HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

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1 HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT The Main Thing: God gives us the Holy Spirit so we can successfully live the Christian life. Invite your disciple to be filled with the Holy Spirit by faith, explaining who the Holy Spirit is and how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Q: What do you know about who the Holy Spirit is and what His role is in our lives? Tip: Don t feel the need to correct misconceptions at this point. As you progress through your discipleship time any misconceptions should get clarified. Read John 16:5-15 Q: List everything you learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage. A: Jesus sent the Holy Spirit after He left It is for our good that Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is our Counselor The Holy Spirit convicts The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and he guides into all truth The Holy Spirit brings glory to Jesus The Holy Spirit is God Himself (not just an idea or force) and we have a relationship with Him equal to God the Father and God the Son. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He didn t leave us alone. Instead, He sent us the Holy Spirit to indwell us, to fill us, to lead, and empower us. He did not leave us as orphans. Instead, the Holy Spirit is His constant presence with us. Tip: For further reference, you could also give them the chart below to establish this biblical framework more thoroughly. Q: If an outsider were to look at our lives, would it be obvious to them that the God of the universe indwells, leads, and empowers us? LIVING IN OUR OWN STRENGTH Read Romans 7:14-25 Q: What do you observe about Paul s tone and the way he felt? A: Paul s tone is defeat, hopelessness, despair, frustration, discouragement etc. He recognizes that the life he is living is not the life he was meant to be living. He s 1

2 experiencing a cycle of sin, defeat and frustration. Point out that there is no mention of the Holy Spirit. Q: Can you relate to how Paul was feeling? Are there specific areas in your Christian walk where this struggle is particularly strong? God cares about our character as well as our actions. Look at the following example of one command in the Bible. These were some of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples, and it s a command that applies to all of His followers. Read Matthew 28:18-20 Q: What response does this passage prompt in your heart and in your life? Do you feel able or unable? Afraid? Guilty? Excited? etc. Tip: Share what your response is to the Great Commission. If God has brought you on a journey to a greater understanding or concern for the Great Commission, then share that as well. Q: The proper response to all of Jesus commands, including His command to make disciples, is obedience. However, if we try to obey in our own strength, we will experience frustration. Have you experienced this in your own life? A: The point is to help them recognize that no matter how hard they try, they cannot overcome this cycle of defeat and frustration. LIVING BY THE SPIRIT Read Romans 8:1-8 Q: What do you observe about Paul s tone and the way he felt? A: Victory comes with the arrival of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit enters the picture, Paul s tone changes to one of hope, relief, joy, power, freedom. The key to the victorious Christian life isn t to try harder. The key is not to read the Bible more, to pray more, or to do more ministry. While those things are important, they are not going to save us. Paul tried that (chapters 6 & 7), but all it brought was defeat and frustration. Instead, the key is to be directed and empowered by God s Spirit. HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT Read Ephesians 5:18 Q: Why does Paul make a comparison between drunkenness and being filled with the Spirit? A: When we are drunk, we see the world differently. We also talk, walk, and treat others differently. We lose our inhibitions and will often do things that others consider foolish. 2

3 Similarly, being filled with the Holy Spirit changes the way we speak to others, what we talk about, and how we treat them. We are able to do things that we were once afraid to do. Q: What does it mean to be filled? A: To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with Christ. It means we are giving God control and allowing Him to direct every area of our lives, receiving power from Him to live as He has called us to live. It s like wind in a sail: the wind fills the sail and moves the boat forward. The word filled here means to be perpetually filled, not just one time, but over and over. Say: So how can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? We are filled by faith. We know that being filled with the Holy Spirit is His will, so if we pray and ask according to His will, we can have confidence we have what we ve asked for (1 John 5:14-15). SPIRITUAL BREATHING Spiritual breathing is a word picture that can help you experience moment by moment dependence upon the Spirit. Exhale: Confess your sin the moment you become aware of it: agree with God concerning it and thank Him for His forgiveness, according to 1 John 1:9. Confession requires repentance: a change in attitude and action. Inhale: Surrender control of your life to Christ, and rely upon the Holy Spirit to fill you with His presence and power by faith, according to His command (Ephesians 5:18) and promise (1 John 5:14-15). Q: How often do you breathe physically? A: Moment by moment Q: How often do we need to breathe spiritually? A: Moment by moment Q: Would you like to ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit in prayer right now? 1) Acknowledge to God that you desire to be filled 2) Confess any sin in your life 3) Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit 4) Thank Him by faith that He has filled you Tip: If you think it would be helpful for your disciple, there is a great sample prayer in the Satisifed booklet. 3

4 WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WHEN WE ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT? Read Galatians 5:22-23 Q: According to these verses, what is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit? A: He changes our character, he produces love, joy, peace, etc. Again, it isn t us working harder to become these things, but it is the Holy Spirit who produces this in our lives as we allow Him to fill us. Read Acts 1:8 Q: According to this verse, what is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit? A: The Holy Spirit enables, equips, and empowers us to live out the mission that He has given to us: to be about what He is about, which is to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He does not fill us just to make us better people. He fills us in order to equip us to be a part of His Kingdom work on campus, and around the world. Q: Earlier we talked about how it s easy to feel frustrated when it comes to sharing our faith. Practically speaking, how do you think the Holy Spirit could help us experience victory in this area? A: When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we can lead out in a conversation, trusting that the Holy Spirit will direct us, equip us, and give us the power and boldness to share Christ. Tip: Give them a copy of the Satisfied booklet for their own reference Application and Action: Surrender to the Holy Spirit and trust Him by faith that He will empower you to share the gospel with someone this week. Share the Spirit-filled life with someone this week. How did it go? Discipler click here to give your feedback, then /text your disciple this other link so they can give us their feedback too, 4

5 The Holy Spirit and His Role in Our Lives Category Description Scripture His Names Holy Spirit - He is holy Spirit of Grace - means by which we experience God s grace Spirit of Truth - abiding in us through truth and Spirit Spirit of God - presence of God Luke 11:13; John 20:22, Acts 1:5 Hebrews 10:29 John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 Isaiah 11:2 Spirit of Glory 1 Peter 4:14 Counselor/Helper - offers guidance John 14:16; 16:7 His Personhood In relationship with the Father and the Son Matthew 3:16-17; John 14:16; Acts 10:38; Isaiah 11:2 His Attributes Has a relationship with believers: revealing truth, wisdom, etc Has capacity to love, to grieve - He has emotions Has a will, he is an agent - decides to whom he apportions gifts Holy Spirit is God - Peter equates the Holy Spirit with God Romans 8:27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 15:30 1 Corinthians 12:11 Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18 Eternal Spirit Hebrews 9:14 He is everywhere - omnipresent Psalm 139:7 Searches the mind of God 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 His Works Present and involved in the creation of the world Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30 Initiates prophecy 2 Peter 1:21 Brought about the birth of Jesus Luke 1:35 Convicts us of sin - evidence of Holy Spirit at work in our lives John 16:8 Gives new life John 3:5-6 5

6 - we were once dead Helper/Counselor - leads us into truth, gives wisdom John 14:16-17; 16:7, Confirms our adoption Romans 8:15-16 Enables us to understand John 16:12-14; 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 Acts as intercessor Romans 8:26-27 Raised Jesus from the dead Romans 8:11; 1 Peter 3:18 Sends out missionaries Acts 13:4 Functions as our seal -guarantees our inheritance in heaven Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30 Lives in believers Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19 Empowers us for holy living Galatians 5:16; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:18 Empowers us for effective witness Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31, 33 Gives gifts to the church 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 6