June Week1 Lesson: Pentecostal Experience Continues(Pentecost)

LESSON 23.  JUNE 4, 2017

LESSON TOPIC: PENTECOSTAL EXPERIENCE CONTINUES ( PENTECOST )

MEMORY VERSE:  Acts 11:16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.  KJV

  TEXT:ACTS 8:5-17;10:44-48;11:1-18;19:1-7.

 CENTRAL TRUTH: God’s will is that every believer in Christ be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

FOCUS: To acknowledge that God still gives the Holy Spirit, and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.    Converts to Receive the Spirit

A.      Receive Christ

B.      Receive the Holy Spirit.

2.    Gentiles Receive the Spirit

A.      Christ for the Nations

B.      Jew and Gentile

3.    Disciples Receive the Spirit

A.      From John to Jesus

B.      Pentecost Experienced Again.

                                 Learning Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1.  Discuss the baptism  in the Holy Spirit is given and state its evidence.

2.   Explain how the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for all people in all places for all time.

3.   Affirm and accept the baptism in the Holy Spirit for themselves.

                                    Introducing The Lesson

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost changed the course of history. Men and women received the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. These believers’ accompanied and empowered  by the Spirit, would go on to change the world by sharing the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ. So was this gift only for those who received it on the Day of Pentecost? What can believers in our day expect, and the Holy Spirit is for us? This is our focus for today.

                     COMMENTARY AND APPLICATION.

1.      Converts Receive the Spirit.

A.   Receive Christ. Acts 8: 5-6,12

        When Jesus promised that His followers would receive the Holy Spirit, He would be that they would be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts1:8,NIV). The Day of Pentecost marked a partial fulfillment of this commission when peter and the others proclaimed the gospel to the thousands gathered there. That day, peter stated that the promise of the Holy Spirit was for all who would believe (Acts 2: 39).

When persecution hit the Jerusalem church, believer spread out from Jerusalem, taking the gospel with them.  Philip, a Hellenistic Jew previously chosen to help with the food distribution to the poor ( 6:1-7), went to Samaria, and this was no small thing. The Jews and the Samaritans despised one another due to religious and ethnic differences. Yet when Philip began to share the good news of Jesus with miraculous sign accompanying the preaching, the Samaritans believed (Acts 8: 5-7).

Question: What is the role of miracles as they accompanied preaching God’s word?   

The attesting signs validated and verified the message of Jesus. It showed the Samaritans that the message they heard was true and that God was doing a work. These same signs happens around the world today. As missionaries, pastors, evangelists, share the good news with people who have never heard the gospel, miracle often accompany the preaching. People are healed and demos are cast out. God is still doing miracles today and people are accepting Jesus because of it.

LESSON TIP: Invite two or three people who have experienced miracles to tell about it. Hearing first hand testimony that God still does miracles can boost the faith of those in our class.

When Philip proclaimed the gospel to the Samaritans, they were moved to action. They received Jesus and they were baptized in water to publicly confess their faith (verse12). They identify themselves with the death and the resurrection of Jesus. This act was a demonstration of their willingness to obey and follow Jesus, and a fulfillment of the Great commission’s command to baptize those who will believe. (Matthew 28:16-20).We continue to observe this command as new believers are baptized into the faith on a constant basis around the world.

B.    Receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17

       As part of the church leadership, Peter and John went to Samaria to examine the work that was being done there. They found out that the Samaritan had received Jesus and they had been  baptized in water. However, they were able to observe that they have not being baptized in the Holy Spirit. So Peter and John laid hands on them, prayed for them and they received the Holy Spirit( Acts 8: 14-17).

This was an important moment for the church. Until now, the church had been comprised only of the Jews.  Now God himself, through this one act, superseded the animosity that once had existed between the Jews and the Samaritans. No doubt, this was memorable moment for John who had one time asked Jesus if he and his brother James should call down fire to destroy the Samaritans (Luke 9:2-55). God was now using him to show that the Samaritans had a legitimate place in the Kingdom of God.

Question: How was it known that the Holy Spirit had been given to the Samaritan converts?

Peter and John were able to see that the Samaritans had not received the Holy Spirit, even though they had received Jesus and was baptised in water. Some observable sign or behavior were missing. This becomes more apparent “when Simon the sorcerer saw that the Spirit was giving by the laying on of the apostles’ hand” (Acts 8:18, NIV). Peter and John were able to observe when they had not received the Holy Spirit, prompting prayer. Simon observed something when they did receive the Holy Spirit.  Although the text does not tell us what, it is certain some sign accompanied the event. It could have been healing, deliverance from demon or other “great sign or miracles” (verse 13)- Simon had already seen these. So the question is, what did Simon see? Even many non-pentecostal scholars affirm that what Simon saw being given was the gift of tongues.

2.    Gentiles Receive the Spirit.

A.   Christ for the Nations

     Having received an extraordinary vision from the Lord (Acts10:9-20), Peter now knew that God was accepting the Gentiles into the Church. Peter knew he was to go to Cornelius’ house and share the news Christ Jesus with him. As he shared the gospel with Cornelius and his household, another miraculous event occurred. God filled the Gentiles with His Holy Spirit (Verse 44).

This is something the Jewish Christians did not expect. It caught them by surprise. Yet it was happening right in front of them. They recognized it as a work of God. They, heard the evidence of it; the Gentiles’ experience matched their own from the Day of Pentecost. The Gentiles were speaking in other languages and they were praising God (verse45-46).

Question: Prior to the outpouring of God’s Spirit on the Gentiles, what objections could the Jews have had  to their inclusion in God’s Kingdom?

If it had not been for the divine evidence they witnessed, the Jewish believers could have taken great exception to Peter’s preaching to the Gentiles. After all, the Jews were God’s covenant people, not the Gentile. The understanding of the lordship of Christ  and salvation limited it to the Jewish people alone. Christ was to deliver Israel from its oppressors who just happened to be the Gentiles. Yet now, God revealed the great mystery that He was the Savior not just of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles.

This is a truth that became the source of many debates and teachings for the Early Church. In fact, Peter had to give an account as soon as he returned to Jerusalem. When circumcised Jewish believers challenged him, peter gave the only defence necessary: God did this with them as He did with us. So who are we to object? (see 11:15-17). As a result, they all joined together in Praise for God’s great work (verse18).

TEACHING TIP: Using world map, ask members of the class to identify areas where it may be difficult for one people group to accept the inclusion of another people group into God’s kingdom, and why. Discuss what obstacles might play a factor, and how those obstacle might be overcome.

B.    Jew and Gentile. Acts 11:15-18

Question:  What are similarities and difference between the event recorded in Acts 11:15-18 and the Samaritan event in Acts 8?

The salvation and Spirit baptism experiences of the Samaritans and the Gentiles in Cornelius’ home had several things in common. Belief in Christ preceded their baptism in the Holy Spirit. While Scripture does not say what the observable sign was with the Samaritans, observable signs accompanied the baptism in the Holy Spirit experiences of both groups. This was how those who were present were able to determine that the people had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Both groups’ experiences were tied explicitly to the preaching of the gospel.

 Differences also existed. The Samaritans confesses their faith in Jesus, and they were baptized in water. Their Holy Spirit baptism occurred later and happened in connection to Peter and John laying hands on them. In contrast, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit prior to a public confession of faith in Christ and prior to water baptism. In addition, no one laid hands on them to pray for them.

3.    Disciples Receive The Spirit.

A.   From John To  Jesus.  Acts 19:1-3

     Following Saul’s conversion, his name was changed to Paul. God commissioned him to reach the Gentiles. By the time he arrived at Ephesus, the Ephesians believers had already heard about Jesus from APollos, who was an educated teacher of the scriptures (Acts18:24-28). However, he had limited knowledge about Jesus and it appears no knowledge of the

 promised Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-2).

This explained why Paul asked the Ephesians about receiving the Holy Spirit. Paul had determined that something was lacking. His questioning pinpoint the issue. The Ephesians had not heard about the fulfilled promised of the Pentecost, but they had also not received ant  instruction regarding the  Jesus’ baptism. They had only received the baptism of John the Baptist.

So Paul took the opportunity to explain the gospel to them. He filled in the areas of understanding they lacked. When they had it, they received it and they were water baptized in the name of Jesus. Then Paul laid hands on them to pray that they might receive the Holy Spirit. The Ephesians demonstrated the same visible sign as the Gentiles and as the believers on the Day of Pentecost (verse 5-7). The Holy Spirit baptism in Ephesus shares common elements with all those baptized previously.

Question: What is the connection between salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit?.

TEACHING TIP: Guide your class in the discussion regarding salvation and Holy Spirit baptism.

 B.    Pentecost Experienced Again.  Acts 19:4-7

Question: How does this passage shed light on the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Similar to the Samaritan outpouring,  the Ephesians outpouring points to an experience that is subsequent to salvation. Paul clarified for them the difference of  John’s baptism from the baptism in Jesus name. John baptism for repentance was to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah- Jesus. Baptism in the name of Jesus identified people with the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was a means of publicly confessing the lordship of Jesus over their lives. John’s baptism pointed to Jesus; Jesus baptism occurred after people confessed faith in Him (Verse4). The Ephesians believers accepted this, and surrendered  themselves to Him(verse 5).

They were baptized, having confesses their faith in Jesus. After this, Paul laid hands on them to pray for them. It was at this time that they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. And once again, visible signs accompanied the outpouring. In this case the Ephesian believers were speaking in other languages, just as the believers did on the Day of Pentecost, and prophesying.

The immediacy of timing for one to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not the important issue. Rather, it is important that a person be open to receiving Him.

                                         DISCIPLESHIP IN ACTION

God’s promise is that we, our children, and “all that are afar off” might be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is a gift from Him to all. Nothing keeps a person from the gift as long as He or She is a follower of Christ: not gender, age, ethnicity, nor any factor. If you have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit, this lesson provides a wonderful opportunity to ask God, who gives to all without partiality.

Take the opportunity  to pay daily, seeking God’s guidance as well as the fulfillment of His will for you. Embrace every opportunity to cultivate close fellowship with Him. Study His word tom learn more about the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

                                           MINISTRY IN ACTION

Jesus stated that His followers would be empowered  to be His witnesses. This holds true for us today. God has called us to be His witness, and He has made available to us the greatest resources to accompanying this task: the Holy Spirit.  Commit yourself to daily ask God for divine opportunities to share the good news of Jesus as He empowers you with the Spirit.