The Coming of the Spirit.
1 * When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.a
2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,* and it filled the entire house in which they were.b
3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,* which parted and came to rest on each one of them.c
4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,* as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.d
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?e
8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?
16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids
I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days,
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will work wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below:
blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord,
21 and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on
the name of the Lord.’i
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(In Luke 11:9-14 we see that if we ask and look for it, we too can receive the Holy Spirit, plus in verse 14 we see another ability from the Spirit: casting out devils/demons/spirits)
9 “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.d
10 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?
12 Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
13 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit* to those who ask him?”
Jesus and Beelzebul.e
14 He was driving out a demon [that was] mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed.
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(1 Corinthians tells us that the Holy Spirit is the spirit of God, teaches us, gives us spiritual discernment comparing spiritual things with spiritual things)
1 Corinthians 2:12-14
12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.
13 And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.*
14 Now the natural person* does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually.
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(1 Corinthians 12 takes a detailed look at the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in people as evidenced by various gifts from the Holy Spirit)
1 Corinthians 12:1-12
1 Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware.
2 * You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols.a
3 Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit.b
4 * There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;c
5 there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
6 there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
7 To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
8 To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;d
9 to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
10 to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues.e
11 But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.f
One Body, Many Parts.*
12 As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.g
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(In Ephesians chapter 4 Paul tells us the Holy Spirit seals us until the day of redemption, and he urges us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, listing some examples of things that would do so)
Ephesians 4:29-32
29 No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.x
30 And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.*
31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.y
32 [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.z
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(In Luke 12:11-12 we learn that the Holy Spirit will give to us what to say in the hour that we'll need it. There's no need to worry about being brought before a court, before authorities, etc especially when witnessing for Christ Jesus because the Holy Spirit will put it in our heads and mouths what to know and say)
11 When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,g do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.
12 For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
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(The Holy Spirit is our comforter and our teacher)
John 14:26-27
26 The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you.r
27 Peace* I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.s
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(Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles by breathing on them (a previous scripture showed the Holy Spirit passed by laying on hands...interesting that Jesus merely had to breathe on them...breath being wind, wind and breath being God, Jesus being God as man), additionally they may now forgive or retain sins with the Holy Spirit)
John 20:21-23
21 * [Jesus] said to them again,l “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22 * And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,m “Receive the holy Spirit.
23 * n Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
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(When we receive the Holy Ghost the Spirit dwells within us, therefore God dwells within us after we receive the Holy Spirit)
2 Timothy 1:14
14 Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us.l
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(The Holy Spirit is truth and is one of three record bearers in heaven. That means the Holy Spirit witnesses and records everything so there is accounting of what takes place)
1 John 5:6-8
6 This is the one who came through water and blood,* Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.e
7 So there are three that testify,
8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord.f