(and other Gifts of the Holy Spirit)

A Comprehensive Bible Study

The Bible teaches that God has, at times, given people the ability to speak in a language that they had not previously known or learned. The purpose of this language or tongue is made clear to us as we study the context and background of each situation. The first account is found in Genesis 11:1-9.

In vs. 1, how many languages were on the earth?

What were the people afraid of in vs. 4?

In Genesis 9:1, what had God commanded the people to do?

Did they obey in Chapter 11?

How does God discipline the people in Genesis 11:7?

What is the purpose of tongues here in Genesis 11:1-9?

THE POURING OUT OF THE SPIRIT

In Joel 2:28 & 29, God gives a prediction to the Jewish people. What will He do for all believers (mankind)?

What will the sons and daughters of Israel do?

What will the young and old men of Israel do?

What does Romans 3:1 & 2 explain about this situation?

Should a Christian today rely on visions he has seen? (Colossians 2:18)

In Acts 2:16-18, these prophesies were fulfilled. They happened right after what great event (Acts 1:9-11)?

What is happening in Acts 2:6?

Who are these signs being given to (Acts 2:5)?

What does God tell us in 1 Corinthians 1:22?

What does Jesus tell us in Matthew 12:39 about people who look for signs?

What does 2 Corinthians 5:7 tell us?

How is faith defined in Hebrews 11:1?

How do we build our faith (Romans 10:17)?

In 1 Corinthians 14:21, we are given a quote from Isaiah 28:11. The strange tongues are the Gentile languages, but who are the people who will not listen?

In vs. 22, what kind of Jews are these languages a sign to?

In Romans 11:25, what has happened to Israel?

What age are we living in now?

BACK TO THE BOOK OF ACTS

In Acts 2:17 & 18, we saw things that happened just after Jesus left for heaven. In Acts 2:19 & 20, when do these things happen? How does this compare with Matthew 24:29-31?

How about Revelation 6:12-16?

In Acts 10:46, we see God using this sign gift again. What nationality are the people in vs. 45?

In all the preaching of the gospel and all the conversions of people coming to Christ by believing, the ONLY instances of tongues are in Acts 10:45 & 46 and Acts 19:6-8. How does this compare with 1 Corinthians 12:29?

Do "all speak with tongues"?
1 CORINTHIANS

In 1 Corinthians 14:12, what should be our goal?

Does tongues accomplish that goal (vs. 4)?

The Corinthian Christians were misusing the tongue gift and had to be corrected. In vs. 2, what happened when the gift was misused?

In vs. 28, what should be done?

What are the 4 purposes of praying with your mind in vs. 14-19?

What do you think praying with your mind means?

Is it better to pray with a tongue or with your mind?

To who?

1 Corinthians 13:8 tells us tongues will cease. What else will cease at the same time?

Who did God reveal this knowledge and prophecy to? (Ephesians 3:5)

What is their nationality? (Romans 3:1&2)

In 1 Corinthians 13:9, who do you think recorded these parts?

Who recorded the last knowledge and prophesies given to man?

In the last chapter of his book, what do you see in vs. 18 & 19?

So you think the Koran, written 500 years later gives us more knowledge and prophecy?

What about the Book of Mormon?

Nostradamus?

Do you know of any other knowledge or prophecies from God?

When did knowledge and prophecy cease?

When did tongues cease?

Some people believe that there exists a special "angelic" or "heavenly" language but this is found no where in the Bible. Angels always spoke in the language of the people. Read Acts 26:14. In the vision, what language did Jesus use?

BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

Read 2 Peter 1:3 & 4. Do you think we have everything we need?

What does 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17 tell us?

How did these Jewish apostles and prophets, who were recording the parts of knowledge and prophecy given to them by God, establish their authority? (Acts 5:12)

What had Peter just done? (vs. 1-10)

Is this happening today?

In vs. 15 happening today?

In Acts 3:1-8, without even a prayer, Peter heals this man on the street. Is this happening today?

Read Acts 19:11 & 12. Is this happening today?

In Hebrews 2:4, how did God bear witness to the apostles' authority?

How does Paul establish his apostleship in 2 Corinthians 12:12?

Read Mark 16:17-20. What is the purpose of the sign gifts in vs. 20?

Do we establish our authority today by signs or by the completed Word of God, the Bible?

In 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, we see that partial knowledge, partial prophecy, and tongues will cease at the same time, when the "perfect" comes. Since knowledge and prophecy have ceased, the perfect can only refer to one thing. What is it?

What is the "perfect" in James 1:25?

What is the "Word" compared to in vs. 23?

What is the mirror in 2 Corinthians 3:14-18?

The Corinthian Christians did not have the whole Word of God at that time. 1 Corinthians 13:12 refer to the Word of God?

SIGNS AND WONDERS

Read 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. How did these men disguise themselves?

How would a person pretend to be an apostle?

Who is REALLY behind these men?

What do they also disguise themselves as servants of?

What are they preaching in 2 Corinthians 11:4?

Satanism? New Age? Buddhism? Christianity? Jesus? Holy Spirit? Gospel?

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, what does Satan produce?

In vs. 10, are these people really studying their Bible?

In Exodus 7:8 and 8:7, Moses works three miracles; what are they?

Who does his power come from?

In vs. 7:11 & 22 and in 8:7, what happens?

Where do the magicians get their power?

Can Satan duplicate God's miracles?

In Deuteronomy 13:1-3, what is God's purpose in allowing someone to do a false sign or wonder?

Do you think that can happen today?

Read Matthew 7:22 & 23. What are these people doing?

In whose name?

Does Jesus know them?

Did He EVER know them?

Do you know anyone like that?

Will there be few or many like that?

MIRACLES TODAY

Our God is still the miracle working, all powerful God of the universe. However, the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit to establish the apostles' and prophets' authority, and the sign to the nation of Israel, that is that they had been set aside during the time of the Gentiles, is no longer operative. They ceased with the completion of the Bible. Read 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and list the 9 gifts given by the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom was the 1st gift. How do we get wisdom now? (James 1:5)

Knowledge, prophecy and tongues ceased when?

Faith used to be a gift, but how do we increase our faith today? (Romans 10:17)

We saw earlier in this study how the apostles and prophets had the gift of healing. How are people healed today? (James 5:14 & 15)

The apostles and prophets performed miracles at a moment's notice. How do we get miraculous things from God today? (Philippians 4:6)

The distinguishing of Spirits was also a gift given by the Holy Spirit. How do we distinguish Spirits today? (1John 4:1)

Some people still believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today. One reason they give is that God never changes. It is true that our GOD never changes, but He has at times, changed His dealings with mankind. Do we go to the Temple and offer sacrifices as in the Old Testament?

Were the 10 Commandments given at Creation? How many apostles were there? (Mark 3:14; Revelation 21:14)

Are there any today? Since prophecies ceased with the writing of the book of Revelation by John, are there any prophets today?

In Ephesians 4:11, what are the gifts of Christ to men today? What is their purpose in vs. 12-14?

THE HOLY SPIRIT

What did Jesus command us to do in Mark 16:15?

In Ephesians 1:13, what two things happen before we receive the Holy Spirit?

How long are we sealed? (Ephesians 4:30)

In Acts 1:8, what do we receive from the Holy Spirit?

For what purpose?

We are witnesses of the fact that God became a man, Jesus Christ. His death on the cross and 3 days in Hell paid for every sin we have ever done or will do. God the Father resurrected Jesus to show that He accepted His sacrifice. Eternal life (everlasting, can't lose it, can't give it back) is now offered as a free gift to those who know they deserve nothing but Hell. It is received by simply believing it (faith). Do you believe Jesus died for ALL your sins?

Read John 10:28. Do you have ETERNAL life?

Could you ever perish?

Can anyone (even you) snatch you out of Jesus' hand?

Is what you have eternal?

What 3 things have happened to you since you believed John 5:24? (Past, Present, Future)

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