July 24, 2017
The Text: Read John 14:15-21
Jesus continues to remind his disciples that he will be leaving soon and in his absence he will give the promised Holy Spirit to be their teacher, guide, and power to complete the mission.
Discuss:
1. Read the following passages highlighting the relational characteristics of the Holy Spirit.
The HS is given to those who love God and obey him.
• Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.
The HS Lives in you
•1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
The HS Marks us as God’s possession
•Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you
heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Sanctification
•2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for
you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
Teacher
•1 Corinthians 2:10-14 these are the things God has revealed to
us by his Spirit.The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 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. 12 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. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
Guide
•Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are
the children of God. Gifts to serve the church
•1 Corinthians 12:7-11 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Prayer intercessor
•Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Respond:
What have you been taught in the past regarding the Holy Spirit?
What role does the Holy Spirit currently play in your daily life?
Of the above mentioned relational functions of the Holy Spirit which one do you currently need the most?
4. How can you deepen your dependance on the Holy Spirit this week?
Prayer
God please give us your promised Spirit. That we may live in constant communion with you and in constant dependance upon your Spirit.