CFC Singles for Christ

Christian Life Program

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