J1Y3BK1 SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER

Lesson

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Symbols of The Holy SPirit O v e r v i e w

Bible Background

Bible Text Acts 2; Isa 4:4; Ps 72:6; Jn 7:37-39; Heb 1:9; Mt 3:16; Eph 1:13; other selected texts

The most vivid description of the Holy Spirit is during the day of Pentecost. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they (the disciples) were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:2-4) From these short verses alone, we see images of wind and fire. But we will notice that the words “aas of the rush of a mighty wind” and “as of fire” are used, meaning that the Spirit isn’t the wind or the fire. Rather, they are as close a description as humans can get to knowing what the Spirit of God is even like. The Holy Spirit is more amazing and unbelievable than what we can imagine. When believers are filled with His Spirit, it is indeed an indescribable moment. But symbols do help us understand more about God’s mysterious kingdom. Just as Jesus Christ used parables to liken the kingdom of heaven, we need tangible symbols to help us understand God’s awesome Spirit.

Bible Truth The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and He can assist us in many ways Lesson Aim To understand the various symbols that represent the Holy Spirit Memory Verse “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal 5:25)

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Spiritual Food For Thought

Even if we couldn’t accomplish this task humanly, God can help us spiritually.

About Your Students, continued

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Lk 4:18-19) These are very strong and powerful words. Many of the believers in the True Church have been filled by the promised Holy Spirit. But how many of us feel this urging by the Spirit daily in our lives, to go forth and spread the wonderful news and grace of God? Unfortunately, not many. Often, our excuse is that we don’t have the gift of speech. While that may be true, God gave us His Spirit so that we can complete His work. Even if we couldn’t accomplish this task humanly, He can help us spiritually. Even with this knowledge and understanding, why don’t we have this conviction day in and day out, to seek out those who need to hear the gospel of salvation? First, it is important to examine our spiritual lifestyle. When we want to feel connected to God, we need to have a direct line to Him. We know that He is waiting to pick up the phone everyday. But do we call and when we do, is our talk meaningful and according to His will? When our communion with the Lord Jesus takes first place in our lives, we will begin to feel the urging of the Holy Spirit guide us, even in areas that we feel we are not equipped for. We only need to allow His Spirit to do the work.

Christ. They can begin by asking themselves the following questions: l Do I pray regularly? l Do I read the Bible daily? l What exactly do I think about when I kneel down before God? l Is there something that is blocking my prayer to God? l When I pray, do I pray that the will of God be done and not my own? When the students examine their relationship with God regularly, they can remove the blockages in their lives and draw nearer to God. Then the fullness of the Holy Spirit will fill them always, not only during Spiritual Convocations (see Worksheet #3 for more details).

Preparing Your

Challenge the students to solve the following brain teasers before the lesson:

Hearts

ABLE ABLE

Covenant

T

S

R

P I LIFE

I

About Your Students

Often junior students really only take the time to pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit or the fullness of Him during Spiritual Convocations. This is because they feel motivated during the week when they have no other worldly distractions and can concentrate wholly on God and their relationship with Him. But if that pattern of highs and lows were maintained throughout their life, it would ultimately hurt their faith in the long run. Although their lives are complicated with school, family and friends, they need to regularly examine their 22 spiritual lives so that they don’t neglect their relationship with Jesus

RUBY C

Teacher’s Note This opening activity can

STAND I

VICTORY WORLD

either be enlarged, photocopied and distributed to the

Although these are meant to be fun, mention that we often make connections to things in life through symbols and pictures. Today’s lesson is about the different symbols of the Holy Spirit. Let’s see how many we know.

students or be put on the board before class begins.

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Answers: parables, ark of covenant, life in the spirit, Red Sea, I understand, victory over the world

Bible Study

Bible Study, continued

Wor ksheet #1 Symbols of the Holy Spirit We know that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. But how else can we describe what the Spirit is? Well, we know we can hear and see the Spirit in action when we pray in tongue. Many believers also claim to have experienced the warmth and movement in a variety of ways. But really, it’s very difficult to describe the Holy Spirit accurately to someone who does not have the Spirit within them. This is why there are many different symbols that represent God’s Spirit. Symbols are ways for us to understand something in more tangible terms. Below are seven symbols of the Holy Spirit found in the Bible. Do you know them all?

Teacher’s Note Before you start the Bible Study, please ask the students to refer to the Student Worksheet. Some of the information given here may not be available to the students. The information on the right can be used as reference.

Worksheets #1 and #2 are more informative than other previous worksheets. Please allow time to discuss the symbols and to involve the students as much as possible. Perhaps there could be 7 groups, each representing a symbol so that the students

1. Wind (Acts 2:2) The wind may be one of the more obvious symbols of the Holy Spirit. What are some of the properties of wind? l The wind is invisible, like the Spirit of God. We can not see it but we know it is around us (Jn 3:8). Just as when we pray, we speak in tongue and sometimes our bodies will move, indicating that we are full of His Spirit. l The wind is full of strength. During the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with the sound of a rushing mighty wind. In Acts 2:2, we can see how the downpouring of the Holy Spirit gave the apostles great power to preach the good news of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Today when the Spirit fills us, He also empowers us to do the work God has entrusted us with. l “Wind”, “breath”, and “Spirit” are all the same word in Hebrew and Greek. We know that breath sustains life. Likewise, our soul cannot live without the Spirit of God (Ezek 37:14). Just as breathing gives us life, the wind or Holy Spirit is also our breath (Ezek 37:9, 10).

l Jeremiah was moved by the Holy Spirit, who was like a burning fire within his heart (Jer 20:9). Today, we should also feel the Spirit burning within us, filling us with strength and the urge to follow the will of God. l The light of the Holy Spirit shines in us (2 Cor 4:6). Jesus Christ commanded us to let the light shine forth and not to hide it under the table (Mt 5:14-16). When the Spirit of God fills us, He should be manifested in the fruits we bear. l The Holy Spirit helps us distinguish between good and evil (1 Cor 2:10; Eph 1:17, 18). Just as fire can refine metals, the Spirit of God also strips away all impurities and evil within us so that we are less prone to sinning. He urges us to do what is good and to shun all temptations. l One of the most important properties of fire is that it can melt materials and fuse objects together. Similarly, the Holy Spirit fuses the many different believers into one body (1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:3) so that we are together in the church of Jesus Christ.

“The winds blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it

3. Rain (Ps 72:6, Zech 10:1) Rain is vital to the earth. Vegetation could not grow and we would not be able to have an abundant supply of water to drink to nourish us. l Rain waters the earth (Isa 55:10). Similarly, the Spirit of the God comes to us like rain, which waters the soil (Hos 6:3). And just as the rain allows trees, plants and crops to grow, after the downpouring of the Holy Spirit, the barren wilderness of the human heart also becomes a fruitful field which bears various fruits (Isa 32:15, 16; Gal 5:22, 23). l Rain always refreshes the thirsty, whether it is a dry field or a man stuck in the desert. The Holy Spirit also refreshes us and gives us renewed life, even when we are weary or burdened. We know that if we pray for the Holy Spirit earnestly, we will receive Him and He will assist us in times of need.

comes from and where it goes; so is every one who is born of the Spirit.” (Jn 3:8)

can present their findings to the rest of the class.

2. Fire (Isa 4:4, Acts 2:3) What are the properties of fire? It has heat and is a source of light. It can also burn and melt things away. How does fire represent the Holy Spirit? l The Holy Spirit burns away our filth (Isa 4:4). Once we have the Spirit living inside of us, He will purify and cleanse us completely so 24 that we can become holy.

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Bible Study, continued

Bible Study, continued

we can see in the following passages. l Oil is an item sanctified by God in sacrificial rites (Ex 30:25-29). It has been used for anointing prophets and kings (1 Kgs 19:16; 1 Sam 16:12). Similarly, for those believers who are used in the ministry of God today, they must be anointed by the Holy Spirit (Lk 4:18; Acts 1:4, 5, 8), that is to have the Holy Spirit before they can devote themselves to the work of the Lord Jesus. Oil has also been used to anoint priests (Ex 40:12-15). All believers today, who are anointed by the Holy Spirit are holy priests (1 Pet 2:5; Rev 1:6). Therefore, we should not forget our status as the chosen people. l Oil was a fuel for lamps in the past (Lev 24:2). Without it, a lamp would not give out light. Today, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we will radiate the light of life to all that is around us (Mt 5: 16, 25:1-13).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, “And let him who

because He has

thirsts come.

anointed me to

And whoever

preach the gospel

6. Dove (Mt 3:16) The dove has often been used to represent the Holy Spirit. Why was this bird chosen among all the other flying creatures? Probably because it is gentle and pure. God was pleased because Jesus Christ is His Son. Just as a dove is not known to hurt other creatures, the Holy Spirit is never harmful. It is gentle and meek (Mt 10:16). The Holy Spirit grants us peace, goodness, and kindness, all words that can be used to describe a dove (Gal 5:22, 23).

to the poor. He

desires, let him

Wor ksheet #2

take the water of life freely.” (Rev 22:17b)

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit (continued from Worksheet #1) 4. Water (Jn 7:37-39) Water is effective for many things. We use it everyday to wash the dishes or shower. We drink of it and use it to cook. Our lives would be severely hampered if we did not have a steady supply of water. Similarly, we need a constant stream of the Holy Spirit flowing inside of us everyday. l Water relieves those who are thirsty (Ps 104:10, 11; Jn 4:13). The Holy Spirit fulfills humanity’s spiritual thirst (Jn 4:14; Rev 22:17). Before we knew Jesus Christ, we didn’t even realize we were spiritually thirsty. But the Holy Spirit supplies us with a drink that will allow us to never thirst again. l Water washes away filth (Num 31:32, 24; Heb 10:22). In the same way, the Holy Spirit sanctifies people (Rom 15:16; 2 Thess 2:13). Water flows downward, which also teaches us the Holy Spirit will be given to those who are humble (Acts 5:32; 1 Pet 5:5). 5. Oil (Heb 1:9; 1 Jn 2:27) Oil might be a more difficult symbol to understand to represent the Holy Spirit. However, it is special and useful in the eyes of God, as

has sent me to heal the brokenhearted... to

7. Seal (Eph 1:13) A seal certifies the completion of certain important procedures (Jer 32:10). Like a contract, once it has been signed, sealed and delivered, it is like a promise that can not be broken. How does a seal represent the Holy Spirit? l The seal of the Holy Spirit proves that we belong to God (2 Tim 2:19). No one belongs to Jesus Christ without having the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9). l The seal of the Holy Spirit seals us for the day of redemption (Eph 4:30). In ancient times, written documents, authorized by a seal, were not reversible or obliterated (Est 8:8; Dan 6:15-17). The Holy Spirit guarantees our heavenly inheritance (2 Cor 5:4, 5; Eph 1:13, 14). We can be certain of God’s promise.

preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Lk 4:18-19)

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Bible Study, continued

Life Application, continued

because all barriers will be removed. As a result, we will have direct access to God. The Spirit can help us pray (Romans 8:26). For people without the Holy Spirit, it is difficult for them to kneel down and pray for even 10 minutes. After a while, they run out of things to say to God. But the Spirit intercedes for us and helps us. That’s why we can pray for half an hour to an hour and time seems to go by very quickly when we are full of God’s Spirit. He can also enable us to understand God’s word and wisdom (Eph 1:17-18). Many times, we don’t know the will of the Lord Jesus but the Spirit will reveal things to us so that our lives won’t have to be a guessing game. That is why it is important for us to regularly examine ourselves and our spiritual relationship with God. If we have the Spirit, do we have the fullness of Him? If we don’t, is there something that is preventing us from receiving Him? Read the questions below and answer them honestly. Is there something you need to be determined to strive for? Make it your goal this quarter so that you may experience the fullness of God’s Spirit working inside of you.

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Rom 8:9)

l Do

I pray regularly? I read the Bible daily? l What exactly do I think about when I kneel down before God? l Is there something that is blocking my prayer to God? If so, identify this thing and list ways you can remove it. l When I pray, do I pray that the will of God be done and not my own? How do I pray for the will of God to be done? l My goal for this quarter in improving my spiritual relationship with God is to ______________________. *Try to have every student verbalize this last statement in a prayer of understanding, lead by the teacher (but rotate around the room and have each student say their sentence) before the class is over to allow them to hear their words and commitment to their goal. l Do

Life Application

Wor ksheet #3

Teacher’s Note You may wish to give the stu-

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My Relationship with God Most mothers will tell you that the most difficult part of being pregnant is the actual birth. While birth may indeed be the climax of the gestational period, it really is only the start of a whole new journey, for both the parents and the child. Once the baby is born, the new mother and father will need to nurture the child and help him or her grow. That is a lifetime task. In fact, birth is the beginning of a new life and new relationships (Eph 2:18). In the same way, many people find it difficult to obtain the Holy Spirit. But once we have the Spirit, it is just the beginning of a whole new relationship with God. From the many symbols of the Holy Spirit, we understand that He can accomplish many things in our lives. He can bring us into God’s presence

dents time to write down their answers before it becomes a discussion for the entire class.

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Life Application, continued

Activity, continued

Activity Wor ksheet #4 Transformed! This simple activity is to remind us Jesus Christ can transform us through the Holy Spirit, into people we never thought we could be. Our relationship with Him must change and grow so that our prayers and lives are meaningful. Begin with the first word and by changing or moving only one (1) letter at a time, see if you can transform it into the bottom word. The number of steps it takes has been provided for you to give you a hint! Remember that the Holy Spirit can fill us in many ways, just as the many symbols that represent Him. Let Him work within us and transform us into worthy followers.

Conclusion Evaluation

By studying the symbols of the Holy Spirit, we can have a deeper understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and how He is related to us. The more we understand the Holy Spirit, the more we know the importance of having the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not only guarantee our heavenly inheritance in the life to come, it also helps us overcome many difficult things in this life. Having the Holy Spirit can refine us and gives us strength to work for the Lord Jesus Christ. Conclude with a prayer.

Reading Assignment for this week: Gen 36 - 38

Answers: 1. FAKE, MAKE, MALE, MEAL, REAL (4 steps) 2. HATE, HAZE, MAZE, MARE, CARE (4 steps) 3. TAKE, TAPE, GAPE, GAVE, GIVE (4 steps) 4. SEEK, SEED, FEED, FEND, FIND (4 steps)

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