-15, NLT).

Key Idea:

What We Believe!

1. “The Holy Spirit is in you and accompanies you!

Key Verses:

John 14:16-17, NLT “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another [Helper], who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him.  But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be with you.”

Acts 19:1-7, NLT

“When Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Acts 8:29-31;35; 38-39, NLT

“The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”  Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I unless someone instructs me?”  And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him…So beginning with the same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away…The eunuch went on his way rejoicing.”

Psalm 42:1-5 , NLT

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession in the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again – my Savior and my God!”

Psalm 61:1-4, NLT

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent [sanctuary] forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”

Psalm 4:1;3 NLT

“Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer… You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call to Him.

I Corinthians 2:10, NLT

“But it is to us that God revealed these things to us by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deepest secrets.”

I John 5:14-15, NLT

“And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.”