Points to Ponder
We suggest you take the time to write out your answers to these questions and compare them to the scriptures given. Please feel free to write us with any comments or suggestions, including questions about the course or this lesson.
• What are some ways the Bible describes the Holy Spirit? (2 Timothy 1:7 2 Timothy 1:7For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
American King James Version×; Acts 2:1-4 Acts 2:1-4 [1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
American King James Version×; John 7:37-39 John 7:37-39 [37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink.
[38] He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
[39] (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
American King James Version×; John 15:26 John 15:26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:
American King James Version×).
• Did God inspire His prophets and other servants of the Old Testament with His Spirit? (Nehemiah 9:20 Nehemiah 9:20You gave also your good spirit to instruct them, and withheld not your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
American King James Version×; 2 Peter 1:20-21 2 Peter 1:20-21 [20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
[21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
American King James Version×). But did the people listen? (Nehemiah 9:30 Nehemiah 9:30Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands.
American King James Version×; Zechariah 7:11-12 Zechariah 7:11-12 [11] But they refused to listen, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
[12] Yes, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts has sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
American King James Version×).
• How does God propose to change the human heart? (Ezekiel 36:26-28 Ezekiel 36:26-28 [26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them.
[28] And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
American King James Version×; Jeremiah 31:31-34 Jeremiah 31:31-34 [31] Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
[32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was an husband to them, said the LORD:
[33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, said the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
American King James Version×).
• How vital is the Holy Spirit to our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ? (Romans 8:8-17 Romans 8:8-17 [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.
[12] Therefore, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
[13] For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
[15] For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
[16] The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
American King James Version×; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
[13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
[14] But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
American King James Version×).
• Should we ask God to guide us, through His Spirit, to rightly understand the Scriptures? (Luke 11:13 Luke 11:13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
American King James Version×; John 14:26 John 14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
American King James Version×; John 16:13 John 16:13However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
American King James Version×).
• How does the Holy Spirit make us a new creation, and what responsibility does that put on those who are being transformed? (Colossians 1:27 Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
American King James Version×; Colossians 3:9-14 Colossians 3:9-14 [9] Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;
[10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[11] Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
[12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
[13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
[14] And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.
American King James Version×; Galatians 2:20 Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
American King James Version×; Galatians 3:26-27 Galatians 3:26-27 [26] For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
American King James Version×; 2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
American King James Version×; Ephesians 4:22-24 Ephesians 4:22-24 [22] That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
[23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
[24] And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
American King James Version×).
• Whose heart and thoughts should we copy? (Philippians 2:5 Philippians 2:5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
American King James Version×).
• What fruit should God’s Spirit be producing in us? (Galatians 5:22-23 Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
American King James Version×; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 [4] Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,
[5] Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
[6] Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
[7] Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
[8] Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
American King James Version×; Psalms 5:11-12 Psalms 5:11-12 [11] But let all those that put their trust in you rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them: let them also that love your name be joyful in you.
[12] For you, LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor will you compass him as with a shield.
American King James Version×; Matthew 5:9 Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
American King James Version×; James 5:7-8 James 5:7-8 [7] Be patient therefore, brothers, to the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
[8] Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near.
American King James Version×; Romans 12:10 Romans 12:10Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
American King James Version×; Psalms 33:5 Psalms 33:5He loves righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
American King James Version×; Luke 16:10-12 Luke 16:10-12 [10] He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
[11] If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
[12] And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
American King James Version×; 2 Timothy 2:24 2 Timothy 2:24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient,
American King James Version×; Acts 24:24-25 Acts 24:24-25 [24] And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
[25] And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you.
American King James Version×).
• Does God give special gifts to those in His Church through His Spirit? (Romans 12:4-8 Romans 12:4-8 [4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
[5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
[7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching;
[8] Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
American King James Version×; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 [4] Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
[5] And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
[6] And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all.
[7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with.
American King James Version×; 1 Corinthians 13:13 1 Corinthians 13:13And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
American King James Version×).