Bible Study - The Holy Spirit

February 5 – 11, 2023

Key Text

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1, 2

Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 668–672

Introduction

“So through the creation we are to become acquainted with the Creator. The book of nature is a great lesson book, which in connection with the Scriptures we are to use in teaching others of His character, and guiding lost sheep back to the fold of God. As the works of God are studied, the Holy Spirit flashes conviction into the mind.” The Watchman, November 3, 1908

Sunday

1 THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1.a. What title does the apostle Peter apply to the Holy Spirit? Acts 5:3, 4

Note: “God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira practiced fraud in their dealing with God; they lied to the Holy Spirit, and their sin was visited with swift and terrible judgment. When Ananias came with his offering, Peter said: ‘Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.’ ” The Acts of the Apostles, 72

“The Spirit, being God, knoweth the mind of God.” The Signs of the Times, October 3, 1892

1.b. What is the Holy Spirit called in Isaiah 6:8–10? (Compare with Acts 28:25–27)

Monday

2 DIVINE ATTRIBUTES—ETERNAL AND OMNIPOTENT

2. What divine attribute is applied to the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 9:14?

Note: “The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul. Not one that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. The Saviour is by the side of His tempted and tried ones. With Him there can be no such thing as failure, loss, impossibility, or defeat; we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. When temptations and trials come, do not wait to adjust all the difficulties, but look to Jesus, your helper.” The Desire of Ages, 490–493

“A portion of the joy which was set before Christ, was the joy of seeing His truth armed with the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit, impressing His image upon the life and character of His followers. …

“What has the rich blessing of God done for those who were humble and contrite in heart to receive it? Has the blessing been cherished? Have the receivers been showing forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light? There are some who are already questioning the work that was so good, and that should have been most highly appreciated. They are looking upon it as a certain species of fanaticism. It would be surprising if there were not some, who, not being well-balanced in mind, have spoken and acted indiscreetly; for whenever and wherever the Lord works in giving a genuine blessing, a counterfeit is also revealed, in order to make of none effect the true work of God. Therefore we need to be exceedingly careful, and walk humbly before God, that we may have spiritual eyesalve that we may distinguish the working of the Holy Spirit of God from the working of that spirit that would bring in wild license and fanaticism. ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ Those who are really beholding Christ will be changed into His image, even by the Spirit of the Lord, and will grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God will inspire men with love and purity; and refinement will be manifest in their characters.” The Review and Herald, February 6, 1894

Tuesday

3 DIVINE ATTRIBUTES—OMNISCIENT AND OMNIPRESENT

3.a. What characteristic does Paul mention with reference to the Holy Ghost? 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11

Note: “Never can humanity, of itself, attain to a knowledge of the divine. ‘It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?’ Job 11:8. Only the spirit of adoption can reveal to us the deep things of God, which ‘eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.’ ‘God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.’ 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10.” The Desire of Ages, 412

3.b. Mention another quality described in Psalm 139.

Note: “Although our Lord ascended from earth to heaven, the Holy Spirit was appointed as His representative among men. ‘If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; 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. I will not leave you comfortless’ [John 14:15–18].

“Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. ‘But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall (although unseen by you), [THIS PHRASE WAS ADDED BY ELLEN WHITE.] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you’ [John 14:26]. ‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you’ [John 16:7].” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 14, 23, 24

Wednesday

4 THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

4.a.Mention some evidences concerning the personality of the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit speaks: Acts 28:25
He teaches: John 14:26
He strives with sinners: Genesis 6:3
He comforts: Acts 9:31
He helps in our infirmities: Romans 8:26
He is vexed: Isaiah 63:10
He is grieved: Ephesians 4:30
He can be resisted: Acts 7:51
He has a mind: Romans 8:27

Note: “Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.” The Desire of Ages, 671

“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 2, 137

“The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God.” Sons and Daughters of God, 28

“The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. ‘For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man, which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.’ ” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 20, 69

“The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.” Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, 37

Thursday

5 THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH

5. Mention some of the actions of the Holy Spirit:

He creates: Job 33:4
He renews: Isaiah 32:15
He convicts: John 16:8–11
He regenerates: John 3:3, 5
He indwells: Romans 8:11
He anoints: 1John 2:20, 27
He baptizes: Acts 2:17, 18

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Against whom did Ananias and Sapphira lie?

2 What attribute of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in Hebrews 9:14?

3 Why is the Holy Spirit called “another Comforter”?

4 Mention some of the functions of the Holy Spirit.

5 What does the Holy Spirit do in the heart of the believer?