CRE Form Three Notes
Selected Teachings from the New and the Old Testaments
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Teachings of Jesus on the Role of the Holy Spirit. Read John 14:15-26, 16:5-15, and Acts 1:7-8
Introduction
The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. There is the power of Christ, the power of God, and the Holy Spirit who gives gifts such as prophecy and healing. The Holy Spirit is mentioned several times in the Bible: (1) during creation in Genesis, (2) at the annunciation of the birth of Jesus, (3) at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, (4) during baptism, (5) revelation of Jesus in the temple, (6) Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit during his mission or ministry, after resurrection and before ascension.
a. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Church and in Christian Lives Today
Read John 14:15-26, John 16:5-15, Acts 1:7-8
The Holy Spirit has many roles in the church and in Christian lives today. These roles are to:
- Teach Christians daily the messages of Jesus.
- Live in the hearts of believers of Christ.
- Be an advocate, counselor, helper, and comforter to those who love Jesus Christ and obey God’s commandments.
- Remind the disciples of the words said by Jesus Christ and introduce them to their deeper meanings.
- Interpret the deeper meaning of the messages of Jesus Christ.
- Reveal the truth and mysteries of and about God.
- Affirm the right of Jesus as the Son of God.
- Reveal the glory of Jesus’ death.
- Reveal what is right and wrong.
- Give the disciples of Jesus power to become witnesses of Christ.
- Give courage to the disciples of Jesus and modern Christians to face persecution for following Jesus.
- Enable the disciples to expose the secret lives and hearts of sinful people.
- Guide Christians; help believers to cast away evil spirits, heal, preach the word of God, encourage, and condemn evil in society.
b. Paul’s Teaching about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Read 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13, and 14
Spiritual gifts are extraordinary favors, talents, abilities, and dispositions given to Christians by God for the benefit of all believers. The gifts are used for the service of others and not for self-glorification or gratification.
The Message of Peter on the Day of Pentecost
Peter told the disciples that what was happening was the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy.
- He said that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God.
- He said that the suffering and death of Jesus were according to God’s plans.
- Death was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Gift of Wisdom: Having deep understanding of issues—’seeing far’, being perceptive.
- Gift of Knowledge: Ability to understand the basic facts about Jesus, His mission, and spiritual issues.
- Gift of Faith: Confidence in God’s help; deep trust in God.
- Gift of Healing: Ability and power to heal all forms of sickness by calling upon the name of Jesus Christ.
- Gift of Performing Miracles: Gift of healing miracles and creative miracles, for example, dead legs becoming alive.
- Gift of Preaching
- Gift of Prophecy: Ability to interpret God’s word and foresee what will happen in the future as revealed by God.
- Gift of Distinguishing Spirits or Discernment: Ability to know whether a spiritual gift is from God, the Holy Spirit, or from an evil spirit.
- Gift of Speaking in Tongues: Ability to utter or speak in a tongue, language unknown to the believer. Tongues are used when addressing God for self-edification and personal growth.
- Gift of Interpretation of Tongues: Ability to understand and interpret the messages of those speaking in tongues.
- Gift of Love (Read 1 Corinthians 13)
Paul stressed that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be demonstrated with love. He emphasized that love, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is supreme over other spiritual gifts possessed by Christians. It is the greatest of all. Speaking in tongues, preaching, and martyrdom without love are useless.
Components of Love
Love is patient, kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude, not ill-mannered or selfish, and does not insist on its own way. It is not disrespectful, irritable, or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in truth. It bears all things.
Love believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love is eternal and never fails. The other gifts are temporary, but love, faith, and hope are eternal.
c. Manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Church and Christians Today
Gifts of the Holy Spirit have been manifested in churches today. We see this manifestation through people possessing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. For example, leaders in church have displayed the gift of wisdom. Preachers and Christian ministers have been casting out demons and performing healing.
There are reported cases of interpretation of tongues and the gift of prophecy in churches today.
When Christians display the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues, the Holy Spirit is manifested. Other manifestations of the Holy Spirit are:
- Healing, prophecy, gifts of discernment, boldness in preaching, and casting out demons among others.
- Christians helping the poor by giving generously and kindly.
- Singing, dancing, shouting (fruit of joy).
- Unity of believers and fellowships.
- Praying.
- Christian persecutions and temptations.
d. Criteria for Discerning the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Christians who have the Holy Spirit and are guided by Jesus have certain characteristics. These are:
- They confess that Jesus is Lord.
- They cannot say a curse.
- They speak the truth, worship God, and behave according to Jesus’ teaching.
- They are led by the Holy Spirit and are known by the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, and patience.
- They serve all Christians without discrimination or strife.
- They do not commit sinful acts such as sexual immorality, idolatry, or sorcery. They do not harbor hatred, jealousy, or other negative feelings and actions.
e. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)
Paul taught that the fruits of the Spirit are: Love, Joy, Patience, Long-suffering, Goodness or Generosity, Faith and Faithfulness, Peace, Meekness and Kindness, Gentleness, Self-control, and Temperance.
Answer these questions after reading John 14:15-26, John 16:5-15, Acts 1:7-8, and 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13, and 14.
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit among Christians? (Read a)
- Discuss the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Write a talk about the Holy Spirit.
- Define love.
- Describe the different types of love.
- Why do Christians need the Holy Spirit today?
- State the role of love in church and in Christian lives today.
- How has the gift of the Holy Spirit been manifested in Christian lives?
- Which activities show that the Holy Spirit is working among Christians in Kenya?
- How have the gifts of the Holy Spirit been misused in the church today?
Answers are also in the text. Read sections with answers.
1. The Role of the Holy Spirit
- An advocate, counselor, and comforter.
- He reminds and introduces the disciples to the deeper meaning of the word of Jesus Christ and reveals the myths and mysteries of God.
- He affirms the right of Jesus as the Son of God.
- He reveals the glory of Jesus’ death.
- He enables the disciples to discern and expose the secret hearts of sinful men.
2. The Gift of the Holy Spirit Has Been Misused Today
By pride and public manifestation of the gift as a way of showing off. Some Christians have misused the gift of prophecy by prophesying for money.
Peter’s Message on the Day of Pentecost. Read Acts 2:14-41
Introduction
Jews commemorate Pentecost day, the day God gave Moses his laws on Mount Sinai. It is also called the Festival of Weeks. Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after the Passover and was compulsory for all Jews. On this day, Jews brought offerings, the first fruits of harvest, to the temple in Jerusalem.
a. Pentecost Day
On Pentecost day, the disciples were gathered in Jerusalem awaiting the promise of the Holy Spirit. As promised, the Holy Spirit came in the form of a strong wind and tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit rested on the head of each disciple. The disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit and spoke in new tongues. Some observers mistook this experience, thinking the disciples were drunk with wine.
Peter stood up to explain and defend the disciples, telling the crowd they were not drunk as it was morning.
b. Peter’s Message. Read Joel 2:28–32
Peter told the onlookers that what was happening fulfilled Joel’s prophecies about the outpouring of God’s Spirit. He said Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, proven by the miracles Jesus performed. He emphasized that Jesus’ suffering and death were according to God’s plans. Jesus is a descendant of David. His death and resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
God raised Jesus from the dead. He taught that Jesus had both the nature of God and Man. The apostles are living witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus has been exalted and sits at the right hand of God as Lord and Judge. The Holy Spirit is a gift from Jesus.
Peter invited listeners to repentance to be forgiven and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Three thousand souls accepted salvation and joined the disciples’ fellowship.
c. After the Holy Spirit Infilling
The disciples sold possessions and goods to assist the needy. They performed many wonders and signs. They lived in unity, worshiped God, fellowshipped together, and broke bread.
d. Lessons Christians Learn from Leadership of Peter
Christians should be:
- Courageous and stand up for Jesus Christ at all times.
- Ready to spread the Gospel of Christ.
- Win new converts by inviting them to repentance.
- Have faith in the risen Christ.
- Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit like Peter, and church leaders should take their roles seriously.
e. Relevance of the Pentecostal Experience
Speaking in diverse tongues signified that Christianity is a universal religion. It highlighted the importance of all languages when communicating with God. There were no specific languages for speaking with God, unlike when Latin was the language of literacy and Christianity.
Christians should be bold in preaching. They should not be afraid as they have the counselor and helper, the Holy Spirit. Christians should understand that God chooses anyone as a leader, preacher, and witness of Christ.
The Pentecostal experience signifies that Christians need to receive and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Revision Questions
- Explain the meaning of Pentecost.
- Describe the manifestations of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-40) or narrate the events that took place on the day of Pentecost.
- Write down five teachings about Jesus from Peter’s speech on the day of Pentecost.
- What were the qualities of Peter that made him a successful leader of the apostolic church?
- What lessons can Christians learn from the events of the day of Pentecost?
- State the teachings of Jesus on the Holy Spirit (John 14:14-26, Acts 1:7-8).
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit according to Jesus?
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in believers, the church, or Christians?
- Outline the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
- State the criteria for discerning the spiritual gifts.
- List the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Explain why Paul taught that love is the greatest of all spiritual gifts.
- Explain how the Holy Spirit is manifested in the church today.
- State ways in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit are being abused in the church today.
