Introduction: The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from Heaven. The believer who receives this gift is given supernatural power to witness and serve as disciple of Jesus. Believers who receives this gift are marked by their ability to speak or pray in a language that is un known to them. This mark – or gift- is given by the Holy Spirit. This is why it is sometimes called praying n the Holy Spirit. The Bible also calls it “speaking in other tongues”( Acts 2:4). In the New Testament church, this experience was considered normal for all believers.
By praying in this language, the Christian builds up his own Christian life. He puts himself in direct and constant communion with God. This opens a gateway that enables both the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit to be worked out in the life of the believer.

Memory Work:

“ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy”. ( Acts 2: 17,18)

Study Questions and Answers

1. What happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost ( called Shabuoth in Hebrew) when they were all filled with the Holy Spirit? ( Acts 2:4)
   
   They began to speak with tongues,
   
   As the Spirit gave them utterance.
   
   Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. You have to begin with the help of the Holy Spirit to speak with your mouth the prayer language of the Holy Spirit in prayer and adoration and wonderful things of God.
   
   
2. Who preached to the people of Samaria, to believe in Jesus as Messiah?( Acts 8:12). Philip the evangelist preached to the people of Samaria.
   
   The theme of Philip the Evangelist was concerning the things of the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ. God’s kingdom is Jesus ruling in the hearts and minds of the believers. The result is righteousness, peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the name of the Son of God. His name is Jesus; for He shall save his people from their sins. Men and women, who heard Philip’s preaching were baptised in water by immersion ( total immersion).This water baptism is done in the name of the Father and of the Son Jesus and of the Holy spirit according to Jesus’s command in Matthew 28:19,20).
   
   
3. When did Peter and John came down to Samaria? What did they pray for Christians here? ( Acts 8:15) Peter and John prayed for the Christians in Samaria that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
   
   
4. How did the Christians at Samaria receive the Holy Ghost? ( Acts 8:17). The Apostles Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
   
   Here is the doctrine of laying on of hands on the believers. The Apostles laid hands on the believers who already were water baptised and were waiting for the Spirit’s baptism, another aspect of the same one baptism. There is only one baptism.
   
   
5. How did Saul of Tarsus ( Paul) receive the Holy Spirit? ( Acts 9:17). Ananias put his hands on Saul and Paul received the Holy Spirit. Ananias was a faithful disciple in the First church, he was not an apostle. Yet, God used him to lay hands on Saul and Paul received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
   
   
6. What happened to all who heard Peter preaching in the House of Cornelius? ( Acts 10:44). The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
   
   
7. How did Peter and his friends know that everyone in the house of Cornelius had received the Holy Spirit? ( Acts 10: 45-46). They heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
   
   Peter preached the Gospel of salvation in the house of Cornelius. He preached about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with power and Holy Spirit, so that He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with Him. Peter preached about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. God is not respecter of persons. He loves all.
   
   When they were hearing the preaching of the good news of Salvation, they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit. And subsequently, they were immersed in water by the Apostle. And they were born again when they believed on the name of Jesus Christ.
   
   
8. What question did Paul ask the disciples at Ephesus? ( Acts 19:2) Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?
   
   
9. When did these disciples at Ephesus receive the Holy Spirit? ( Acts 19:6) When Paul laid hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them.
   
   
10. What happened after the Holy Ghost came on these disciples? (Acts 19: 6) They spoke with tongues and prophesied.
    
    Paul received the wonderful salvation from Jesus, on the road to Damascus and he was born again. Then he fasted for three days and was praying continuously for 72 hours, since his physical eyes were blinded by the brightness of the marvellous light. Ananias was instrumental to go to his house where he prayed and when he laid hands on him, Paul’s eyes received divine healing and he received water baptism. And he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, Paul preached Jesus is the Christ, The Son of God. Many believed on Jesus.
    
    
11. How much did Paul say that he himself spoke in tongues? ( 1 Cor. 14:18) Apostle Paul spoke in tongues more than the Corinthian believers.
    
    
12. List three things that a Christian does when he speaks in an unknown tongue? ( 1. Cor. 14:2,4)
    
    
    1. he speaks to God ( not to men)
       
       
    2. in the Spirit he speaks mysteries
       
       
    3. he that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself ( edifies= comforts and revives)
       
       
13. If a Christian prays in an unknown tongue, what part of him is then praying? ( 1.Cor.14:14) If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays.
    
    
14. How Jesus say that true worshippers should worship God? ( John 4:23-24) The worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
    
    
15. How does Jude exhort Christians to build themselves up in their faith? ( Jude 20) Praying in the Spirit( the Holy Spirit), builds up ourselves in our most holy faith.
    
    
16. When a Christian speaks in an unknown tongue, what may he pray next? ( 1.Cor. 14:13). Let him that speaks in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret ( or translate).
    
    
17. In a public meeting where there is no interpreter, how may a Christian speak in an unknown tongue? ( 1 Cor. 14:28). Let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
    
    
18. Did Paul say that he wished that all Christians spoke in tongues? ( 1. Cor. 14:5) Yes. Paul wished all Christians speak in tongues.
    
    
19. How may Christians did Paul say may prophesy> ( 1 Cor.14:31) All may prophesy one by one, that all may learn.
    
    Apostle Paul provides wonderful teaching and understanding about the gift of tongues and prophesy and interpretation of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. Paul wished all believers speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence that we have received the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
    
    
20. Should Christians be ignorant about spiritual gifts? ( 1.Cor. 12:1) No. Paul would not have you ignorant.
    
    
21. List the nine gifts of the Spirit ( 1. Cor. 12:8-10)
    
    
    1. The word of wisdom
    2. The word of knowledge
    3. Faith
    4. The gifts of healings
    5. The working of miracles
    6. Prophecy
    7. Discerning of spirits
    8. Different kinds of tongues
    9. The interpretation of tongues
    
    
    
22. What is the nine fold fruit of the Spirit? ( Gal. 5:22-23)
    
    
    1. Love
    2. Joy
    3. Peace
    4. Longsuffering(patience)
    5. Gentleness
    6. Goodness
    7. Faith
    8. Meekness
    9. Temperance( self- control)
    
    
    
23. Should a Christian have spiritual gifts without spiritual fruit? ( 1 Cor. 13:1-2) No.
    
    
24. Should a Christian have spiritual fruit without spiritual gifts? ( 1 Cor. 12:31;14:1) No.
    
    
25. What are three spiritual things that will happen from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the end of this age? ( Acts 2:17)
    
    
    1. your sons and daughters shall prophesy
    2. your young men shall see visions
    3. your old men shall dream dreams
    
    
    
26. List five different spiritual gifts that a believer may use to comfort fellow believers at a meeting ( 1 Cor. 14:26)
    
    A believer can use five spiritual gifts to edify fellow believers:
    
    
    1. A psalm
    2. A teaching
    3. A tongue
    4. A revelation ( spiritual insight)
    5. An interpretation
    
    
    Nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and nine fruit of the Holy Spirit are listed in Galatians chapter 5. A Spirit filled Christian should have the gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As the end result of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Prophesy, dreams and visions are our usual experiences. In a House life group settings, a believer can edify other believers through a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, and an interpretation as the result of a consistent Spirit filled, Spirit anointed and Spirit led Spiritual victorious life.

Memory verse: Acts 2:17-18