The Authentic Christian Life TALK No. 8: LIFE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT GOAL : To stir up expectant faith and an eager desire for a greater working of God in peoples li!es through the "ol# Spirit$ %&PA'(%( O)TL*'% *$ *ntroduction a$ Our topic+ life in the "ol# Spirit+ is a !er# important topic+ ,ecause it is this kind of life that God wants for us$ -$ This life in the Spirit was normal for the earl# Christians$ The# trul# experienced the "ol# Spirit at work$ *n the ,ook of Acts+ we see the "ol# Spirit acting among them+ guiding them+ speaking to them+ gi!ing them gifts$ .$ /e need to know the "ol# Spirit not 0ust as a doctrine+ ,ut as a Person /ho trul# affects our li!es$ a$ 1ut while we know the Father and the Son+ man# do not know the ministr# of the "ol# Spirit$ ,$ The Spirits importance was stressed ,# 2esus$ 2ohn -3:4$ ,$ 5uch of Christianit# toda# looks weak+ lacking in power and effecti!eness$ -$ 1ut Christians ha!e not alwa#s ,een so lifeless$ The earl# Christian mo!ement was d#namic+ strong+ and attracti!e$ From a small sect+ it con6uered the 7oman empire$ .$ That same power is a!aila,le to us toda#$ That is the power of the "ol# Spirit$ c$ /e need to reali8e that true Christian li!ing is not 0ust a matter of human willpower+ ,ut a new heart+ a new life from God$ -$ /e cannot do it on our own steam$ *t is the "ol# Spirit /ho ena,les us to experience God+ a li!ing relationship with "im+ and "is action in our li!es$ .$ /ith the "ol# Spirit+ men gain: a$ )nion with God$ %phesians .:-9$ A new relationship with God as Father that is deep and personal$ ,$ A new nature$ . Corinthians ::-4$ /e now ha!e spiritual power for li!ing the Christian life$ c$ Power to ser!e as 2esus witnesses$ Acts -:9$ d$ God wants all men to ha!e this new life$ This new life in the "ol# Spirit is a!aila,le to all who turn awa# from a life of sin and recei!e 2esus as Lord and Sa!ior$ **$ 7ecei!ing the "ol# Spirit ;/hat does it mean<= a$ The experience of the earl# disciples$ -$ 2esus promises the "ol# Spirit$ Luke .>:>?$ Acts -:9$ .$ The disciples do as the# are told$ The# sta# in 2erusalem and wait$ @$ The da# of Pentecost ;a 2ewish holida#=$ Acts .$ a$ A$-B>$ An exciting e!ent$ 'oise like a strong wind+ fire+ speaking in tongues$ ,$ A$:B-@$ *t created a ,ig stir$ c$ A$->B.-$ Peter explained the# were not drunk ,ut that the Old Testament prophecies ;2oel= were coming true$ d$ A$..B@3$ Peter proclaims the gospel$ e$ A$@4B@?$ Peter tells them the response needed$ f$ A$>CB>-$ The disciples were transformed from frightened men into ,old+ powerful apostles$ @+CCC are con!ertedD g$ A$>.B>4$ The "ol# Spirit created ,onds of lo!e and unit# among the new Christians$ The Church was ,orn$ >$ Others as well recei!ed the "ol# Spirit$ ,$ Acts 9:->B-4 ;Samaria=$ Acts -C:>>B>3 ;Cornelius=$ Acts -?:-B3 ;%phesus=$ c$ Those who recei!ed the "ol# Spirit knew the Lord more personall# and more experientiall#$ d$ /hat does recei!ing the "ol# Spirit ;or ,eing ,apti8ed in the Spirit= mean for us toda#< -$ /e can experience the same power and gift of the Spirit that the earl# Christians did$ e$ Same relationship with 2esus$ f$ Same transforming power$ g$ Same deep worship$ h$ Same power for speaking the gospel$ -$ /e can recei!e the same spiritual gifts$ - Corinthians -.:-+>B--$ .$ A word on the gift of tongues$ i$ Tongues is a common experience with the ,aptism in the Spirit$ 2ust like in Acts$ 0$ *t is a gift from God$ Thus it is important$ k$ )nlike the other spiritual gifts+ tongues is a gift that is immediatel# manifest$ l$ Tongues can ha!e great conse6uences on ones spiritual life+ especiall# in pra#er and worship$ m$ *t is an important first step+ and is often the gatewa# to a fuller life in the Spirit$ n$ "ow can we recei!e the ,aptism in the Spirit< -$ God has promised us the "ol# Spirit$ Luke --:?B-@$ .$ So we simpl# take God up on "is promise$ /e ask our Father to gi!e us the "ol# Spirit$ /e can ,e sure we will recei!e the Spirit ,ecause God said so$ /e 0ust need to ask in faith$ o$ /hat ,eing ,apti8ed in the Spirit means for us$ -$ For Christians+ this will not ,e the initial reception of the "ol# Spirit$ /e alread# recei!ed the Spirit at 1aptism and Confirmation$ .$ 7ather+ what will ,e experienced is a fuller release of the power of the "ol# Spirit in our li!es$ @$ Gi!e a ,rief personal testimon#$ a$ Enowing God more personall#$ ,$ Pra#ing in a new wa# ;more GodBcentered+ more of thanksgi!ing and praise rather than petition+ more of listening=$ c$ The 1i,le comes to life$ d$ 1etter relationships ;with spouse+ children+ others=$ e$ A new 0o# despite pro,lems$ f$ 5uch more: peace+ answered pra#ers+ guidance+ etc$ p$ O,stacles to recei!ing Gods gifts$ -$ An unrepentant attitude$ 7efusing to admit sin as sin$ .$ Feeling unworth#$ @$ Fear$ Of what others will think+ of looking foolish+ of ,eing o!ertaken$ >$ (ou,t$ :$ Pride$ Attitude of not wanting or needing Gods gifts$ 3$ 1eing selecti!e as to what gifts we want$ ***$ /hat /e will (o in the Pra#er Session 'ext /eek a$ 5ainl#+ we will pra#$ /e will ha!e corporate pra#er+ and then the discussion group leaders will pra# with each person indi!iduall#$ ,$ /e will start the pra#ing o!er with the FCommitment to ChristF$ 1e prepared to pra# this next week$ Take time to read it through and get #ourself ,ehind the words so #ou can pra# it sincerel#$ c$ %ach of #ou should meet indi!iduall# with #our discussion group leader ,efore next weeks pra#er session$ This will ,e an opportunit# to clear up an# 6uestions and to recei!e greater clarit# on ,aptism in the "ol# Spirit$ *A$ Conclusion$ a$ One important warning: Since #ou are doing so well responding to God ;#ou ha!e finished .G@ of this CLP=+ #ou are making Satan !er# unhapp#$ "e is losing his grip+ ,ut will not gi!e up$ -$ So ,eware of temptations this week+ or irrational dou,t+ or of strange circumstances that Satan ma# pose in order to keep #ou from attending next week$ .$ 1ut do not ,e afraid$ Simpl# call on 2esus name to resist Satan and his works$ ,$ Take time also to re!iew #our intentions and expectations in this CLP$ /hat are #ou seeking< *s Gods offer clear to #ou< "ow do #ou intend to respond< c$ God offers each of #ou new life$ -$ This new life in the Spirit is the normal Christian life$ God desires it for all$ .$ 1e open to it$ 1etter #et+ desire it$ And ha!e faith that #ou will recei!e it+ ,ecause God has so promised$ CFC Singles for Christ Christian Life Program Participants Outline TALK No. 8: LIFE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT 1rief Outline *$ 5uch of Christianit# toda# looks weak and is lacking in power and effecti!eness$ a$ True Christian li!ing is not 0ust a matter of human will power+ ,ut a new heart+ a new life from God$ ,$ God wants all men to ha!e this new life$ c$ This new life in the "ol# Spirit is a!aila,le to all who recei!e 2esus as Lord and Sa!ior$ **$ /hat it means to recei!e the "ol# Spirit$ a$ This was the experience of the earl# disciples at Pentecost$ ,$ /e can experience the same power and gifts of the Spirit that the earl# Christians did$ c$ /e simpl# take God up on "is promise$ /e ask our Father to gi!e us the "ol# Spirit$ d$ This will not ,e the initial reception of the "ol# Spirit+ /hom we alread# recei!ed at ,aptism$ 7ather+ what will ,e experienced is a fuller release of the power of the "ol# Spirit in our li!es$ ***$ O,stacles to recei!ing Gods gifts: an unrepentant attitude+ feeling unworth#+ fear+ dou,t+ pride+ ,eing selecti!e$ *A$ "ow to prepare #ourself for next weeks pra#er session$ a$ "a!e an indi!idual meeting with #our facilitator during the week$ ,$ Think and pra# a,out the FCommitment to ChristF+ which we will all pra# next week$ c$ 1e aware of Satans action$ Call upon 2esus name$ (iscussion Starter Share a,out #our experience of Gods Spirit in #our life$ Scriptures for (ail# Pra#er (a# - %8ekiel @3:.:B.4 (a# : Luke --:?B-@ . 2eremiah @-:@-B@> 3 Acts -:9+.:-B-. @ 2oel @:-B: 4 - Corinthians -.:-B-- > 2ohn ->:.@B.3 The Challenge God is calling us to li!e a life of holiness and spiritual power$ For this+ God has promised us the "ol# Spirit$ /ill #ou trust in the promise of #our Father< /ill #ou accept 2esus as #our Lord and Sa!ior< /ill #ou ask for the infilling of the "ol# Spirit in #our life< Suggested reading H1apti8ed in the SpiritI ,# Stephen 1$ Clark HSpiritual GiftsI ,# Stephen 1$ Clark