CHILDREN THE PROMISE AND MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Text: John 14:16-31; 16:1-33

As Jesus was rounding off His ministry, He gathered His disciples for fellowship and to give them instructions on how to continue the work after His departure. During this time of fellowship, Jesus revealed to His disciples that He would soon be betrayed and killed. He then assured them that He would rise from the dead and go back physically to the Father in heaven. This news made the disciples sad. They were confused as to what would happen to them when their Lord goes back to heaven.
In view of this, Jesus told them that it was necessary for Him to go to prepare a place for them, but that He will still not leave them alone. He then promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to come and dwell with them. He told them that the Holy Spirit would come as the Counsellor to guide, instruct and strengthen them.
At this point, the disciples did not fully

understand this revelation about the Holy Spirit. But when the day of Pentecost came which was not long after Christ’s ascension, the Holy Ghost came as promised. All the waiting disciples received and they were not the same again. Their lives and ministry were turned around for good. They became bold in preaching the gospel, and their work witnessed supernatural growth.
The Holy Spirit is still at work in the lives of true friends of Jesus in the church even today. Are you saved and sanctified? Then it is time for you to develop the thirst for the Holy Ghost baptism. Then pray sincerely and wait for God to send the power into your life.

1. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
John 14:16-31; 16:1-7; Joel 2:28,29

One of the promises the Lord gave to His disciples before going back to the Father was, “And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” The Comforter is identified in verse 26 as the “Holy Ghost”. The Holy Spirit is indeed the Comforter that the Lord has given to abide with us for ever.
The Holy Spirit’s power was first promised in the Old Testament by Prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28)
The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Godhead, while the outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s power is the third work of grace after salvation and sanctification. When a believer receives this gift of the Holy Ghost, it is usually accompanied by initial evidence of speaking in a language not previously learned (speaking in tongues). If you are saved and sanctified, then it is time for you to earnestly pray for the Holy Ghost baptism. The promise is for you.

2. THE PURPOSE AND MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
John 14:18-26; 16:7-16; Acts 1:8; 2:37-39
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to achieve the desired purpose in the church. He guides us into all truth, comforts and quickens our mortal body, reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and judgment to come. Specifically, the Holy Spirit is given to:
a. Make sinners know that they are bad so that they can pray
for forgiveness (John 16:7-11).
b. Search the hearts to make us to be alert to differentiate between what is good and bad (1 Corinthians 2:10,11).
c. Make friends of Jesus to be filled with joy, peace and faith
even in times of trouble, trials, temptations and persecution
d. Give boldness to preach the gospel with power and
authority (Acts 1:8).
e. Give the born-again child assurance of salvation
(Romans 8:14-16).
f. Help friends of Jesus to pray well. (Romans 8:20)
g. Quicken and heal our bodies. (Romans 8:11)
h. Teach us the word of God (John 14:26).
i. He helps you to live a holy and pure life.
The Lord is ready to fulfil His promise and fill us with His Holy Ghost if we pray and meet up with the conditions attached. The baptism with the Holy Ghost is not automatic, there are important things we must do to receive.

3. PREPARATION TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT:
John 14:15-17,21-26,30,31; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4

The promised Holy Spirit is not for sinners but for saints. Jesus said, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world (sinners) cannot receive …” so, the first step the sinner must take so as to get into this blessed experience is to be born again. Repent and ask God for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus. Since the Spirit is holy, He dwells only in a clean heart. The heart must therefore be sanctified and made clean by the blood of Jesus.
Apart from these, keeping the commandments and teachings of Jesus out of a deep love for Him is very important for us to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian child needs the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you must desire to be baptized. All who fulfil the conditions should pray in faith, believing that the Lord Who has promised will fill them with the Holy Spirit. Pray now until you receive.

QUESTIONS:
1. What did Jesus promise to send to His friends? ____________
2. Did Jesus fulfil His promise? ____________________
3. Mention three things that the Holy Spirit does in the life
of Christians. ___________________________________________
4. What preparations do you need to make in order to be
filled with the Holy Spirit? _______________________________
5. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?

MEMORY VERSE: “But 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, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

LESSON: The Holy Ghost power is the only source of spiritual strength and power for all saved boys and girls.

THOUGHT: I will thirst and pray to receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost.

ACTIVITY: Teachers and children should spend time to pray for (a) salvation (b) sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism.

HOMEWORK: Children are to preach the gospel to sinners in the power of the Holy Spirit.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 152 – THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING

CHORUSES: (1) The power, the power, the Pentecostal power. (2) Send down Thy power, we pray Thee, Oh Lord. (3) Holy Ghost fire, fire fall on me.

BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meanings of these words. You can use your dictionary: 1. Ministry 2. Godhead 3. Comforter 4. Evidence 5. Sanctification.