BETA: FOUNDATION SCHOOL - MODULE 5

19CLASS 5

501 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE

INTRODUCTION

The importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian can never be over

emphasized. The Holy Spirit is the gift of God to everyone who believes (Acts 10:45;

Hebrews 2:4). The earthly ministry of Jesus started after He had received the Holy

Spirit. In several instances, such as in Luke 24:49, Jesus told His disciples to remain

in Jerusalem till they have received the Holy Spirit; and in Acts 1:8, He says, "And

you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you...". This power refers

to the dynamic ability to reproduce itself and it brings efficiency and might into the

life of the born again, as the very presence of God is brought to the Christian. A sign

of being filled with God's Spirit is by speaking in other tongues (Mark 16:17, Acts

19:6). The Objective of this class: At the end of this class it is expected that the

student should be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues if he doesn’t do so

already.

He;

a. Should have a broad knowledge of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit and how to take

advantage of them.

b. Should know the difference between the ministry gifts and the spiritual gifts.

c. Should know that the fruit of the spirit is inherent in him and that he bears them

because he is Spirit filled.

5.1.0 SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND ITS PURPOSES

Speaking in tongues is an outpouring of divine communication from our inner most

being to God; thereby cutting off the opportunity for the wicked one's comprehension.

(1 Corinthians 14:2) You speak mysteries to God, a language of the Spirit that only

God understands. It is laterally the Holy Spirit Who speaks through us as we allow

Him.

5.1.1 To edify yourself (1 Corinthians 14:4)

When we speak in tongues we edify ourselves, improve and strengthen ourselves.

5.1.2 To build up our faith (Jude 20)

As we speak in other tongues we build up our faith. Each born again has been given a

measure of faith. This measure can be improved upon through prayers. Speaking in

other tongues is an effective way of praying to God, because at that time it is your

spirit that prays (1 Corinthian 14:4). Boldness comes to your spirit as you speak in

other tongues.

5.1.3 To glorify God (Acts 10:46)

There is a great depth at which you will worship God when you have the in filling of

the Holy Spirit and worship Him in other tongues. Your mind is no more at work

here, but you worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). God is a Spirit and we

must relate to Him that way.

205.1.4 To speak mysteries unto God. (1 Corinthians 14:2a)

Because of the unfruitfulness of the mind (1 Corinthians 14:14) you speak secret

truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding yet. This means you speak

mysteries unto God. This leads you to receiving divine revelations as you speak them.

5.1.5 It is a sign of the believer (Mark 16:17)

Jesus said it emphatically that speaking in tongues is a sign of knowing those who

have believed.

5.2.0 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARK 16:17 and 1

CORINTHIANS 12:10

In Mark 16:17 the signs of the believer is seen; and speaking in tongues is a sign that

must follow all who believe, while in 1 Corinthians 12:10, we see the gifts of the Holy

Spirit enumerated. The Holy Spirit to each individual distributes these gifts as He

wills (1 Corinthians 12:11). These gifts are distributed differently to every individual

according to God's Own Will (Hebrews 2:4). While every believer should speak in

tongues, there is also a gift of tongues given to some. The gift of tongues is speaking

God’s language at a higher level as the ordinary believer; and many times here the

believer also receive the ability to speak in a diversity of tongues.

5.3.0 THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 12:10)

These gifts are nine in number and they bear testimony of the truth of God's Word and

God's calling upon a man's life. They are like equipment God has given to us for our

work as believers. They can further be classified into 3 categories:

5.3.1 Power gifts

These are action gifts that cause someone to do or accomplish something and

they include:

a. Gift of healing

b. Faith

c. Working of miracles

5.3.2 Utterance or vocal gifts

These gifts make use of the vocals and they include:

a. Prophecy

b. Interpretation of tongues

c. And speaking in diverse kinds of tongues

5.3.3 Revelation and inspirational gifts

These make one to know or see a truth about another or situation.

These are:

a. Word of wisdom

b. Word of knowledge

c. and discerning of Spirits (supernatural insights into the realm of spirits)

These gifts of the Spirit are what God uses to equip the ministry.

215.4.0 Ministry Gifts (Ephesians 4:11)

God gives the Ministry gifts, to individuals for the work of the ministry. These gifts

have been given to the body of Christ by God to bring a balance in Church and this is

vitally important for effectiveness. The ultimate goals of all ministry gifts are for:

a. The perfecting of the saints

b. Edifying the body of Christ

c. Unifying men in faith and knowledge

d. Perfecting the Church in Christ

e. Bringing men to maturity in Christ

It is important that every denomination and every local church identify and

empowers these ministry gifts. Newly formed churches might not have all five gifts,

but they will be added as the church grows; depending on the maturity of elders.

All these can be seen in Ephesians 4:12-13. These gifts are called the five fold

ministry gifts as seen in Ephesians 4:11 and they are: Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists,

Teachers and Apostles.

5.4.1 Apostle

From the Greek word ‘apostolos’ translated means ‘sent forth or sent one’. An

Apostle is one with a commission. It could be to establish churches (1 Corinthians

9:2, 4:15) and he is first and foremost a preacher or a teacher of the word (1 Timothy

2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11). He is sent forth with a particular message. His distinguished

result is the ability to establish churches as he may have to oversee the churches until

they have been fully established (1 Corinthians 9:1-2). This office seems to embrace

all other ministry gifts as the apostle will do the work of the Teacher. As a teacher, he

will teach and establish people. As a pastor he will pastor and shepherd the people for

a while.

5.4.2 Prophet

The Prophet Speaks from the impulse of a sudden inspiration, from the light of a

sudden revelation at that moment. He speaks by direct divine inspiration, an

immediate revelation. He is also first of all a preacher or a teacher of the Word.

5.4.3 Evangelist

One who brings the evangel (the good news); a messenger of good tidings. He brings

the news of the redeeming grace of God and his favorite theme is salvation in its

simplest form. He has a divine urge or burning within to preach the Word and get

people saved.

5.4.4 Pastor

This means Shepherd. He is a shepherd of God's sheep in the local body and they are

necessary for maturing, nurturing and equipping of the Saints.

5.4.5 Teacher

This is a divine gift and is about the calling placed on particular individuals to stand in

that office and teach by supernatural abilities. It is a divine endowment to teach God's

word.

22It is important that we understand these gifts; to identify those around us who has

these gifts. Within one assembly, you might find more than one of the above present

in a church; for example: you might find more than one prophet or pastor, etc…

5.5.0 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

AND MINISTRY GIFTS.

The Ministry gifts are God's calling into an office and cannot be desired (Hebrews

5:4, Ephesians 4:11). It is God Himself who calls the individual into the five-fold

ministry and no man can take it upon himself. The ministry into which one is called is

not in name but in power; for even if one calls himself into an office, it doesn't make

him what he calls himself. The ministry must be evident in the individual's life,

because God Who has called him will surely equip him with the divine enablement or

endowment to stand in that office. On the other hand Spiritual gifts can be desired

(1Corinthians 12:31; Romans 1:11), though it is the Holy Spirit Who gives out as He

wills or chooses (1 Corinthians 12:11).

5.6.0 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

AND FRUIT OF THE RECREATED HUMAN SPIRIT

The gifts of the Spirit are by impartation into man's spirit and they are abilities God

gives to every believer to fulfill God's call upon his life. The fruit of the spirit are nine

in number (Galatians 5:23); and they are the fruit a born again is supposed to produce

by reason of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. The born again has a level of control

over the development of these fruit in his life. That is why Paul says, if we live by the

Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25); and those who belong to Christ

have crucified the flesh with its passion, appetites and desires. (Galatians 5:24). The

born again has the responsibility of ensuring that he bears the right fruit.

5.7.0. EVERY CHRISTIAN CAN WALK IN THE POWER OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit has been given to us as was promised by God through Jesus Christ. It

is left for every born again to receive Him for He has already been made available for

us all. All an individual needs to do is to desire Him in all of His fullness (Psalm 63:1-

3,8). The Psalmist here has a deep hunger and desire for the presence of God i.e. the

Holy Spirit Who is also called the Angel of God's presence (Isaiah 63:9,10a). Desire

and hunger and you will be filled, for Jesus says in Matthew 5:6, that even in having

the desire you are blessed; and you will be filled. The most important thing is the

desire of the Holy Spirit. For all that believe or desire shall receive. In the case of the

apostles as we see in the scriptures, a desire had been placed in their hearts long

before they received (John 14:16-17, and in Acts 1:8). We see where Jesus told them

to tarry in Jerusalem till they had been endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49).

There was great anticipation and hunger in them and they were actually in the Temple

praying and expecting Him until He came as we see in Acts 2. This was important for

them to have the ability to effectively minister the Word of God and live the Christian

life. In Isaiah 32:15, we see what happens to a man's life when God's Spirit is poured

forth into him. It brings productivity and fruitfulness. The Spirit changes things and

causes you to increase greatly.

In Isaiah 44:2-4, God speaks again about desire, saying; "… I will pour water upon

him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed

and My blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up as among the grass, as

23willows by the water courses." Jesus says in John 7:37-38 that, "if any man thirsts, let

him come to Me and drink." Note: It is however important to note that there is a

difference between the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

The word baptism is taken from the Greek word “baptizo”, which means to be

immersed or dipped into. This actually took place the day we got born again, for we

were immersed into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. The infilling however

means you are filled with God's Spirit and given supernatural strength as a believer.

The Spirit of God fills the believer to enable him to be an effective witness of Christ

(Acts 2:4).

5.8.0 CONCLUSION

This class emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit to the life of Christian. A lot

of emphases was laid on speaking in tongues, which is one of the Nine gifts of the

Holy spirit to the Christian. This is because it is the gift that a Christian can use to

build himself up (Jude 20, 2 Corinthians 14: 2). This class also differentiated ministry

gifts which are: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher, from the nine gifts

of the Holy Spirit, lastly, we learnt that every Christian can work in the power of the

Holy Spirit.