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Bible Study Subjects:
Millenial Man
Back to Jerusalem
The Coming King
The
Rebellious Prince
The Supreme
Sacrifice
The Law of the King
Bricks Without
Straw
The Glorious
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Witch of Endor
Cities of Ash
A River of Life
Resting the
Land
Bowing to Baylon
A Heavenly
Model
Cleansing the
Temple
A Tale of Two
Women
Windows of
Heaven
The
Daughter's Dance
Ten Times
Wiser
Voice in the
Wilderness
Proving the
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A Jar of Oil
Above the Crowd
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A Jar of Oil
Elisha
could see that the young widow was desperate. She threw herself at the
old prophet's feet and sobbed, "The creditor is coming to take my two
sons to be his slaves!" The woman's husband had died unexpectedly and
left her with a huge debt. In Bible times, a lender had a right to
repossess property and even take children as payment if a family could
not pay the bills (Job 24:9).
"What do you have in the house?" Elisha asked the distraught mother.
"I have nothing in the house but a jar of oil," she replied. Little by
little she had handed over all the furniture and valuables in her home
to the cruel creditor until nothing remained but her two boys and this
little jar of oil. Olive oil was considered a most basic essential. It
was used for lighting, heating, cooking, and healing.
Elisha told the widow and her boys to go and borrow as many empty
vessels as possible from their neighbors. They should bring them home,
shut the door, and then pour the oil from her little jar into the empty
containers. They did as Elisha instructed, and a wonderful miracle
occurred. The oil in the little jar continued to flow out until all the
vessels in the house were filled!
"What shall we do now?" the young mother asked the prophet.
"Sell the oil, pay your debt, and then you and your sons can live on the
surplus," he said. This woman and her boys left Elisha's presence
rejoicing and free because of the miracle of the oil.
The Lord wants to free you from a ruthless creditor named Satan. This
miracle will happen when He fills your cup to overflowing with His
special oil! |
 1. In
the Bible, what is symbolized by a vessel and oil?
Acts 9:15
. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen
_____________ unto me.
1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed
him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the Lord
came upon David.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
Bible teaches that God is the potter and we are the clay vessels
(Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:20, 21). Everyone is created with a
purpose. Oil is used throughout the Bible as a symbol of God's Spirit.
Pure olive oil was used to keep the lamp burning bright in the Hebrew
temple as an illustration of how His Holy Spirit illuminates our
minds. It is God's desire to fill all of His people with His Spirit
(Joel 2:28).
 2. Is
the Holy Spirit an impersonal force, or is He God?
Acts 5:3, 4
. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie
to the Holy ______? ... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto
God.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
apostle Peter declared that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God.
Furthermore, Jesus told us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19, 20), thus indicating that the Holy
Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, placed in full equality
with the Father and the Son. The Bible also states that we can grieve
the Spirit, which means that He has emotions. He is not simply an
impersonal force. In Scripture the Holy Spirit is referred to as
Comforter, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, Spirit of the
Lord, the seven Spirits of God, and simply the Spirit. All of these
titles denote personality
 3. What
is the primary work of the Holy Spirit?
John 16:13
. When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will _____ you into all
truth ... and he will shew you things to come.
John 14:26 He shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Jesus
promised to be with us always, and it is through the person of the
Holy Spirit that He is with us and in us (John 14:17).
 4. What
is the one sin that cannot be forgiven?
Matthew
12:32 . But whosoever speaketh _______ the Holy Ghost, it shall
not be forgiven.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Blasphemy
against the Holy Ghost is not a single offence, but a progressive
resistance to truth that results in a final rejection of God's will
(Hebrews 10:26, 27). The conscience is seared when a person repeatedly
opposes and neglects the impressions of the Holy Spirit until he no
longer hears His voice. Therefore, a person who has a haunting fear
that he has committed the "unpardonable sin" very likely has not.
 5. What
are some of the gifts of the Spirit a person might receive?
1
Corinthians 12:8-10 . For to one is given by the Spirit the word of
_______; to another the word of knowledge ...; To another
faith ...; to another the gifts of healing by the same
Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another
prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers
kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: When
the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, He brings different gifts. Not
everyone receives the same gifts (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). Scripture
often emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Spirit. Jesus
taught in John 3:5 that "Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Sadly, the Holy
Spirit and His work is often misunderstood. Some people are taught
that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force; others deny His influence
in people's daily affairs; and still others are taught that everyone
who is filled with the Holy Spirit must speak in tongues.
 6. Which
spiritual gift became a subject of controversy in the Corinthian
church?
1
Corinthians 14:1, 2 . Desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may
prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown _______ speaketh not unto
men, but unto God.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: As
in the days of the early Christian church, the gift of tongues has
again become a subject of confusion and controversy. Therefore we have
dedicated a large portion of this lesson to explaining what the Bible
teaches about this spiritual gift.
 7. How
did Jesus promise to help His disciples preach the gospel to all the
world?
Mark 16:17
. They shall speak with new ________.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: In
the Bible, the word "tongue" simply means "language." Jesus' disciples
were bright men, but most were uneducated. In order to help them take
the gospel to the world, Jesus promised to give them a supernatural
gift to speak foreign languages they had not formerly studied or
known.
 8. What
happened when the disciples received the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit?
Acts 2:1, 4
. And when the day of ___________ was fully come, ... they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Pentecost
was a Jewish holy day that was celebrated 50 days after Passover.
Devoted Jews from all over the world came to Jerusalem to worship.
Through His Spirit, God gave the gift of tongues at this time to
empower the disciples to share the gospel with these people in their
native languages. Those who believed then carried the good news back
to their respective countries.
 9. What
did these foreign Jews experience when the Holy Spirit was poured out?
Acts 2:11
. We do _____ them speak in our tongues the wonderful works
of God.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: It
is sometimes suggested that the gift of tongues is a "heavenly
language" understood only by God or by those with the gift of
interpretation. The Bible clearly shows that both the disciples and
those listening understood what was being preached--"the wonderful
works of God." There are only three examples of speaking in tongues
given in Scripture. We have looked at the first; now let's examine the
last two for a clearer picture of this gift.
 10. What
happened when Peter preached to Cornelius and his household?
Acts 10:44,
46 . While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all
them which heard the word. ... For they heard them speak with tongues,
and ________ God.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Cornelius
was of the Italian band (Acts 10:1), while Peter was a Jew and spoke
Aramaic. History also tells us that the servants in a Roman home could
be from anywhere in the world. Consequently, there were language
barriers at this meeting. However, when the Holy Ghost fell on
Cornelius and the members of his household, the men who accompanied
Peter could understand them speaking in languages other than their
native tongues. They heard them "magnify God" in these languages. When
later reporting this experience to church leaders in Jerusalem, Peter
said, "The Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning."
Acts 11:15, emphasis added. Cornelius and his household received the
same gift of tongues as did the disciples on the day of Pentecost.
They spoke languages that could be understood.
 11. What
happened when Paul preached to 12 Ephesian disciples?
Acts 19:6
. The Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and
_____________.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Paul,
who was the most educated and widely traveled of the apostles, spoke
many languages (1 Corinthians 14:18). When the Holy Spirit came upon
these 12 men of Ephesus, Paul and Luke could understand them
prophesying in languages they had not previously known.
 12. What
does the Bible say about speaking in a tongue that is not understood?
1
Corinthians 14:9 . Except ye utter by the tongue words _______ to be
understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?
1 Corinthians 14:19 I had rather speak five words with my
understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than
ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Paul
repeatedly explains that the purpose for a tongue (language) is to
communicate or to teach truth. A Greek word for "unknown" is not found
in any original Bible manuscripts, but was supplied by translators to
indicate that the language was foreign to the majority present. The
church at Corinth was a melting pot of many different nationalities,
and sometimes the services became confusing when members would pray,
testify, or preach in languages unknown to the others present. This is
why Paul commanded them to keep silent, if speaking in a tongue
unknown to the majority, unless someone was there to interpret (1
Corinthians 14:28). The lesson for us is that we should not speak or
pray in a tongue that others present cannot understand.
 13. What
was one of the main characteristics of ancient Babylon?
Genesis
11:7, 9 . Let us go down, and there _______ their language, that
they may not understand one another's speech. ... Therefore is
the name of it called Babel.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
tower of Babel is the place where the languages of the world were
first confounded. The Hebrew word for both Babel and Babylon is "babel,"
meaning "confusion." In Revelation 18, God calls His people out of
spiritual Babylon. One of the characteristics of spiritual Babylon is
a confusion of tongues.
 14. Does
the Spirit fill those who deliberately break God's commandments?
John
14:15-17 . If ye love me, keep my _____________. And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, ... Even the Spirit
of truth.
Acts 5:32 The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that
obey him.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: The
tremendous power of the Holy Spirit cannot dwell in those who refuse
to obey God's commandments.
 15. Paul
emphasized that we should desire which spiritual gift?
1
Corinthians 14:4, 5 . He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth
himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. ... Greater is
he that ___________ than he that speaketh with tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:12 Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual
gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: In
spite of the fact that Paul attached greater importance to the gift of
prophecy than to the gift of tongues, some are now teaching that every
person who is filled with the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues.
Out of more than 25 Bible examples of God filling His people with the
Spirit, only three times is the gift of tongues connected with it. Of
the 14 New Testament books written by the apostle Paul, he mentions
tongues in only one--1 Corinthians. Of the 27 books in the New
Testament, only three make any reference at all to speaking in
tongues.
 16. What
is the main reason why God fills people with His Spirit?
Acts 1:8
. But ye shall receive __________, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.
Acts 4:31 They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with boldness.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: God
fills us with His Spirit to give us power for witnessing!
 17. Is
it possible to tell whether or not a person has been filled with the
Holy Spirit?
Matthew
7:20 . Wherefore by their ______ ye shall know them.
Answer:
___________________________
Note: We
determine that a person has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit
not by the gifts of the Spirit, but by the fruits of the Spirit, which
are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22, 23).
 18. How
can I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Luke 11:13
. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your
children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to them that ___ him?
Answer:
___________________________
Note: Just
as Jesus had the Spirit without measure, we may ask God to fill our
vessels to overflowing, but we must first be willing to empty
ourselves by surrendering our hearts.
 19. Jesus
is waiting and yearning to pour the precious oil of the Holy Spirit
into your life. Would you like to ask Him now to take possession of
your mind and heart?
.
Answer:
___________________________
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