The One Behind The BookSample

Living for Jesus - An adventure with the Holy Spirit

THE STORY SO FAR...

God reveals to the entire world his amazing plan to deal with sin and restore humanity through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The power of sin is broken and death is defeated by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to over five hundred people at various times and in different places to prove he had truly risen from the dead. Jesus did this over a period of forty days and then he returned to heaven.

During his time on earth and following his resurrection, Jesus told his followers that although he was going to return to God the Father in heaven, he would not leave them
by themselves in the world. He promised that he would come to them and help them by giving them his very own Spirit (known as the Holy Spirit). In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit would come upon certain individuals like the prophets for a period of time, but now the Holy Spirit would come and live in all believers of Jesus forever! This was now possible because Jesus had taken care of the issue of sin allowing God the Holy Spirit to live in us and stay with us always.

Ten days after Jesus returned to heaven, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and filled all the believers. The Holy Spirit also gave the believers the ability to speak in ‘tongues’*. The apostles did astounding miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit and many more people started to believe in Jesus. The great news is that every single Christian receives the same Holy Spirit when they believe in Jesus! The Holy Spirit helps us every step of the way in the great adventure that is living for Jesus.

The final books of the Bible include some of Jesus’ first disciples teaching us how to live our lives for Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Bible ends with the news that the world will not always continue the way it is now. One day Jesus will come back and put all things right again. Those who have not accepted him will be forever separated from his love, but those who love him and accept him as their Lord and Saviour will live forever with him. All things will again be just as God wanted them to be. There will be no more pain, sadness, illness, disease or death. Our eternal life will be full of utter joy, happiness, complete peace and perfect love in the presence of God forever!

*Speaking in tongues is a gift from the Holy Spirit that enables believers to speak in a different human or heavenly language.

30 word recap

God sends the Holy Spirit to guide and equip every person who follows Jesus. The early Christians are reminded that one day Jesus will return to make everything right again.

Questions

1. Read John 14:15-18 and John 14:25-27. What are some of the things we learn about the Holy Spirit in these passages?
2. Read Acts 1:1-5. Why do you think Jesus told his disciples not to go anywhere until they received the Holy Spirit?
3. Read John 16:7. Why was it for our good that Jesus returned to heaven?
4. Read Acts 2:4-11. What was the result of the believers speaking in tongues on this occasion?

Personal reflection

In John 14:18 Jesus says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Can you think of a time when you felt God with you? If you can’t think of a time, why not ask God to come and help you know that he is with you.