SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 12TH JUNE 2011
TOPIC: BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT 
Memory Verse: Ephesians 5:18-19. Be filled with the spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Lesson Text: Numbers 11:10-29, Acts 2:1-17, 41-47, 4:31-35; 2 Corinthians 3;1-8; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 5:18-21
Outline:
1. Filled with the spirit.
A. Old Testament example
B. New Testament fulfillment
2. Spirit-Filled Living
A. Outward Focused
B. Fruit Bearing
3. Spirit-Filled Unity and Service
A. Practical Unity
B. Powerful Ministry
Focus
To acknowledge that it is God’s will for every Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and live in Spirit-Filled life.
Introducing the lesson 
Jesus told his followers not to leave Jerusalem until they have received his promised Holy Spirit (Acts1:4-5). He knew they would need the Holy Spirit’s power to proclaim the gospel in a hostile world. He also knew they would need the gift of the Spirit to build his church.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is still needed today to reach our world for Christ and build His church. We need to live Spirit-filled lives as evidence by unity and service.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain what it means to be filled with the Spirit, and seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
2. Describe the characteristics of living a Spirit filled life and allow the Holy Spirit to work in them to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
3. Become involved including unity by practical demonstration of Christ’s love.
SCRIPTURE SETTING
NUMBERS 11: 24 ¶ And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.
25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease
ACTS 2: 1 ¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God; I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
42 ¶ And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
2CORINTHIAN 3: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 ¶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. {giveth life: or, quickeneth}
GALATIAN 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
BIBLE COMMENTARY
1. FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
A. Old Testament Example
Numbers 11:24-29
The burden of leadership was becoming too great for Moses. God has a plan to help him. This plan involved gracious bestowing of the Holy Spirit on Seventy Men who will take some of Moses’ leadership responsibilities.
These seventy men were already leaders (Numbers 11:16). As they stood before the tabernacle, God took some of his Spirit from Moses and placed it on them (verses 24,25) when the Spirit came upon these men, they began to prophesy. The phrase “and did not cease” (verses 25), is literally ‘did not add”. It appears their prophesying was temporary, a supernatural sign that they have been divinely anointed for leadership.
For whatever reason, two of those who were chosen did not come to the tabernacle (verse 26). Yet the spirit rested on them also and they began to prophesy.
One zealous young man concerned that these men were prophesying and reported what was happening to Moses (Verse 27). Joshua wanted Moses to command them to stop (verse 28). But Moses replied in verse 29 not only gives us a glimpse into Moses’ heart, it also provides a pattern that God wants for all his people.
Question: Why does God want His people to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
What happened to these men is an Old Testament example of what God want to accomplish in the New Testament believers-to pour out his Spirit on all people. The main purpose of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is to provide power to be witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:8). But the baptism also opens the door for spiritual gifts.
Question: What are the purposes of spiritual gifts?
Spiritual gifts are for the maturing and an enablement for service. As believers in Christ manifest spiritual gifts, they strengthen each other and bring unity to the church. The church then becomes more active in ministering to the world.
B. New Testament fulfillment
Acts 2: 1-4, 16,17
In obedience to Jesus’ command, the disciples were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, waiting expectantly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1). As the Spirit came the sound of wind came and filled the room and tongues of fire rested on the heads of each one (verses2, 3). Then the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and they were filled ( verse 4)
Wind and fire were often use as symbol of God’s presence and Spirit in the Bible (see Ezekiel 37:9, 10, 14; John 3:8; Exodus 3:2; 19:18). These outward signs would help the disciples understand what was happening to them. This is the only time these signs appeared, but another sign was repeated each time people were filled with the Spirit.
The sign that confirmed that these followers of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit was their speaking “with another tongue, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4 kjv). As the Holy Spirit enabled them, these believers spoke in languages they had not learned (see verse 11.)
Some in the crowd that gathered mocked the disciples; others were curious. Peter used the opportunity to explain what they were witnessing was not a display of drunkenness or mere spiritual ecstasy. It was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (verse 16,17; Joel 28:29).
Question: How do we know speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence that someone has been filled with the Holy Spirit.
In his sermon, Peter stated that “which ye now see and hear” was evidence of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33). Throughout the book of Acts, when people were filled with the Holy Spirit the spoke in tongues (10:44-46;19:1-7). Even where speaking in tongues is not mentioned, there are indications that something supernatural took place, likely speaking in tongues (8:18, 19).
Peter said to outpouring of the Spirit was to take place in the last days (2:17).
Question: What is the relationship between the last days and the needs for the infilling of the Spirit.
When we are filled with the Spirit we are receive power to witness and ability to live holy lives. The Bible speaks of the last days as evil, difficult days. These last days require the fullness of God’s Spirit for each Christian to be Christ’s witnesses.
2. Spirit-Filled Living
A. Outward Focused
Acts 2:41-47; Ephesians 5:18-21
Some people, even Pentecostal think only about speaking in tongues when they talk about being spirit filled, but being Spirit-filled is more than that. It also includes practical daily Christian living.
The early church was growing rapidly (Acts 2:41). The apostles instructed new believers in the spiritual concerning Christ and how to live victoriously in him. As the believers studied together, they enjoined fellowship, shared meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and joined in times of prayer (verse 42).
The working of the Holy Spirit through miracles by the apostles brought a sense of awe to the church and to the people of Jerusalem (verse 43). The Holy Spirit was also working the lives of these believers as they cared for one another (verse 44, 45).
Question: Why is it important for Christian to care for one another?
Jesus said people would know who is his disciple are by the love they show one another (John 13:34,35). When we demonstrate love toward other believers, even those outside the church will notice.
Teaching tip: Have the class discuss ways believers in Christ can demonstration love one for one another.
There was great unity as the early believers continued to meet together at the temple and in various homes. The transforming work of the Holy Spirit was drawing them closer to each other. Many people of Jerusalem noticed this and were turning to Christ and joining the church. When the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives and in our churches, He will cause unity to prevail.
In writing to believers in Ephesus, the apostle Paul spoke of living a Spirit-filled life (Ephesians 5:18-21). He instructed them not to be drunk with wine, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Christians are not to seek the temporal pleasures of this world, characterized by drunkenness. Such pursuit ends in behaviour that does not honour Christ or promote spiritual maturity.
Ministering to others and to God through worship, music, and thanksgiving is another way Spirit-filled living is outward focused (verse 19). “Psalms” seems to refer to the Old Testament Psalter, which was used in Christian worship. “Hymns” were probably songs that exalted God. “Spiritual Songs” may be a term that differentiates them from secular music or it may refer to spontaneous singing in the Spirit.
The continual overflow of the Spirit in the Christian life results in “giving thanks” (verse 20). This thanksgiving is not to be expressed only in worship to God and Jesus, but in every circumstance of life.
Spirit-filled believers also recognise the importance of other believers and submit to each other in love (verse 21). Counter to the “what’s-in-it-for-me” mentality that permeates society, Spirit-filled believers are to be considerate of others in their choices. Submission is endeavouring to be like Christ who served rather than demanding to be served (see Mathew 20:28). This is motivated by reverence for God, who willingly sacrificed His son for our benefit.
B. Fruit Bearing
Galatians 5:22-25
The goal of Spirit-Filled living is Christlikeness. This is why the Spirit bears fruit in the lives of believers, for the fruit of the Spirit are, in essence, aspects of the character of Jesus.
In Galatians 5:16-25. Paul contrasted the difference between a life controlled by the flesh and by the Spirit, in verse 22 and 23, he listed the fruit of the Spirit. The nine characteristics of the Spirit’s fruit can be divided into three categories of three each. The first three have a God-ward focus. Love, joy and peace come only from our relationship with Jesus Christ and are expressed to God, other believers, and those who do not believe, Long-suffering (patience), gentleness, and goodness focus on the Christian and his relationship to others, Faith, meekness, and temperance (self-control) focus on the inner character of the Christian.
Teaching Tip: Have students give examples of ways these characteristics can be manifested in believers’ lives
Question: How can believers develop the fruit of the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit does not come from our self-efforts; it comes through our relationship with Christ (see John 15:1-17). This process starts when we come to Christ and put to death the old sinful life (Galatians 5:24). We allow the Spirit to prune our sin and habits from our lives that keep us from bearing Christ’s image. As we read the Bible each day and allow the Holy Spirit to help us obey it, our minds can be renewed to become more like Christ’s (Romans 12:1,2).
Living in the Spirit involves walking in the Spirit. The word “walk” in Galatians 5:25 refers to “conducting our lives in conformity with the Spirit”. By walking in the Spirit the fruit of the Spirit can be displayed in our lives.
