Day 4 - Week 57 - 2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

We'll continue tonight looking at the next one-third of verses in the New Testament that reference the Holy Spirit.  I'm using the NIV translation, and only picking up the verses that include the specific name "Holy Spirit" which the NIV consistently uses.   Did you look through all of the verses on yesterday's post?  Did you explore any of them to learn more of just who the Holy Spirit is and what His role is in the godhead and in our lives?  I really hope you will get into the Word and learn something new.  As I said, you should be able to click on the Bible references and you will be linked to www.biblestudytools.com which gives you all kinds of tools for deeper Bible exploration. 

OK - let's look at tonight's verses:

Acts 2:4 NIV - The Holy Spirit enables us with supernatural gifts

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:33 NIV - This is a tough one - Jesus received the Holy Spirit upon His ascension, which enabled Him to be able to dispense the Spirit to His disciples.  Have you read this verse before...how do you interpret it?

Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Acts 2:38 NIV - With repentance and baptism, Peter explains, comes forgiveness and "the gift" of the Holy Spirit.  Not gift(s)...just one singular gift...the Holy Spirit.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:8 NIV - Again, the Holy Spirit emboldens and enables those filled with extraordinary ability to proclaim the gospel

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!

Acts 4:25 NIV - Yes, the Holy Spirit was present in the Old Testament.  But people were not filled with the Spirit as we are able to be since the ascension of Christ.  In the OT, the Spirit "fell" on people at specific and special times for specific and special enabling.

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Acts 4:31 NIV - Another reference to the Holy Spirit's power, both physically evident and personally...do we limit the power of the Holy Spirit by our limited view of Him?

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 5:3 NIV - How does a person lie to the Holy Spirit?  You may want to dig into this one...

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

Acts 5:32 NIV - This is pretty cool...the Holy Spirit has witnessed everything that has taken place in the heavenly realms...firsthand...and now He lives within us.  Is it any wonder that He is the confirmer of our faith?  He is there saying..."Yes, it is true."

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Acts 6:5 NIV - Full of faith and the Holy Spirit...inseparable combination!

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

Acts 7:51 NIV - the Holy Spirit has tried to bring truth to people from the very beginning...through nature, through the prophets, through the Gospel..and people unwilling to bend to His call have always resisted.

"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Acts 7:55 NIV - The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to eternity

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

Acts 8:15 NIV - We can pray for others to receive the Holy Spirit.  Are we doing that?

When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

Acts 8:16 NIV - And how do you handle this verse?  Didn't Peter say that baptism brings with it the gift of the Holy Spirit?  What was the delay?  The KJV says that the Holy Spirit had not yet "fallen" on them.  Could it be that they had the gift, but did not know it and had not experienced it?  Could that be the case with many believing Christians?

because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 8:17 NIV - the filling?

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:19 NIV - There is no allowance for the abuse of the Holy Spirit or the powers He bestows. This section of Scripture makes it clear that the gift of the Spirit can never be used for personal gain - in the manner of personal glory or personal material gain.  What does that say about some who seem to do this very thing?

and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

Acts 9:17 NIV = Saul to Paul --- the difference?  The Holy Spirit!

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Acts 9:31 NIV - the Holy Spirit encourages the church.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Acts 10:38 NIV - Yes, Jesus also was filled with the Holy Spirit, giving Him, while He was on earth, the power of God.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Acts 10:44 NIV - The Holy Spirit not only gives the speaker's mouths their words, but He gives the hearers ears to hear!

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

Acts 10:45 NIV - the Gift of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any group of people...the only limiting factor is belief in the atoning work of Jesus Christ!

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

Acts 10:47 NIV - OK - Here's another one to ponder....these people received the Spirit prior to baptism!

"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."

Acts 11:15 NIV - Another evidence that the Holy Spirit is not limited

"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.

Acts 11:16 NIV - Peter remembers and understands...he is seeing what Jesus told him would happen...the Holy Spirit is coming to those who believe.

Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

Acts 11:24 NIV - Another coupling of Holy Spirit and faith

He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Acts 13:2 NIV - Would you say this is specific instruction given by the Holy Spirit?  What did it follow?  Worship and fasting...complete focus.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Acts 13:4 NIV - The Spirit directs....

[On Cyprus] The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Acts 13:9 NIV - Do  you want to know what Paul said?  click on the verse!  And remember, he said these words, "filled with the Holy Spirit"....

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,

Acts 13:52 NIV - I L-O-V-E this coupling... "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."  Just as we have learned that joy is one component of the fruit of the Spirit, here is evidence of just that.  Filled with joy - the Spirit brings joy!

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Are you amazed at everything we have already seen regarding the Holy Spirit.  Don't just read through these verses lightly.  Read them in context - where you don't have understanding at the beginning, study until you do.  Make your determinations as to what the Scriptures really bring to light regarding the Holy Spirit.  And remember that our key verse this week tells us to guard our faith with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us....He helps us, He lives in us.  Again, He is God.