Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four
Part One
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.” ([bible]Colossians 1:9-10[/bible]) One of the most powerful prayers we can pray is: “Come, Holy Spirit.” It’s an invitation for Him to bring His peace, power, protection and presence into every area of our lives.
Discover
Read [bible]Joel 2:28-29[/bible]. To help get a good understanding of the passage, try to describe what is happening or being said in your own words. Take a moment to reflect and note down what stands out as important, significant or meaningful to you. What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about people? How does this passage change how we live?
Discuss
1. When you read that the Holy Spirit battled and triumphed over the creation chaos, you begin to understand that one of the most important roles of the Holy Spirit is helping us face & overcome the battles of life. Discuss.
2. What are the talents, gifts and skills that you can see have been given to you by God? ([bible]Exodus 31:1-6[/bible])
3. “I will pour out my Spirit on all people”. How have you experienced this in your life?
4. A key to experiencing the Spirit’s empowerment is our obedience. What area in your life do you need to take a “next step” of obedience?
5. How can you be praying for each other as a group for the Spirit’s power?
Respond
Every day this week take a moment to think through what is going on in life for you right now. Then pause and pray the prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Part Two
The Spirit of Jesus in us can do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine. He equips His people with complementary gifts so that His church is powerful and active. He jealously longs that we would wake up, clean up and follow Him. God, we will draw near. Come Holy Spirit.
Discover
Read [bible]John 14:15-21[/bible]. To help get a good understanding of the passage, try to describe what is happening or being said in your own words. Take a moment to reflect and note down what stands out as important, significant or meaningful to you. What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about people? How does this passage change how we live?
Discuss
1. What does it mean to you that the Spirit of Jesus, with His intense purity and loving intimacy, lives in you?
2. How have you experienced God’s Spirit standing with you helping you?
3. Read [bible]1 Corinthians 14:1[/bible]. How keenly do you want the Spirit’s gifts? Why?
4. Jesus gives each Christian complementary gifts so that together we mature to be like Him ([bible]Romans 12:4-8[/bible]). How are you using yours?
5. Describe what it looks like when our church continues Jesus’ works, or dare we say it, does even greater works by His Spirit ([bible]John 14:12[/bible]).
Respond
This coming week pray for the opportunity to take a clear step forward in seeking the Spirit’s gifts. Seek to give someone you know an encouraging, strengthening or comforting prophetic word ([bible]1 Corinthians 14:4[/bible]).
Part Three
The Spirit of Jesus in us transforms us from the inside out. He develops a Christlike capacity in us which is recognisable by the characteristics that we display. The fruit of the Spirit become evident as we relinquish self-control to the control of our Heavenly Father.
Discover
Read [bible]Galatians 5:16-26[/bible]. To help get a good understanding of the passage, try to describe what is happening or being said in your own words. Take a moment to reflect and note down what stands out as important, significant or meaningful to you. What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about people? How does this passage change how we live?
Discuss
1. How would you describe your appetite for God?
2. What is God looking for from us in order for us to grow spiritually? ([bible]John 14:14-16[/bible])
3. If our primary calling is to reflect Jesus, how do we develop that capacity? ([bible]2 Corinthians 3:16-18[/bible])
4. How do we live in such a way that creates an environment in which the Holy Spirit can transform us? ([bible]Galatians 5:24-26[/bible])
5. By choosing to continue displaying ungodly characteristics we “sell short the cross”. Discuss.
6. Share a situation where you have experienced the freedom that comes from Jesus or the fruit of the Spirit in undeniable evidence.(Gal 5:1, 18-21)
Respond
Every day this week take a moment to think through what is going on in life for you right now. Then pause and pray the prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Part Four
Pentecost was transformational in the lives of Jesus’ followers. The message of Pentecost was that the wait was over for all of Jesus’ disciples. The indwelling Holy Spirit was given to all who followed Jesus. The capacity to live a life of power and know the infilling of the Holy Spirit became a potential reality to all who sought it.
Discover
Read [bible]Acts 2:5-13[/bible]. To help get a good understanding of the passage, try to describe what is happening or being said in your own words. Take a moment to reflect and note down what stands out as important, significant or meaningful to you. What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about people? How does this passage change how we live?
Discuss
1. When the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples, they heard the sound of a violent wind and saw tongues of fire in the room where they were. Why did God use these two elements? Discuss. ([bible]Acts 2:1-4[/bible];[bible]Exodus 40:34-38[/bible])
2. This was a new season for the Holy Spirit to remain in a person rather than be given for a task and then removed. What are the implications of this change? ([bible]John 14:15-17[/bible])
3. We don’t pray, “Come Holy Spirit” because He is absent. Why do we pray this?
4. God poured out the Holy Spirit not only on people but through people to impact others. Who can you put the good news of Jesus within arms reach of this week?
5. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live lives that are conspicuously spiritual. What does that look like for you?
Respond
Spend time this week asking God to make you aware of where He is at work in your network of friends or family so that you can join Him.