THE KEY TO LIFE WITH GOD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." John 7:38-39 (NIV)
GOD'S GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO . . .
1. CONNECT ME TO GOD'S PRESENCE FOREVER
"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." John 14:16-18 (NIV)
". . . I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age."Matthew 28:20 (AMP)
Action Plan: Get out into nature this week and have a walking quiet time. Thank God for the natural beauty of plants, hills, coasts, and wildlife.
2. TEACH ME HOW TO KNOW GOD
"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:25-26 (NIV)
"For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us." 1 Cor. 2:11-12 (NIV)
Action Plan: Learn more about the Holy Spirit through Foundations. Click here to watch part 1, and here for part 2.
3. HE HELPS ME WALK OUT MY FAITH WITH GOD
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7 (ESV)
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" Romans 8:26 (NASB)
". . . for I am the Lord who heals you." Exodus 15:26 (NLT)
Action Plan: Memorize Romans 15:13
4. HE CONVICTS ME OF MY NEED FOR GOD
"And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world's sin is that it refuses to believe I me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged." John 16:8-11 (NLT)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NLT)
Doable Discipleship: This week's episode of Doable Discipleship features part 1 of a conversation on common Christian clichés. New episodes release every Tuesday. To watch or listen, click here.
Talk It Over: Have you ever discussed the weekend message in your small group? Talk It Over provides weekly small group discussion questions as a way to bring the weekend message into your small group. To view this week's Talk It Over, click here.
