An In-depth Study of the Holy Spirit of Promise Workbook

By Odom Hawkins

This workbook was written for serious Bible students to go hand in hand with the book An In-depth Study of the Holy Spirit of Promise also written by this author. It challenges the reader to think about the subject matter. It's not about skimming over the surface of the Scriptures, but exercising one's thoughts, knowledge, and wisdom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odom Hawkins
• Release date: Jun 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9780985617417

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

It would seem that a study of the Holy Spirit would of necessity begin in the book of Genesis. Gen 1:1, 2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

There are many things that could be discussed from the Scriptures that will be listed for this study. However the studies in this book will focus on the Holy Spirit and things related to Him more than the other things that could be discussed. The Spirit of God was instrumental in creating all things in heaven and on earth. God spoke and the Spirit moved. Jesus was also instrumental in creation. All things were made by Him.

God is invisible. The Holy Spirit appeared in different forms at different times. Jesus was made of a woman made under the law, lived as flesh and dwelt among men. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost constitute the one God (the Godhead) and all three are referred to by various names and in different ways in the Bible.

One purpose of this book is to point out the chain of authority in spiritual matters. All authority ultimately resided in God the Father. It was reported that Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk that said, The buck stops here. That meant when problems in lower levels of government were shifted to a higher office, the process stopped when it reached his office because there was no office in government higher than his. That is the way it was with God the Father.

The Father, being the ultimate authority, sent Jesus into the world (Gal. 4:4). Jesus in turn, sent the Holy Spirit (John 15:26). The authority to send the Spirit didn’t rest entirely with Jesus. He prayed to the Father to send the Spirit (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit came teaching the apostles all things that pertain to the salvation of man (John 14:26).

The content of what the Holy Spirit taught did not originate in His mind, but originated in the Father’s mind (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:9-12). After the Spirit came upon the apostles, they were given authority to bind and loose, remit and retain (Matt. 18:18; John 20:23). Since all authority resided in the Father, Jesus was not at liberty to speak on His own (John 12:49), the Holy Spirit was restricted to speak only the things He heard from the Father (John 16:13), and the apostles could only speak the things they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20).

Jesus came down from heaven to do the will of the Father who sent Him (John 6:38). The Spirit only spoke what He was told to say. Jesus and the Holy Spirit were messengers of the Father. Of course we understand that Jesus and the Holy Spirit both demonstrated the Father’s love in different ways. Jesus gave His life to demonstrate His love. The Spirit revealed the Father’s will to the apostles, and other inspired men, and confirmed the Word with miracles, signs and wonders to demonstrate the Father’s love for mankind.

Jesus was sent down from heaven with full knowledge of His demise and the pain and suffering He would be required to endure (Matt. 20:18, 19). He was obedient to the Father’s will even to the point of enduring such mistreatment (Phil. 2:8).

The Holy Spirit was sent down from heaven with full knowledge of His mission to teach the apostles, and other inspired men, all things pertaining to salvation (John 14:26) and to empower them with the ability to confirm the Word as they went about preaching the Word (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15-20).

The chain of authority in matters pertaining to the church was changed when the Father gave all authority to Jesus (Matt. 28:18) and made Him to be head over all thing to the church (Eph. 1:22. He is now the final authority in matters of salvation.

Another purpose of this book is to point out that the Father had planned and instituted a temporary system to bring the church into existence. After Jesus ascended, the Holy Ghost revealed God’s Word to inspired men who spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).

God put His laws into their hearts and minds (Heb. 8:10). There was no possibility that an inspired person would teach a false doctrine as long as he spoke the things the Spirit revealed. The temporary system was to last only until that which is perfect came (1 Cor. 13:10). That which is perfect (complete) came when revelation of the gospel was completed and confirmed with signs, wonders and miracles. When revelation was completed and confirmed; that which was in part (the temporary system) was done away or was discontinued. There are many today who believe that part of the temporary system is still operative. Some believe the Holy Ghost continues to be given and for those who receive Him; the performance of miracles is possible today. Others believe the Holy Ghost continues to be given in a non-miraculous measure to every baptized believer. There are so many different beliefs on the Holy Ghost that it would be impossible to list them all here. However when Scriptures relating to the Holy Ghost are viewed in the same way the first century Christians would have understood them; many of the confusions and disagreements can be settled.

The lessons in this workbook have not been designed to cover a certain amount of material in a certain period of time. Teachers have the option of covering any amount of material they choose in any class period. The questions are designed to bring out some possible solutions to many of the errors that exist among the religions of the world today.

Scriptures to study for lesson (1)

Genesis 1:1-31; Luke 19:1-10; John 1:1-14; 4:21-24; 12:23-36; 14:8-9; 16:7; Acts 17:22-31; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:9; 11:27.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CREATION

QUESTIONS

1. Name three Deities involved in the creation. 1: ________________ 2: _________________ 3: _________________.

2. What name is used for the Holy Spirit in the