Form 3 CRE Notes On The Gifts Of the Holy Spirit

Grade/Class: Form 3

Subject: CRE

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Summary

TOPIC 1: THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The teaching of Jesus on the role of the Holy Spirit
John 14:15-26, 16:5-15, Acts 1:7-8
In his farewell, Jesus assured his disciples that when he left this world, God would send them the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would play the following roles:
(i) He would act as a counselor and guide the disciples on the spiritual truth.
(ii) He would reveal to the disciples all truth about God.
(iii) He would remind the disciples everything Jesus Christ taught.
(iv) He will pronounce judgment /convict the world.
(v) He would glorify Jesus by opening the minds and hearts of people to his gospel.
(vi) He would be a companion to his disciples in all their mission and ministry.
(vii) He would strengthen the faith of the disciples and give them strength to face persecution.
(viii) He would help the disciples to understand Jesus Christ as the son of God.
(ix) He would forgive sins through the Disciples of Christ.
(x) He would empower the disciples to become Jesus Christ’s witnesses all over the world.
(xi) He would give the disciples wisdom to discern and expose the secret hearts of sinful people.
(xii) He would enable the disciples to predict future events/prophesy.

PETER MESSAGE ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST (FEAST OF WEEKS)
Acts 2:1-40
-It was one of the Je wish annual feasts which was celebrated 50 days after Passover.
- It commemorated the receiving of the Mosaic Law on Mount Sinai.
- The Jews of Palestine and those of dispersion (Diaspora) usually went to Jerusalem to celebrate this feast.
- On the day of Pentecost, the disciples of Jesus were gathered together when they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was in fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s promise to them.(Luke 24:29)

The spirit manifested himself in the form of:
(a) A strong wind
(b) Tongues of fire.
c). Disciples speaking in tongues.
(d) Peter’s empowered speech in defense of fellow disciples.
The foreigners who were gathered were able to understand what the disciples were saying in their own languages.
While some of them were amazed at what was happening. He claimed the disciples were drunk.
Peter as the disciple’s spokesman, stood up and explained what was happening. He said the following:
(i) He told the people that the disciples were not drunk.
(ii) That they were filled with the holy spirit as a fulfillment of Joel’s prophesy.
(iii) That Jesus Christ was the son of God.
(iv) That God’s power was seen in the miracles/signs/wonders performed by Jesus.
(v) That Jesus has been killed by the Jews because of their wickedness.
(vi) That God raised Jesus back to life.
(vii) Jesus was descendant of David.
(viii) That Jesus Christ ascend ended to heaven and he is at the right hand of God.
(ix) Jesus is Lord/Christ Messiah.
(x) He called the people to repent their sins so as to be forgiven.
(xi) The disciples were living witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
About 3000 people accepted Jesus Christ and were baptized on this day. This marked the birth of the Christian community.

Ways in which Peter’s life was transformed on the day of Pentecost
i. He was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
ii. He spoke in tongues.
iii. He became courageous as his faith was increased.
iv. He preached the word of God.
v. He remembered the scripture of the Old Testament.
vi. He made wise decisions.
vii. He baptized new converts.
viii. He became spokesman of other disciples.

Peter’s teaching about Jesus in the Pentecost Message.
1) Jesus was from Nazareth.
2) He had a human nature.
3) He had a divine nature (son of God and savior).
4) He was attested by God in working miracles, signs and wonders.
5) His crucifixion and death was according to God’s plan.
6) God raised him from the dead.
7) He overcame death.
8) His death and resurrection fulfilled the prophecy of David.
9) He is a descendant of David.

QUALITIES OF GOOD LEADERSHIP LEARNT FROM PETER.
i. Boldness and courage.
ii. Eloquence.
iii. Pro-activeness.
iv. Knowledgeable.
v. Defended the disciples /loyalty.
vi. Decisive.
vii. Persuasive A
viii. Faithful. Believed in Jesus Christ the Messiah
PAUL’S TEACHING ON THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1ST Corinthians 12:13:14
- Spiritual gifts are special abilities /talents given to Christians by God.
- They are acts of power which come from God.
- They all come from the same source i.e. Holy Spirit.
- They are a manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer.
- They are to be used for the services of others and for the building of the church.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit according to 1st Corinthians 12:4-11 are as follows;
(i)Wisdom
(ii) Knowledge.
(iii) Faith
(iv)Healing
(v) Performing miracles.
(vi) Prophesy.
(vii) Distinguishing spirits.
(ix) Interpreting in tongues.
The Christians in Corinth were treating some gifts as more important than the others e.g the gift of speaking in tongues was believed to the greatest and made those who had it more superior than others.
The situation was creating a division among Christians
This prompted Paul to explain the role of each of the gifts. Paul then wrote to explain.
(i) Wisdom
-The gift enables Christians to understand the truth concerning God and plan for human beings.
- It is also important to Christians while making decisions concerning issues affecting the church and the society.
(ii) KNOWLEDGE
- Helps Christians understand issues without necessarily having been taught or experienced.
(iii) Faith
- It’s about the trust Christians have in God. It helps them to face difficult challenges and also perform miracles.
(iv) Healing
It is the power to heal all forms of sicknesses in the name of Jesus Christ.
(v) Performing Miracles.
-Enables Christians to perform extra-ordinary acts including healing by the power of Jesus Christ name.
(vi) Prophesy
- Ability to receive God’s revelation and convey the message and deliver it to the people.
(vii) Distinguishing
- Ability to differentiate between the gifts of the Holy Spirit and those of the evil spirit.
(viii) Speaking in tongues.
This is the ability to speak in an unfamiliar language.
(ix) Interpretation of Tongues.
This is the ability to understand and interpret an unfamiliar language.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PROPHESY AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
1ST Corinthians 14:1-25
Paul teaches that the gift of prophesy is better than speaking in tongues because:
(i) Those who speak in tongues can’t understand by the audience who can’t interpret the message.
(ii) Those who speak in tongues communicate with God benefiting them.
(iii) Dispense the gift freely.
(iv) Produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit i.e. love, peace & kindness, joy, patience, goodness faithfulness& gentleness.
(vi) The manifestation of the Holy Spirit should conform to the teaching of the Bible/be in context of Biblical Truth.
(vii) Must be faithful to the authority of Jesus Christ.
(viii) A person who walks by the holy spirit,carousing,fornication,idolatory,licentiousness,strife,impurity,sorcery,enemity,jealous.
(ix) Lives a victorious life over temptations or works of the flesh.
(x) Do not use the gifts of the Holy Spirit for selfish gains/enrich themselves.

THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16-26
Paul teaches about other gifts that last i.e. faith, hope and love.
But the greatest is love.
Faith and love are the guiding principles of the new life of Christians.
Those that have faith in Jesus Christ do not need the law of Moses to justify them.
Those that live by the spirit through faith in Jesus Christ will produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit, i.elove, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control, joy, patience, goodness, and faithfulness.

MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CHURCHES TODAY
Galatians 5:16-26
- Praying
- Solving problems decisively.
- Faith healing
- Speaking in tongues.
- Singing and dancing for the Lord.
- Teaching/ preaching.
- Giving offertory.
- Prophetic ministry of the church i.e. condemning sins.
- Holding fellowship and bible study.
- Celebration Lord’s super.
- Bringing new converts to the church.
- Pastoral care and counsel.
- Helping the needy.
- Working together as churches.
- Writing Christian literature.
- Education and giving instructions.
- Confession of sins.

Sample questions:

1. Identify the fruit of the Holy Spirit taught by Saint Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 (2008).
2. Explain what the teaching of Jesus about the vine and branches in John 15:1-10 reveal about the unity of believers (2008)
3. Give reasons why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples after his ascension (2009).
4. State the teachings of Saint Paul on the similarities between the church and husband-wife relationship in Ephesians 5:21-32 (2009)
5. Explain ways in which Christians are able to identify those who possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit (2009),
6. State the teachings of Peter concerning the people of God (1 Peter 2:9-10)
7. Explain how Peter’s life was transformed on the day of Pentecost (2011)
8. State St. Paul’s teaching on how the gifts of the Holy Spirit should be used in the church (2011).
9. Explain how the unity of believers is expressed in the Body of Christ (2012)
10. Give reasons why the use of gifts of the Holy Spirit brought disunity in the church at Corinth (2012)
11. List of gifts of the Holy Spirits (1 Cor. 12:7-11) (2013)
12. Explain how the life of Peter was transformed on the day of Pentecost (2013)
13. Give ways in which Christians prevent divisions in the church in Kenya today (2008)
14. Explain ways through which Christians can promote unity among themselves (2010)
15. Explain ways through which kindness as a fruit of the Holy Spirit is abused in Kenya today (2010)
16. Give reasons why some Christians find it difficult to help the sick (2011)
17. Explain ways in which the Christians in Kenya demonstrate the New Testament teaching on unity (2012.

PAUL’S TEACHING ON LOVE.
-It is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
-It is the most important gift.
-It is patient and does not let down.
-It is kind.
-It is not envious.
-It is not boastful.
-It is not ill-mannered.
-It is not selfish/generous.
-It is not irritable.
-Does not keep a record of wrongs.
-It is eternal.

HOW THE USE OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BROUGHT DISUNITY IN THE CHURCH OF CORINTH.

The people who had gifts of speaking in tongues despised those who didn’t have
There was competition in speaking in tongues.
There was no interpretation of tongues and hence messages were not understood.
People didn’t show love to one another they used the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
There was disorder/ confusion in worship as people with different gifts tried to outdo one another.
People did not use their gifts for the growth/development of the church.
Gifts i.e. prophesy /teaching were looked down upon.

WAYS IN WHICH THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE MISUSED /ABUSED IN THE CHURCH TODAY.
-Some Christians pretend to have certain gift of the Holy Spirit i.e. healing, speaking in tongues, or false prophecy.
-Some ask for payment/money before healing.
-The gift of prophesy and wisdom have been abused hence leading to false interpretation of the bible.
-Unfaithful Christians impart demonic powers on innocent faithful Christians.
-Some Christians who possess the gift of the Holy Spirit develop a sense of pride.
-Some disguise themselves as persons with special powers/gifts with the intention of expel [looting innocent people.
-Some use the gifts to bring a division in the church.
-The gift of speaking in tongue is used without an interpreter and also to attract followers.
-The gift of prophesy is misused when people give false messages.
-The gift of preaching has become a commercial enterprise.
-The gift of knowledge; some use their worldly wisdom to judge others.

More Notes

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• Form 3 CRE Notes On The Gifts Of the Holy Spirit
• Form 3 CRE Notes On Unity Of Believers
• Form 3 CRE Notes On Selected Old Testament Prophets And Their Teachings
• Form 3 CRE Notes On Amos
• Form 3 CRE Notes On Jeremiah
• Form 3 CRE Notes On Nehemiah

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