Prayer and Bible Band Topics Fall Quarter 2021 (Sep-Nov)

Winter Quarter 2021-2022 (Dec-Feb)

Lee Van Zandt

• Publisher: Church Of God In Christ Publishing House
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781680873535
• eBook ISBN: 9781680870008
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

The Prayer and Bible Band Topics are an excellent source for those who desire to know more about God's will for their lives through Bible study and practical application. The lessons include questions for the student's consideration and discussion.

Lesson 13 • Fourth Week

Every Believer Needs To Receive The Gift Of The Holy Spirit

Background Reading:

John 20:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Acts1:8; 8:17; 10:44; 15:8

Devotional Reading:

Acts 10:34-48

Central Verse

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Luke 11:13, KJV

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”

Luke 11:13, NIV

Key Terms

Holy Ghost - The third person of the Trinity: HOLY SPIRIT.

Godhead - Divine nature or essence: the nature of God especially as existing in three persons.

Introduction

The Holy Ghost is a gift that Jesus promised to every believer. It is to everyone who will receive it because the promise is to the parents and the children and as many as the Lord God shall call (Acts 2:39). The Holy Spirit is vital to the life of a believer who has received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Ask for the Holy Spirit and receive it by faith. It doesn’t cost any money, and it is a gift that God wants to give to each believer.

The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead, the third person of the Trinity. God the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7). He was there when God made man and moved upon the prophets of old, but He did not live inside them. He had to go back to heaven to be with His Father. He promised the disciples that He would not leave them without a Comforter. He would send Him to them, and on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost arrived and filled everyone who was sitting in that upper room.

Each person of the Godhead has their particular function even though they are one. The Father draws, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44). The Son saves, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). And the Holy Spirit seals the believers, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

Discussion

Jesus told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit because He knew the importance of them having it (Acts 1:4). He knew that the Holy Spirit would help the believer have the power to do the impossible. He knew that believers would need unlimited help, guidance, and comfort to accomplish His great commission.

Humans are limited in some areas, but with the power of the Holy Spirit, the limits are removed. Jesus sent His disciples into a very hostile world where the devil is the prince and power of the air, and they would need the supernatural power that the Holy Ghost gives (Ephesians 2:2).

The believer must remember that each one of them is human and has a corrupt human nature. The flesh is an enemy against God and needs a greater power to help him overcome the lust and desires of his flesh (Romans 7). And Jesus knew that no matter how good a man’s intentions are, the believer would need the power to help him to overcome his worldly lust. The Holy Ghost is a helper, and He will lead and guide the believer into all truth. There are so many areas which the believers are not knowledgeable and will need the Holy Spirit who knows the mind of God.

Paul tells believers that it is God’s will for them to abstain from fornication and possess their bodies in sanctification and honor. God has called believers unto cleanliness and holiness. There is one reason why the believer needs to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Paul said when he wanted to do good, he couldn’t do it on his own because of his sinful nature.

Once the new believers were told they needed the Holy Spirit, they were willing to receive Him. Throughout the Book of Acts, we have the record of believers receiving the Holy Ghost. Some of them received the Holy Ghost when the Apostle laid his hands on them. Also, hearing the Word of God preached, some asked for the gift and received Him. It is by faith that a person is saved. Likewise, it’s by faith that he receives the gift of the Holy Ghost. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth. He is a helper, teacher, and comforter, by reminding believers of things they may have forgotten. In this day of mental stress and anxiety, believers need the power of the Holy Ghost to deal with everyday pressures. He has no idea about what to pray for, but the Holy Spirit helps in that area. Once one receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit, one can receive many fillings and is ready to allow the gifts of the Spirit to work in and through him. Receiving the Holy Ghost is receiving a weapon against Satan.

Questions

1. What is the work of the Holy Spirit?

2. How is the believer benefitted by having the Holy Spirit?

3. Why is the Holy Spirit considered a part of the Godhead?

4. What are two ways the New Testament Church received the Holy Spirit?

5. Why did Jesus call Him the Holy Ghost?

Essential Thought

The Holy Spirit is so important that the believer should never leave home without Him.

The Presiding Bishop, Chairman of the Publishing Board, General Supervisor of the Department of Women, Contributing Writers, and the entire Prayer & Bible Band Topics Editorial Staff would like to thank you for your continued support.

Bishop J. Drew Sheard

Presiding Bishop

Bishop Uleses C. Henderson, Jr.

Chairman, Publishing Board

Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis

General Supervisor,

Department of Women

Supervisor Lee Etta Van Zandt

Contributing Writer

Supervisor Francis S. Curtis

Contributing Writer

Elder Joseph W. Gill

Contributing Writer

1–877–746–8578 | WWW.COGICPUBLISHINGHOUSE.NET

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST DOCTRINE

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and contains one harmonious and sufficiently complete system of doctrine. We believe in the full inspiration of the Word of God. We hold the Word of God to be the only authority in all matters and assert that no doctrine can be true or essential, if it does not find a place in this Word.

THE FATHER

We believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Author and Creator of all things. The Old Testament reveals God in diverse manners, by manifesting His nature, character, and dominions. The Gospels in the New Testament give us knowledge of God the “Father” or “My Father”, showing the relationship of God to Jesus as Father, or representing Him as the Father in the Godhead, and Jesus Himself that Son (John 15:8, 14:20). Jesus also gives God the distinction of “Fatherhood” to all believers when He explains God in the light of “Your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 6:8).

THE SON

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Second person in the Godhead of the Trinity or Triune Godhead. We believe that Jesus was and is eternal in His person and nature as the Son of God who was with God in the beginning of creation (John 1:1). We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin called Mary according to the Scripture (Matthew 1:18), thus giving rise to our fundamental belief in the Virgin Birth and to all of the miraculous events surrounding the phenomenon (Matthew 1:18–25). We believe that Jesus Christ became the “suffering servant” to man; this suffering servant came seeking to redeem man from sin and to reconcile him back to God, his Father (Romans 5:10). We believe that Jesus Christ is standing now as mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5)

THE HOLY GHOST

We believe the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, proceeds from the Father and the Son, is of the same substance, equal to power and glory, and is together with the Father and the Son, to be believed in, obeyed, and worshipped. The Holy Ghost is a gift bestowed upon the believer for the purpose of equipping and empowering the believer, making him a more effective witness for service in the world. He teaches and guides one into all truth (John 16:13; Acts 1:8, 8:39).

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST

We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is an experience subsequent to conversion and sanctification and that tongue-speaking is the consequence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the manifestations of the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22–23; Acts 10:46, 19:1–6). We believe that we are not baptized with the Holy Ghost in order to be saved but that we are baptized with the Holy Ghost because we are saved. (Acts 19:1–6; John 3:5). When one receives a baptismal Holy Ghost experience, we believe one will speak with a tongue unknown to oneself according to the sovereign will of Christ. To be filled with the Spirit means to be Spirit controlled as expressed by Paul in Ephesians 5:18–19. Since the charismatic demonstrations were necessary to help the early church to be successful in implementing the command of Christ, we therefore, believe that a Holy Ghost experience is...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Letter from the Presiding Bishop
• PREFACE
• Thirsty for Real Water
• Sleeping in Dangerous Times
• Living a Life of Thankfulness
• Seeking the Will of God
• Powerful Things Happen from Studying God’s Word
• Receiving Covenant Blessings
• Saying Good-bye To The World
• Praying the Word Of God
• The Necessity of Receiving Forgiveness
• Learning to Deal With Criticism
• Healing Body, Soul and Spirit
• Sibling Rivalry
• Every Believer Needs to Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit