AG ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS 22 MAY 28 2023

Lesson Bible Text:

John 14:15-18,26-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-14; Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:2-27.

Lesson Central Truth:

The Holy Spirit enables us to live for Christ and make the gospel known to the world.

• SUNDAY 28TH MAY 2023 CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH
• RADIANT LIFE (TEACHERS GUIDE) TEENS 28TH MAY 2023 TOPIC WHY THE SPIRIT CAME
• AG ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS 22 MAY 28 2023 -WHY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME (PENTECOST)

Today, we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, the day on which God poured out His Spirit on the early disciples, giving them boldness to speak for Him and changing their lives forever! Like other celebrations within the Church, it’s easy to look back as a moment in history without fully understanding its meaning for us individually or for the Church in our today. This lesson will elaborate on why did He (Holy Spirit) come. So, by the end of the study, we will articulate the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers and as well recognise the various roles the Holy Spirit fulfils in the lives of Christians. The clear work of the Holy Spirit is evidenced in the life of believers. We are in the age of power through the Holy Spirit empowerment. Be Filled With The Spirit!

1. THE SPIRIT CAME AT PENTECOST

A. The Spirit Promised – John 14:15-18

B. The Spirit’s Arrival – Acts 2:1-4.

2. THE SPIRIT HELPS BELIEVERS

A. Our Teacher And Guide – John 14:26; 16:12-14

B. Our Helper In Prayer – Roman 8:26-27.

3. THE SPIRIT CONVINCES THE WORLD

A. Testifies Of Jesus – John 15:26-27

B. Convicts And Convinced – John 16:7-11.

1. THE SPIRIT CAME AT PENTECOST

John 14:15-18; Acts 2:1-4

On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus had a long discussion with His disciples (see John 13–16). Jesus’ disciples were discouraged when they realised that Jesus wasn’t going to be with them any longer. They would feel completely lost, abandoned, orphans! So on the night before He died Jesus made some wonderful promises to His disciples – promises which we can claim just as much as they did in the Early Church! He promised them that, once He was gone, He would send them Another Helper, Another Advocate. Another Counsellor. Another Comforter (The Holy Spirit). Jesus is the first helper. The Holy Spirit is another Helper, not different to Jesus but another of the same kind as Jesus. Another Helper like Jesus, continuing the work of Jesus in our lives. John’s Gospel portrays the Holy Spirit as the personal presence of Jesus with His disciples once Jesus has ascended to the Father. But whereas Jesus was alongside us, Emmanuel, God with us. The Holy Spirit is the Helper living INSIDE us. God IN us! This is the miracle of Pentecost. God IN us.

Jesus identifies the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of truth.” This points to the essential role of the Spirit in guiding Christians into truth and exposing falsehood. Jesus noted cannot accept the Spirit because it does not know Him. Note that this refers to experiential knowledge. We come to know the Holy Spirit because the Spirit lives within us and is at work within us. Jesus also assured the disciples that He would not abandon them or leave them as orphans. In Bible times, orphans were often mistreated and sometimes even sold as slaves because they had no one to protect them. This reaffirms the truth that Jesus would never truly leave His people alone. Just as Jesus had been their Friend and Guide, the Holy Spirit would fill that role as well. Just like Jesus encouraged the disciples not to be troubled, our hearts should not be troubled because He is in us and working out everything for our good. God In Us (Holy Spirit) is the promise fulfilled. Glory!

Jesus has returned to heaven after resurrecting from the dead. He spent forty days appearing to His disciples and teaching them about the Kingdom of God. Before leaving earth, He instructed His followers to wait in Jerusalem where the Holy Spirit would come to help them (Acts 1:3-4). They obeyed, gathering in a room in the city, spending their time praying and waiting. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, the upper room of a house in Jerusalem (Acts 1:13). Pentecost is a Jewish celebration that takes place fifty days after Passover. Pentecost is from the Greek “pentekostos,” meaning “fiftieth.” Pentecost is also called the “Feast of Harvest” or “Feast of Weeks.” The Holy Spirit arrives as promised. With the sound of wind and the appearance of flaming tongues, the disciples are filled by the Spirit and speak languages they did not know beforehand. Speaking in tongues is an outward sign that someone has been filled with the Holy Spirit. Many are learning how to speak in tongues today without being filled with the Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t behave like them. We are to obey Christ’s command and seek to be filled with the Spirit. His empowerment makes the difference.

John 14:26; 16:12-14; Roman 8:26-27

Jesus stated that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will teach us all things and as well helps to understand everything we need to know to live for Christ. Holy Spirit will also helps believers to remember all that they have learned of Christ’s teachings. The teachings of God’s Word is well explained under the Holy Spirit tutorage. The Holy Spirit provides wise counsel to Christ’s followers. Are you in confusion state? Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct your mind to the right path. We need to know the Word, then trust the Spirit to bring it to mind at just the right moment. Christians face all manner of trials and difficulties. It is comforting to know that the Spirit can bring the words of Jesus and promises of Scripture to our minds. Christians today, just like the disciples, can be confident that the Spirit will never lead them down a path of destruction. We are safe with the Spirit insight and right instructions. More importantly, we bring glory to God through the various gifts of the Holy Spirit that is in operation in us.

The role of the Holy Spirit in our lives is unlimited. We become prey in the hands of enemies when the Holy Spirit is far from us. Holy is God’s presence in the lives of believers. God gives His followers the Holy Spirit so we may know Him better. Since the Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit, He knows the thoughts of God and reveals those thoughts to believers. The Holy Spirit opens believers’ eyes to the hope of salvation and their inheritance in Christ. Jesus knew that His disciples would need the power to carry out their mission to be witnesses to the entire world. Jesus told his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Christians have access to power, revelation, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, just as the Apostle Paul wrote to believers in Ephesus;

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:17-20).

We all have times when we feel weak and don’t know what to do. The Holy Spirit helps us align with God’s will by interceding for us during those times.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

When we are overwhelmed and confused to the point that we do not know how to pray, the Spirit is able to intercede for us. Note that every believer had weaknesses, and the Holy Spirit can use those weaknesses for the glory of God. So, finding strength in weakness is made possible through the Spirit. Are you weak and about to give up? There is strength for you through God’s Spirit in you. Our weaknesses may leave us powerless in our prayers, but the Spirit guides and intercedes for us. We can rely on the Spirit to guide and empower our prayers.

John 15:26-27; 16:7-11

Holy Spirit empowers believers to accomplish the Great Commission – the mandate of God to every Christian. To make more disciples for our Master is the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth.” The world needs to hear the truth of the gospel, so the Holy Spirit will teach you more about Jesus and empower you to be an effective witness for Him. It is impossible to accomplish the Great Commission without the power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit makes the difference. It’s Holy Spirit who gives Words to preachers to preach. Your preaching is powerless without the power of the Spirit. The first disciples of Jesud couldn’t accomplish the Great Commission of their Master without the empowerment of thr Hoky Spirit. As they waited at the upper room via thr instruction of their Master, they were empowered with power of God. As soon as they received the power, their lives and attitudes changed. Like Peter, a coward who denied His Master three good times was bold like lion immediately he received the power of the Holy Spirit. He was able to preach the gospel that transformed about 3,000 lives in just a day message. Note that a message without the power of the Holy Spirit is a mess. Go out there and make disciples of all nations for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is essential in convicting and convincing people of their sin. Without the Spirit’s convicting power, people would never become aware of their spiritual lost state. Note that we are not responsible for convincing the world of their sinfulness, Holy spirit does that. Our duty is to preach the Word as witnesses of Christ, but the Holy Spirit does the conviction ie the total needed change in the life of a sinner. So, preach the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. The Holy Spirit works on the hearts of unbelievers through us to convict and convince them of their sin and of the righteousness of Christ. “And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin in a way that drives us to the only One who can forgive us and save us. Through the righteousness of Christ, we are delivered from the judgement awaiting all who do not call on His Name.

Lesson Action Word

The Holy spirit was sent for the benefit of all believers. He is your most important Guide and Giver of strength in life and ministry. Father, we give You thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Lesson Prayer Point

Father, may the burning fire of Your Holy Spirit refine and renew us, so that we will never be the same. May we move in the power of the Spirit, and may our lives and ministries be infused with Your divine, supernatural touch and authority. May the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation cause us to grow in our knowledge of You in Jesus Matchless Name. Amen!

Remain blessed as you join us in our Sunday school both online and at any Assemblies Of God Church close to you as we study together under the Feet of the Master.

Share your contribution and as well ask your question from the lesson.

AG ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS 22 MAY 28 2023