Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

3a And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. (Also Isaiah 42:1 and 61:1-3.)

John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Also Matthew 12:28.)

John 7:37 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.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake 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.)

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

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. (Also John 16:7,13,14.)

 

MEMORY VERSE: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. — John 14:26

 

CENTRAL THOUGHT: As the Holy Ghost descended and abode upon Jesus, filling Him with power and wisdom, so Jesus promised to baptize us with the Holy Ghost; fill us, empower us, teach us, and guide us.

 

WORD DEFINITIONS

 

Isaiah 11:3a “Of quick understanding”: literally, to smell; figuratively, to perceive, or discern; to discern those who had the fear of the Lord, such as Nathanael, whom He called, “an Israelite indeed,” or the Pharisees, whom He called, “hypocrites.”

John 7:38 “As the scripture hath said”: Actually, more than one scripture expresses the thought: Exodus 17:6, Psalm 36:8, Isaiah 41:17, Ezekiel 47:1-12, Joel 3:18, and Zechariah 14:8.

John 14:16 “Comforter”: someone called to one’s aid or to plead one’s cause; advocate; intercessor; helper; advisor; counsellor.

 

LESSON BACKGROUND

 

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus’ birth, ministry and death; he particularly spoke several times of the Holy Spirit’s power and inspiration working in and through Christ. These prophecies are later quoted in the Gospels, either by the writers or—as in “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me” (Isaiah 61:1-3)—by Jesus himself as He preached the words to the congregation in the synagogue, telling them, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21).

The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary at Jesus’ conception (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35). At the time of Jesus’ baptism the Holy Ghost again descended in the form of a dove and continued upon Him. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted (Luke 4:1); Jesus offered himself on the cross by the power of the Spirit (Hebrews 9:14), and was quickened in His dead body by the Spirit (I Peter 3:18). Jesus walked, breathed, preached, healed, delivered from devils and performed miracles (Matthew 12:28; Acts 10:38); all by and through the Spirit, which dwelt in Him in fullness (Matthew 28:18; John 3:34).

This is the Spirit which Jesus promised He would pour out on those who would come to Him. As His hour of death drew near, He began detailing to His disciples how the Spirit would work in their lives. After His resurrection, He appeared to them as they were assembled together (John 20:22). “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” He said, and breathed upon them, as an anticipation and preparation for the fullness which they were to receive at Pentecost.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

 

DISCUSSION:

  1. Manifested in Him: Name the various ways the Holy Spirit’s power was manifested in Jesus Christ.
  2. Manifested in Us: In what ways did Jesus promise the Spirit would work in us?
  3. Representation: What symbols were used by Jesus to represent the Holy Spirit?

 

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

 

Surely there could be no question, as Jesus prepared His disciples for His return to heaven, as to the urgency and importance of the promised Spirit, nor any doubt but what He would fulfill what He had promised. He assured them that the Father would give the Holy Ghost to those who asked Him, just as an earthly father delights in giving good gifts, and necessary things for life, to his children (Luke 11:13). “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” He told them (Luke 12:32).

On our part, let there be no question or doubt as to His will, ability, or pleasure to give us the Holy Spirit. We must ask, in faith and with perseverance; tarrying, as He commanded the disciples to do, until He comes in His fullness. We must receive—take, or lay hold of—the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). Let us not be casual about the matter. He is our POWER—without Him we are helpless and weak. He is our LIFE—without Him we are dead.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

 

REFLECTIONS

 

Years ago, a young man was invited to attend a revival meeting being held in the Kansas City congregation. He was impressed by the services and truly believed what was being preached at the meeting was the truth. However, he had a chilling account of his own life as to why he could never be saved. This young man had been raised in a Christian home but had strayed away at a young age. He confessed that he had committed crimes that, if the deeds were made known, could land him in prison. He also said that the Holy Spirit had dealt with him many, many times and one night he grew tired of it. Thus, he went outside, looked up into the sky and shook his fist and said, “Don’t ever visit me again!” And the Holy Spirit never visited him again.

Jesus gave a warning in Matthew 12:32. “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a purposeful and blatant disregard which completely cuts us off from any possible hope of connection to the Father and the Son. May we value the Holy Spirit and allow him to work in our lives.

—Sis. LaDawna Adams