Biblically Based, Christ Centered, Caring Community in Annapolis, MD
This lengthy series took an in-depth look at the Person and work of the Holy Spirit – God’s Empowering Presence. This includes topics such as the relationship between the Spirit and the Church, the Spirit and the world, the Spirit, the Word and the means of grace, and also controversial topics such as the Baptism of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, an extended look at tongues and prophecy, and the question of God’s will and being led by the Spirit.
This is a question and answers session on the series The Holy Spirit – God’s Empowering Presence. A variety of questions on topics such as guidance, unusual manifestations, and spiritual gifts were discussed.
God gives His people the gift of prophecy, the ability to give a spontaneous word from God, which can edify, exhort, and comfort believers, and convict unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5; 29-33
When spoken for others to hear in public worship, tongues must be interpreted so that others may benefit from the prayer, blessing, and praise to God.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5; 26-28
The main use of the gift of tongues is for private worship and prayer, and as we use this gift we are built up in our faith so that we can serve God and others.
1 Corinthians 14:13-19
The gift of tongues is the enablement of believers by the Holy Spirit to speak in a language they have not learned & do not understand.
1 Corinthians 14:13-19
Christians live in the New Covenant and are being progressively transformed by the Spirit into the image of God as we consistently behold His glory.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18
The Holy Spirit leads God’s children by revealing God’s will in Scripture, enabling us to understand, giving us a desire to follow, and empowering us to obey.
Romans 8:12-17
We are called to make decisions based on wisdom, which obeys God’s revealed will in Scripture and applies the principles of God’s Word to all of life.
Ephesians 5:15-18
God’s will for my life is not an obscure set of choices that I must divine using various methods, but His revealed plan & commands as found in the Scripture.
Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:15-21
God’s will refers to both His secret plan to work everything in conformity with His purposes and His revealed commands for how we are to live.
Deuteronomy 29:29
Christians are called to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, living lives under His control.
Ephesians 5:15-21
The baptism in the Holy Spirit, while theologically distinct from regeneration and justification, occurs at the same time — when we become believers in Christ.
Acts 1:8; 2:38-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13
When we were baptized in the Holy Spirit, we were initiated into the New Covenant, placed into the Church, given spiritual gifts, and empowered to be Christ’s witnesses.
Acts 1:4-5
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the promised experience of the Spirit being poured out, coming upon, and filling God’s New Covenant people.
Mark 1:1-8; John 1:29-34
In the New Covenant, the ministry of the Spirit in believers is much more personal, internal, and powerful than it was under the Old Covenant.
Joel 2:28-29
Spiritual gifts are concrete expressions of God’s grace, manifested by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, given to each believer in order to strengthen the church and enable us to serve others in love.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
The Spirit is at work in believers to enable them to resist the desires of their fallen nature and to be conformed to Christ.
Galatians 5:13-26
The Spirit is working to join us to the Church to be the place where God dwells.
Ephesians 2:19-22
The Spirit has been sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, so that it may be drawn to Christ.
John 16:5-11
The Spirit has been sent by Jesus to testify to Christ, and to enable us to point others to Jesus as well.
John 15:26-27
The Spirit was active in both our creation and redemption, and in His ongoing work in our lives He is restoring God’s original intent for creation and our place within it.
Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 32:9-12
God wants to fill His people with His Spirit and this is primarily done as we consistently participate in faith with the means of grace He has ordained for His people.
Acts 2:42
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. He indwells us personally, and this gives us the unique ability to know and experience His presence on a continual basis. Therefore, it is important that we come to know this Person, who is God.
Romans 8:12-27
The Holy Spirit is the Empowering Presence of God Himself, sent to grant wisdom, power, gifts, and character from the Holy Trinity to the people of God.
2 Corinthians 13:14