Receive the Greatest Gift
(weekly I write a five minute “doctrine talk” based on the doctrine in the passage of scripture we are studying in “People of the Promised Land 1 – Bible Study Fellowship”)
The Holy Spirit departed from Saul and came upon David.
In the Old Testament era, God gave His Holy Spirit to chosen people to enable them to perform special tasks, and God could take the Spirit away as well. We see this in Chapters 16 and 17 of 1 Samuel. We saw how God gave the Spirit to Saul and David, then took it away from Saul and gave him a different spirit to torment him. Be reminded New Testament believer…this was before the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Believers today are under the new covenant, we have the Holy Spirit abiding within forever as God’s seal that we are His children. However, Ephesians 4:30 instructs us not to grieve the Holy Spirit which in the Greek translates to “make sorrowful or offend” and 1 Thess. 5:19 says not to quench the Spirit, translated as “extinguish”. Therefore even though we can “offend” the Spirit and “extinguish the power of the Spirit, we cannot drive Him away as believers.
In John Chapter 15 the disciples were stressed about Jesus trying to tell them that he will soon leave them. He is preparing them for his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to heaven. He says in John 15:15-20
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
You were given a 3 index cards. On the blank side of each, right one word:
STRENGTH, EQUIP, EMPOWER,
These terms represent 3 key roles of the Holy Spirit.
I will read 3 verses, one at a time. See if you can guess which term represents that role of the Spirit.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. 1 Samuel 16:13
When God anointed David to be king. His Spirit powerfully can upon him
Look at your cards. Which role of the Spirit do you hear in that verse?
EQUIP- 1 Samuel 16:13
You have been called by God to serve as a BSF leader. Take a few seconds to write how you have experienced the equipping of the HS in your leadership?
Next verse:
One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” 1 Samuel 16:18
The Lord worked through David’s music to soothe Saul’s troubled soul.
The word is EMPOWER
Jot down how you see God using your gifting as you serve this class through your role?
Next verse:
The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” 1 Samuel 17:37
David faced Goliath with confidence, knowing the Lord was with him and with Israel.
The word is STRENGTHEN – 1 Samuel 17:37
What challenges are you facing in your leadership role today? Jot down a list of what to ask God in helping you preserve through that struggle.
The reason why I had you do this on three cards is because I would like for you to pick one. The one that resonated most with you. Put a star or heart on the front, tuck it in your Bible, commit to read that verse again and ask the Holy Spirit to equip, empower or strengthen you.