Let the student know that Ghost and Spirit are translations of the same Greek word, PNEUMA. So the terms Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are interchangeable.
- The Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of the LORD, and the Spirit of God are the.
It is very important to realize, here, that the Holy Spirit is not a name, but rather, a title, referring to the Spirit of God, or God's Spirit.
Who is, "He that shall baptize in the Holy Ghost?"
In John 7:38, what does the phrase "rivers of living water" refer to:
According to this section of Scripture, why was the Holy Spirit not yet given?
To what does Jesus' glorification refer, His resurrection or His ascension?
See John 16:7
In these scriptures, Jesus reveals the coming of the Comfortor.
In John 14: 17, What is the Comfortor called?
Who is the Comfortor, according to John 14: 26?
The Comfortor, the Spirit of truth, and the Holy Ghost are the
According to John 16: 7, could the Commfortor(Holy Spirit) come if Jesus did not go away?
Is this consistent with Jesus' teaching in John 7: 37-39?
Therefore, we see that believers could/
(circle one) receive the Holy Spirit until after Jesus' ascension.
What were the disciples commanded to wait for?
What is the promise of the Father?
Why were the disciples commanded to wait for the promise of the Father?
One of the reasons we know that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for us, today, is because the early disciples were not Jesus' witnesses to the "uttermost part of the earth." However, today, His disciples are spreading the Gospel across the world, and need the power of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
You might point out the difference in Peter's behavior before and after he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Before, Peter denied Christ (Luke 22:34, 56-62). After being filled with the Spirit, he risked his life in giving a dynamic speech, denouncing the Jews for crucifying their Savior (Acts 2:22-40).
- The day of Pentecost.
Acts 1: 12-15; 2: 1-18.
After reading Acts 2: 17-18, you may choose to refer back to Joel 2: 28-29.
Where were the disciples gathered together? (Acts 1: 12-13)
How many were there? (Acts 1: 15)
What happened when the disciples were "filled" with the Holy Spirit? (Acts 2: 1-4)
Some people reason that tongues, here, were given to bridge a language barrier. This is not the case, however, as devout Jews all knew the Aramaic language * of their homeland and did not require a divine, universal language to communicate. (Notice that Peter preached to the Jews that assembled from many nations -- In Aramaic, of course. The visiting Jews were bi-lingual -- that is, they knew Aramaic and the languages of the individual lands they lived in.) Instead, as in 1 Corinthians 14: 22, the tongues were a sign manifested by the disciples to the unbelieving Jews.
Read: Acts 2: 38-39.
Is the "gift" of the Holy Spirit for all believers, past, present and future?
Is the "gift of the Holy Spirit" for us today?
Is the Holy Spirit for you?
- Other scriptural accounts of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Read: Acts 8: 16, Acts 10: 44-48, with Acts 11: 15-18.
Until this time, only the Jews (meaning Peter and the disciples) had received the Holy Spirit. Here, God pours the Holy Spirit upon Gentiles, and also to show that all believers are candidates for the Holy Spirit baptism.
Note: This scripture also reveals that water baptism is not necessarily a prerequisite for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, as some may believe. Those of the house of Cornelius were not baptized until after they became "Spirit-filled."
Note: The Jews expected the Gentiles to receive salvation, but not the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 10: 34-35, 43)
*Aramaic language -- the Jews came back from their exile in Babylon with a Babylonish-Hebrew mixture: Aramaic (or Chaldean mixed with Hebrew).
How did Peter and the others with him know that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit?
Was this the same "gift" that Peter and the 120 received on the day of Pentecost?
see Acts 11:17
Read: Acts 19: 1-7.
What happened when Paul laid hands on the Ephesians, here?
Does there appear to be any difference between "receiving the Holy Spirit," being "baptized in the Holy Spirit," being "filled with the Holy Spirit," and receiving the "gift of the Holy Spirit?"
If so, what is the difference?
Semantic questions:
Some students may answer "yes." If they do, let the try to determine the difference. When they are unable to do so, they will be more convinced than if you simply tell them they are wrong. See Glossolalia, pages 65-67a.
What is the sign that one has been baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:46, Acts 19:6)?
Did Jesus tell us this would happen (Mark 16:17)?
see Isaiah 28:11-12
- Why do we speak in tongues?
1 Corinthians 14: 4
1 Corinthians 14: 22
1 Corinthians 14: 21 with Isaiah 28: 11-12
Matthew 11: 28-30 and Hebrews 4: 8-11
Romans 8: 26-27
Note: The proper English translation of the Greek is "for," not "with." Greek grammar will support either, but the context demands, "for."
Be sure to explain this scripture so that the student understands. Feel free to use your own words. Man, being flesh, tends to pray for what he wants, not what God wants. We pray to be relieved of a problem or trial, or we ask for something which is not good for our spiritual lives. God, through the Holy Spirit, our Intercessor, is correcting the prayer according to the will of God for our own benefit. Man cannot, himself, interfere with the perfect prayer of the Spirit, because he cannot understand it. Our spirits are praying for certain spiritual results, but our minds (rationale) misunderstand the need. The Holy Spirit corrects the prayer to align with the pure motives of our spirit -- or He directs our prayer for a change of motives.
James 3:1-8
You will probably need to help the student determine the answer, so explain the answer if it is not readily apparent to him.
I Corinthians 14: 2
No one (friends, roomates, relatives, etc.) can "eavesdrop" on prayer that cannot be understood!
Review the above scriptures with the student, if necessary. Encourage the student, if he is not yet Spirit-filled, to seek earnestly. Read: Luke 11: 9-13. If he is newly Spirit-filled, then encourage him to pray regularly both in the Spirit and in English!
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is for you!
We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit in John 20: 22 and in Ephesians 5: 18.
We are to pray regularly in the Spirit (pray in tongues), as seen in John 4: 14-15, 18, 39 and Jude 20.
If time permits, discuss the above.
Keep seeking.
If one asks for the Holy Spirit, he will not get a devil.
The benefits that accrue from the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
See Glossolalia, pp. 112-115
How to receive the Holy Spirit.
You are encouraged to read:
They speak with Other Tongues, by John Sherril.
Glossolalia, by Donald Lee Barnett.
The scriptures listed in Glossolalia, pp. 109-110
Lead the student to the acceptance of the Holy Spirit.