What did the Holy Spirit not do on the Day of Pentecost?
(John 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 4:31; 17:2, 34; Eph. 1:13-14; Heb. 4:12) Blog July 26-Aug 01, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: All believers in Jesus are to be his witnesses. They are to tell others about God’s saving love which motivates their testimony. When sinners are converted joy comes to them, to those who witnessed to them, to God, and to the angels in heaven, a multitude of sins are covered by the blood of Christ, and the believer grows more like his Savior. We must view everyone as a purchase of Jesus and as someone who God desires to save. Intercessory prayer brings God’s power to motivate conversions.
The Work of the Spirit (John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Rom. 8:9, 11, 16, 26-27; 15:13, 19; Eph. 1:13-14; 6:17)
1. According to John 16:7-11 what does the Holy Spirit do for everyone in the world? He convicts them of sin & unbelief; of righteousness because saving righteousness is now in heaven; & of judgment because just as Satan was judged according to his works so every human being is to be judged according to their works.
2. Who only have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them? Only believers in Jesus have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
3. What is the general role of the Comforter that Jesus promised to send to his disciples? The word used for “Comforter” means “helper” or “one who comes alongside of” for the purpose of helping, so we must be clear that the Holy Spirit is not given to Christians as a “Substitute” but rather Christians are to work together with the Spirit in a co-operative manner.
4. According to Romans 15 what does the Holy Spirit do for Christians? He gives us power.
5. According to John 14, 15, and 16 what does the Holy Spirit do for believers in Jesus? He comforts & helps us live holy lives; he teaches us the truth; he brings truths to our remembrance; he testifies of Jesus; he guides us into all truth; shows us things to come; he glorifies Jesus; & shows us things that Jesus wants us to know.
6. What is the primary instrument that the Spirit of God uses to guide us? It is the Word of God that is the sword of the Spirit that guides us.
7. How are Christians sealed into Christ our Savior? By receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit as a down payment of our eternal inheritance –we have this seal until we are permanently sealed in the final judgment or until we permanently reject Jesus.
8. Why does John in his first epistle say that Christians do not need another person to teach them what the Bible means by what it says? Because they have the unction of God’s Holy Spirit who will guide them into all truth.
9. According to Romans 8 what does the Holy Spirit do for us? He inspires & presents our prayers before God thus interceding for us.
The Spirit in the book of Acts (Acts 1:4-5; 2:4, 14, 38, 41; 4:23-31; 6:3; 8:29, 39; 10:44-46; 11:15-16; 15:28; 16:6-7)
10. For what did Jesus tell his disciples to wait before beginning their witness? For the gift of the Holy Spirit which they received on the Day of Pentecost.
11. What did the Holy Spirit not do on the Day of Pentecost? He did not do the preaching nor the baptizing in water.
12. On the Day of Pentecost what did Peter say the hearers must do in order to receive the Holy Spirit? They must repent & be baptized.
13. When the brethren prayed for boldness to speak the Word while facing persecution who gave them their request? The Holy Spirit.
14. What requirements did the apostles give for choosing the deacons? That they must be of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit, & full of wisdom (which comes from God).
15. What happened to those who heard the Gospel in Cornelius’ house? They received the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, & magnified God just as the disciples had done on the day of Pentecost.
16. What other ways did the Holy Spirit guide believers in the book of Acts? He told Philip to join himself to the Ethiopian eunuch, he helped the Jerusalem council make the right decision, & he forbad Paul to preach in Asia & Bithynia.
New Testament Witnessing (John 15:26-27; Acts 4:31; 6:7; 10:44; 17:2, 34; Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12)
17. What should we conclude from the fact that Acts 2:41 says they that gladly received his word; 8:4 says those scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word; 4:31 says they spoke the word of God boldly; 13:49 says the Word of the Lord was published throughout all the region; 17:2 says Paul reasoned with them out of the Scriptures; 18:24 says Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures? That the Word of God was the central basis of New Testament witnessing & should be ours also.
18. What was the theme of New Testament, Spirit-filled witnessing? Jesus Christ & him crucified.
19. What was the result of New Testament, Spirit-filled witnessing? Thousands were converted in a day & the Gospel was preached throughout the world.
20. What class of people were NOT reached by New Testament, Spirit-filled witnessing? There was no class not reached – poor Jerusalem Jews, temple priests, military Gentiles, Roman jailers, Athenian lawyers, European merchant women, Caesar’s household, & every kind of person in between were all converted.21. Why is it that the Word of God is so powerful in converting souls? Because it is the sword of the Spirit it is alive & always contemporary (see our Blogs concerning the Bible in <LifeResearchInternational.org>), it is essentially clear, & it has the ability to discern & point out our motives — it clearly understands all about us.