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The Holy Spirit - Week 4

INTRODUCTION

Open in prayer, and then read this passage of Scripture with your Group:

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you …” John 14:15-20

MAIN IDEA 

The word “spirit” is mentioned over 500 times in Scripture – Old Testament and New. The word basically means, wind, air, or breath. Living in Florida, we understand what the wind is like: unseen, unpredictable, powerful, and refreshing. The Holy Spirit is kind of like that. Although the Spirit of God is unseen, we can feel His presence. The Holy Spirit often operates in unexpected ways. His power and ability to change things is unlimited, and when the Spirit is welcomed into the atmosphere, it’s like a breath of fresh air. 

The “spirit” of something is its defining quality. So the Spirit of God is the defining quality of what God is like. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit for His disciples, and all believers and followers to come. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God that lives in us. So we can understand that when we receive the person of the Holy Spirit, the very nature and characteristics of God are alive inside of us. The Holy Spirit is a new identity that is expressed through us when we surrender our own identity to God. 

So why does that matter to us? It’s literally the power of God leading us from the inside out. It means we’re not left alone to navigate an exhausting list of “do’s” and “don’ts”. We have an internal compass that reveals the Scripture in a way that shows us the next right thing to say and do. 

Today, let’s discuss how we can receive all God has for us, by receiving the Holy Spirit.

DISCUSSION

  1. What fears or concerns have you had about the Holy Spirit?
  2. In what ways did the weekend message help you to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in your life?
  3. How have you seen the Holy Spirit work in your life? How has He empowered, guided, corrected and befriended you?
  4. In what areas do you need to release control so that you can follow the Holy Spirit and experience what God created us for?

MONDAY TEST 

  • Let it GO! Whatever fears or old misconceptions we may have about the Holy Spirit – things like unforgiveness, negative church experiences, pride, and misunderstanding – it’s time to let that go. We can choose to accept that if this gift is from God, then it is good for us. Isaiah 43:18-19
  • Ask for more! Pray and ask God for all that He has for us. If God is calling us into a deeper experience, it will require our willingness and obedience to go there. 1 Corinthians 14:1
  • Speak it out! The Holy Spirit gives supernatural life to our words. You may sense an urge to encourage someone in a specific way, or to share an insight that you know isn’t coming from you or your experience – it’s coming from the Spirit of God inside of you. You might even be willing to utter sounds and syllables to God in a language that you haven’t learned. That’s from the Spirit of God too. It bypasses your mind, and just prays out from the Holy Spirit to God the Father. Whatever expression the Lord gives you, you’ll have to choose to physically say the words. God won’t hijack your body, and do it for you. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15

THIS WEEK’S PRAYER 

Father, thank you for the friend, counselor, and helper You gave me through the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, I welcome you to shape me, guide me and empower me to live the life God created me to live. I want to get to know You more today than ever before. Lord, help me to receive all You have me. It’s in Your strong name I pray, Amen.

LEADER TIP

This week’s session is a lot about speaking out what God is saying to us. A fun activity may be to create space for each person in your Group to go to someone else and share with them an encouraging word that the Lord has put on their hearts.