The Holy Spirit and Spirituality

The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit

Lesson #5 for February 4, 2017

Scriptures: [Mark 1:8; Ephesians 5:18; Acts 5:32; 13:52; Luke 11:8-10; Galatians 5:16-26][1].

1.    In this lesson we will discuss the baptism of the Holy Spirit and how that might have an effect on our individual lives, the prerequisites to receiving the Holy Spirit, and the difference the infilling of the Holy Spirit might make in the life of an individual believer. Infilling simply means to be filled inside.

2.    Read John 10:10[2]. What do you think Jesus had in mind when He said that we may have life and “have it to its full” (NIV), “life in all its fullness” (GNB), or “more abundantly” (KJV)?

3.    Read [Mark 1:8; compare Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; and John 1:33][3]. Read also [Acts 1:5 and 11:16][4]. In order to prevent the idea from being suggested that John and Jesus had arranged things to fool the people, they had never met prior to Jesus’s baptism. (2SP 58.2; RH, January 21, 1873, par. 2) When John saw Jesus approaching him at the river Jordan, he stated clearly that while he baptized with water, Jesus would baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit and fire. But, before that experience can happen, we must have the repentance which comes from recognizing our need for transformation in our lives. What do we know about the baptism by fire from elsewhere in Scripture? Consider what happened at Pentecost. (See Acts 2:3-4; compare Acts 11:14-18.[5])

4.    When the disciple John discussed the baptism of the Spirit, he used a Greek form suggesting that experience must be a daily experience. (See John 1:33[6].) He suggested that the ministry of Jesus consisted not only in taking away our sins as we repent of them but also in giving us the Holy Spirit. (John 1:29; Acts 2:38[7])

5.    Read Acts 10:43-44 and 11:16[8]. Peter said that those Gentiles with Cornelius had received the Holy Spirit just as the disciples had received it on the day of Pentecost. What do you think that implies?

6.    Read Acts 2:28-39[9]. It is God’s plan that when we are baptized by immersion for the repentance of our sins, we are also supposed to receive the Holy Spirit. However, that is supposed to be just the beginning of a lifelong work. Every day as we study our Bibles, pray, and when we have opportunity, witness to others, we are asking the Holy Spirit to enter our lives and make the necessary changes so that we can become more like Jesus Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime event!

7.    Read [1 Corinthians 12:13; compare 1 Corinthians 10:1-4][10]. Paul clearly suggested that baptism followed by the receiving of the Holy Spirit is an experience that is supposed to come to each Christian. If you believe that the Holy Spirit cannot be a Personal Being because we are supposed to drink Him, then you need to say the same thing about Jesus!

8.    Do you think you can remember a clear time when you were filled with the Holy Spirit? Is He a part of your daily life? Is it scary to think of it? Have you read the book, One Miracle After Another: The Pavel Goia Story by Greg Budd? Why aren’t there more Adventists who have lived like that and can tell such stories?

9.    Read [Ephesians 5:18; Acts 13:52; and Romans 8:9][11]. What do these verses tell us about being filled with the Holy Spirit? What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? (Luke 1:41, 67; Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; 9:17; 13:9)[12] In these verses mostly from the experiences of the early church as recorded in the book of Acts, Paul suggested that the filling of the Holy Spirit comes to those who are completely submitted to God and asking for the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit.

10.    We know that various kinds of influences can affect our lives. Those who drink alcohol on a regular basis show that their walk, talk, even their thoughts are affected in bad ways. Would it be true to say that those who are filled with the Holy Spirit will demonstrate through their walk, talk, and thoughts that they are reflecting the experience of Jesus Christ?

11.    What is the relationship between receiving the Holy Spirit and having faith? (Galatians 3:2,14[13]) Titus 3:5-6[14] suggest that we might have a great infilling of the Holy Spirit at the time of our baptism. But, a single experience at any point in time is never meant to carry us on through any extended period of time. The infilling of the Holy Spirit needs to be a daily experience.

12.    What does it really mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Many Christian evangelists and pastors suggest that if they could just have more of the power of the Holy Spirit, they would accomplish great things! But, being filled with the Holy Spirit may have a different meaning. Is it that we are supposed to possess more of Him? Or, that He is supposed to possess more of us?

I wish to impress upon you the fact that those who have Jesus abiding in the heart by faith, have actually received the Holy Spirit. Every individual who receives Jesus as his personal Saviour, just as surely receives the Holy Spirit to be his Counselor, Sanctifier, Guide, and Witness.—Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, 71.

13.    One thing is very certain: The Holy Spirit cannot fill the lives of those who are filled with thoughts of their own sins. Repentance and baptism are supposed to clear away this rubbish from our lives. (Acts 2:37-38[15])

14.    The Holy Spirit will help us to recognize that true repentance is more than just feeling sorry for the consequences of our sins. It means that through personal experience-but, perhaps even more through reading about and studying the life of Christ-we will recognize the dangers of sin, and we will be repulsed from even committing sins. We are to be drawn to God by His “kindness.” (Romans 2:4[16])

15.    Read [Galatians 3:14; James 1:6-8][17]. James suggested that if we do not have a solid, reliable relationship with the Holy Spirit, our religious experience may be no more stable than an ocean wave. So, how do we avoid that kind of experience? How do we grow our faith?

16.    Read Luke 11:8-10,13[18]. When speaking to His disciples, Jesus told them very directly that to receive the blessings that God offered, they-and we-must be persistent in asking. It is not that He is in any way reluctant to give us the Spirit; but, we need to be changed as we ask for God’s Spirit until the time comes that we are prepared to receive Him. Our prayers need to be our way of talking to God in response to His way of talking to us through His Word.

17.    Read Acts 5:32[19]. How do you understand the idea that the Spirit is God’s gift to those who obey Him? What does that mean? The process of obedience in the biblical sense requires several steps. First of all, we need to understand clearly what God wants to teach us. Then, we must give our full and willing consent to follow Him. Then, with the aid of the Holy

Spirit, we must progress as far as possible in actually doing God’s will. The Greek word for obedience is hupakoe which means a humble willingness to listen. It is not focused on our ability to do something.

18.    Read 1 John 2:4-5[20]. These can be scary words. How many Christians claim to be knowledgeable about God but do not keep His commandments? Would God really call them liars? How many people living today does God consider to be liars?

19.    Read Jude 18-21[21]. It should be clear from these verses and other parts of the Scriptures that if we are controlled by our natural desires, we cannot have the Holy Spirit.

20.    The presence of God is often described in the Bible as being something like fire or flames. Does that apply to all Members of the Godhead? Think of some times described in the Bible when God appeared like fire on this earth: The burning bush (Exodus 3:1-11); the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22); the giving of the Ten Commandments on the top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20); Daniel 7; Ezekiel 1; etc. Does that apply to the Holy Spirit as well? If the Holy Spirit comes into our lives like a fire, is that for the purpose of destroying the sin and worldliness in our lives? The battle against self is never an easy one. We love to be in charge, and we want to be able to do what we want to do. But, that is Satan’s way. The battle against self is probably the greatest battle of all time. But, if we succeed in recognizing the advantages of having the Holy Spirit in our lives, then:

There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages 250.3-251.0. [Bold type is added.]

What does it mean to say: “There is no limit...”?

21.    Read [Galatians 5:16-26 again; compare Ephesians 5:1-9,17-20][22]. In these passages, we have a clear picture of the contrast between the self-centered life and the Spirit-filled life. Notice the following chart from the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Thursday, February 2, 2017:

Self-Centered Person

Spirit-Controlled Person

Desires what is sinful and displeasing to God

Desires what is spiritual and pleasing to God

Is controlled by sinful passions

Is controlled by the Spirit

Misuses his/her freedom and gets enslaved in sin

Is set free from the bondage of sin and is called to freedom in Christ

Is disobedient to God’s will

Is obedient to God’s will

Is self-indulgent

Is self-sacrificing

Displays the fruit of sin

Displays the fruit of the Spirit

Does not recognize the need for forgiveness and is boastful of self

Recognizes the need for forgiveness and praises Jesus for what He has done

22. Let us not deceive ourselves. We cannot transform ourselves. We do not have the power to do that because sin is so ingrained in our lives. This is no mere external change. It requires a complete change in our thoughts and our minds including our motives. It is the work of a lifetime. God recognizes that there will be ups and downs; but, He promises to work with us if we truly ask Him to do so.

All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages 668.3. [Bold type is added.] Compare Psalm 40:8.

23.    Can you identify times in your life when you truly have been guided by the Holy Spirit as well as times when you have been determined to do your own thing? In Galatians 5:23[23], we notice that the final portion of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control. What form does selfcontrol take? God never forces Himself on us; but, He asks us to voluntarily allow the Holy Spirit to work with us. In fact, God suggests that to be truly free, we need to have this working relationship with the Holy Spirit. How does that make us truly free?

24.    Read [Psalm 119:45; Luke 4:18; John 8:34-36; 2 Corinthians 3:17; and Galatians 5:1][24]. In many ways God is trying to make it clear that the only real freedom comes when we recognize that His way is the only right way.

The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.—Ibid. 172.1; FLB 55.2; AG 22.4; Mar 70.2; MYP 157.1; YRP 323.5. [Bold type is added.]

25.    The Greek word often translated blessed also means happy. Is a Spirit-filled life really the happiest life? Have we seen that in our own lives?

26.    We have already tried to explore what the Bible means by a Spirit-filled life. What would you say to a person who tells you that you have not received the Holy Spirit unless you are able to speak in tongues? Is it possible to be certain that you have received the Holy Spirit? Could you tell if someone else has received the Holy Spirit in their lives?

27.    On one occasion, a Pentecostal group of Christian believers announced that they were going to pray for the Seventh-day Adventist Church until the Adventists “got the Spirit.” They held a large meeting in a downtown hall in Boston to which they invited Adventists. One professor from an Adventist college attended that meeting. Soon people were standing and “speaking in tongues.” Immediately, someone else in the room would stand up and give an “interpretation” of what the speaker had said. After a while, the Adventist scholar stood and began to speak in “a strange tongue.” As soon as he was finished, someone jumped up across the room and “interpreted” what the Adventist scholar had said. When that person had finished, the Adventist scholar stood up slowly and stated that he had simply quoted Isaiah 53 in the original Hebrew and that he could not see how that had anything to do with what the “interpreter” had said! Everything in the room suddenly went quiet!

28.    In light of all that we have studied so far, do you think it is important for us to understand the infilling of the Holy Spirit?

29.    The Bible seems to suggest in several places that the Holy Spirit works with and through angels. What is the role of the angels in all these things we have been talking about? Does the Holy Spirit still work with angels?

30.    What can we do to correctly realize the dangers of sin in our lives? What practical biblical steps can we take to experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit?

31.    Do you see any indication anywhere in the Bible to suggest that God is reluctant to give us the Holy Spirit? Or, does God long to fill His people with the Holy Spirit?

32.    Let us be very clear that it was never God’s idea that the infilling of the Holy Spirit should be an experience only for Bible teachers and pastors or those select members who seem to be among the spiritual elite! If we have not experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit, our Christian lives lose strength, and we will certainly be powerless to overcome temptation.

33.    One of the questions which arises in the minds of especially young Christians is the following: What does it mean when Jesus talked about the unpardonable sin? (Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:29)[25] In what sense is the unpardonable sin a sin against the Holy Spirit? Would it be correct to say that on the spectrum of Christian living, the unpardonable sin is at one end of the spectrum while the baptism of the Holy Spirit is on the other end? If the Holy Spirit is the One who brings the truth about God and the life of Jesus to us in our day through the Bible and by inspiring us and if we reject that way, then we have rejected God’s plan for our lives. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6[26], GNB) There is no other way. God will honor your choice. If you reach the point that you have completely rejected God, then with sadness He will honor your decision and leave you alone. (Hosea 4:17)[27]

34.    To be filled with the Holy Spirit means to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23. It means to be daily practicing Bible study, prayer, and witnessing, leading us to become more and more like Jesus, and thus, more and more in agreement with the guidance of the Holy Spirit until we reach the place where we do what is right because it is right because we have come to understand why God’s ways are the only right, true, and safe ways to live.

35.    The Holy Spirit will never lead us off into speculative and unbiblical ideas.

36.    Read again Matthew 3:11[28]. Why did John say that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire? What does the fire part mean?

37.    We have looked at many verses in Scripture dealing with the Holy Spirit and spirituality. Some of those verses may be difficult to understand. Let us suggest three things, as modified from page 67 of the Adult Teacher’s Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, that we could do to improve our understanding of the biblical passages we are studying:

1)    Read the full context of the passage. What was the setting? Who was speaking? And to whom? What were the circumstances?

2)    How do the words and the ideas in this particular passage compare with similar passages in other parts of the Bible?

3) In some cases, it may be necessary to explore the meanings of the original words in Greek or Hebrew. A good Bible commentary or Bible dictionary can be useful in that situation.

38.    Seventh-day Adventists have always promoted the idea of baptism by immersion. We understand what immersion in the water means. What does immersion in the Holy Spirit and fire mean? In an earlier lesson, we suggested that the Holy Spirit was intimately involved in revelation through angels and prophets in order to give us the Holy Scriptures. He is also very much involved in the inspiration needed for us to understand what is written in those Scriptures.

39.    John the Baptist suggested that Jesus could baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. There seem to be a number of passages in Scripture suggesting that God is likened to a fire in one way or another. See [Genesis 3:24; Exodus 3:2-4; 13:21; 24:17; 25:8,21-22; 40:34-38; 1 Kings 18:38; Isaiah 6:6-8; Malachi 3:2-3; and 4:1][29]. These are just a few verses; there are more including a number of passages in the book of Revelation. Why has God chosen to represent Himself by fire?

40.    In this series, we have not yet studied about the early rain or the latter rain. Do you think that God will pour out His power on human beings at the time of the latter rain in as much power as He did at Pentecost? How do you think that manifestation might actually take place in our day?

41.    In this lesson we have suggested that repentance is a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit. What role does reading God’s Word have in that process? What is the role of obedience? Why does God not pour out His Holy Spirit on those who are knowingly disobedient? Why does the presence of sin or an impurity in our lives prevent or hinder the work of the Holy Spirit?

42.    These lessons so far have proved to be a great exercise in understanding Scripture. We have looked at many verses. Is the role of the Holy Spirit becoming more clear to you?

© 2016, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    Info@theox.org

1-Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

2-John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

3-Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.

Luke 3:16 So John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

John 1:33 I still did not know that he was the one, but God, who sent me to baptize with water, had said to me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man; he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

4-Acts 1:5 John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

11:16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

5-Acts 2:3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Acts 11:14 He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.’ 15 And when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 It is clear that God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, then, to try to stop God!”

18 When they heard this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, “Then God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live!”

6-John 1:33 I still did not know that he was the one, but God, who sent me to baptize with water, had said to me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man; he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

7-John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.

8-Acts 10:43 All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message.

11:16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

9-Acts 2:28 You have shown me the paths that lead to life,

and your presence will fill me with joy.’

29 “My friends, I must speak to you plainly about our famous ancestor King David. He died and was buried, and his grave is here with us to this very day. 30 He was a prophet, and he knew what God had promised him: God had made a vow that he would make one of David's descendants a king, just as David was. 31 David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said,

‘He was not abandoned in the world of the dead;

his body did not rot in the grave.’

32 God has raised this very Jesus from death, and we are all witnesses to this fact. 33 He has been raised to the right side of God, his Father, and has received from him the Holy Spirit, as he had promised. What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us. 34 For it was not David who went up into heaven; rather he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit here at my right side

35 until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.’

36 “All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah!”

37 When the people heard this, they were deeply troubled and said to Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, brothers?”

38 Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit. 39 For God's promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away—all whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

10-1 Corinthians 12:13 In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink.

1 Corinthians 10:1 I want you to remember, my friends, what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the protection of the cloud, and all passed safely through the Red Sea. 2 In the cloud and in the sea they were all baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All ate the same spiritual bread 4 and drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them; and that rock was Christ himself.

11-Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Acts 13:52 The believers in Antioch were full of joy and the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9 But you do not live as your human nature tells you to; instead, you live as the Spirit tells you to—if, in fact, God's Spirit lives in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

12-Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 67 John's father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he spoke God's message:

Acts 2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

4:8 Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: 31 When they finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God's message with boldness.

9:17 So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me—Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

13:9 Then Saul—also known as Paul—was filled with the Holy Spirit; he looked straight at the magician

13-Galatians 3:2 Tell me this one thing: did you receive God's Spirit by doing what the Law requires or by hearing the gospel and believing it? 14 Christ did this in order that the blessing which God promised to Abraham might be given to the Gentiles by means of Christ Jesus, so that through faith we might receive the Spirit promised by God.

14-Titus 3:5 he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. 6 God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

15-Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were deeply troubled and said to Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, brothers?”

38 Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.

16-Romans 2:4 Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.

17-Galatians 3:14 Christ did this in order that the blessing which God promised to Abraham might be given to the Gentiles by means of Christ Jesus, so that through faith we might receive the Spirit promised by God.

James 1:6 But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. 7-8 If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.

18-Luke 11:8 Well, what then? I tell you that even if he will not get up and give you the bread because you are his friend, yet he will get up and give you everything you need because you are not ashamed to keep on asking. 9 And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For those who ask will receive, and those who seek will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks.

13 As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

19-Acts 5:32 We are witnesses to these things—we and the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to those who obey him.”

20-1 John 2:4 If we say that we know him, but do not obey his commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us. 5 But if we obey his word, we are the ones whose love for God has really been made perfect. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God:

21-Jude 18 They said to you, “When the last days come, people will appear who will make fun of you, people who follow their own godless desires.” 19 These are the people who cause divisions, who are controlled by their natural desires, who do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.

22-Galatians 5:16 What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. 17 For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do. 18 If the Spirit leads you, then you are not subject to the Law.

19 What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; 20 in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; 21 they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. 25 The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. 26 We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.

Ephesians 5:1 Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him. 2 Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

3 Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you. 4 Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God. 5 You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. 7 So have nothing at all to do with such people. 8 You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, 9 for it is the light[a] that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

17 Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.

18 Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts. 20 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.

23-Galatians 5:23 humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.

24-Psalm 119:45 I will live in perfect freedom,

because I try to obey your teachings.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free the oppressed

John 8:34 Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. 36 If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now, “the Lord” in this passage is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

Galatians 5:1 Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.

25-Matthew 12:31 For this reason I tell you: people can be forgiven any sin and any evil thing they say;[a] but whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Mark 3:29 But whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, because he has committed an eternal sin.”

26-John 14:6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.

27-Hosea 4:17 The people of Israel are under the spell of idols. Let them go their own way.

28-Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.

29-Genesis 3:24 Then at the east side of the garden he put living creatures[a] and a flaming sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the tree that gives life.

Exodus 3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a flame coming from the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but that it was not burning up. 3 “This is strange,” he thought. “Why isn't the bush burning up? I will go closer and see.”

4 When the LORD saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!”

He answered, “Yes, here I am.”

13:21 During the day the LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud to show them the way, and during the night he went in front of them in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel night and day.

24:16-17 The dazzling light of the LORD's presence came down on the mountain. To the Israelites the light looked like a fire burning on top of the mountain. The cloud covered the mountain for six days, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from the cloud.

25:8 The people must make a sacred Tent for me, so that I may live among them. 21 Put the two stone tablets inside the Box and put the lid on top of it. 22 I will meet you there, and from above the lid between the two winged creatures I will give you all my laws for the people of Israel.

40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tent and the dazzling light of the LORD's presence filled it. 35 Because of this, Moses could not go into the Tent. 36 The Israelites moved their camp to another place only when the cloud lifted from the Tent. 37 As long as the cloud stayed there, they did not move their camp. 38 During all their wanderings they could see the cloud of the LORD's presence over the Tent during the day and a fire burning above it during the night.

1 Kings 18:38 The LORD sent fire down, and it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones, scorched the earth and dried up the water in the trench.

Isaiah 6:6 Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, “This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven.”

8 Then I heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?”

I answered, “I will go! Send me!”

Malachi 3:2 But who will be able to endure the day when he comes? Who will be able to survive when he appears? He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal. 3 He will come to judge like one who refines and purifies silver. As a metalworker refines silver and gold, so the LORD's messenger will purify the priests, so that they will bring to the LORD the right kind of offerings.

4:The LORD Almighty says, “The day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw. On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them.

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