Encounter! Encounter! Receive Christ’s FreedomReceive Christ’s Freedom

SESSION 8SESSION 8

LIVING IN VICTORYLIVING IN VICTORY

THE FILLLING THE FILLLING OF THE SPIRITOF THE SPIRIT

Who is Holy Spirit?

• He’s the third person of the trinity• The Holy Spirit has all the attributes of a

person (1 Corinthians 2:11 (knowledge); 1 Corinthians 12:11 (will); Romans 8:27 (mind); Romans 15:30 (love); Nehemiah 9:20 (instruction) and Ephesians 4:30 (grief). Like a person, the Holy Spirit helps, searches and guides.

Who is the promise of the Spirit for?

• The promise (the gift of the Spirit) is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:39).

• The Spirit was promised to all those who believe in Jesus (John 7:37-39)

• Every Christian is born of the Spirit (John 3:3) and has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

Who is the promise of the Spirit for?

• Not every Christian is filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

• The example of a Pilot Light.

Who is the promise of the Spirit for?

• In the last days, God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18).

Don’t get caught up in terminology (e.g., Baptism or

Filling) • All Christians can come together under the

banner of eagerly desiring the Spirit’s fullness, even though not all believers label that experience in the same way.

Don’t get caught up in terminology (e.g., Baptism or

Filling) • Points in common:

– All Christians have the Spirit by virtue of being born again.

– All Christians should regularly experience a Spirit-filled life, walk in the Spirit, depend on the Spirit’s power in our behavior and witness, and be open to experiences from God’s Spirit subsequent to conversion.

The Spirit empowers us to serve

• The Spirit is given to regenerate us and make us new creatures (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14)

• The manifestation of the Spirit is given so that we might have power to testify about Christ and perform signs and wonders that support His Word (Acts 2:4-11, 31; 5:12-16...)

The Spirit empowers us to serve

• Jesus said, “...As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22).

No need to doubt God’s promise

• No need to Doubt. – He will give the Spirit to those who ask

• No need to fear – He desires the best for you.

• Even if you feel inadequate, you must remember that the promise of the Spirit is a gift.

How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

• Thirst (John 7:37, Rev. 22:17). If you are not thirsty, you can ask for a thirst.

• Come! Jesus said, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:37-39)

How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

• Ask. Jesus said, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you…. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11-13).

The Spirit manifests Himself The Spirit manifests Himself in different waysin different ways

• Some have an overwhelming sense of Some have an overwhelming sense of God’s God’s lovelove (Romans 5:5; Eph. 3:14-20) (Romans 5:5; Eph. 3:14-20)

• Some speak in tongues (Acts 8:16-18; Some speak in tongues (Acts 8:16-18; “For they heard them speaking in “For they heard them speaking in tongues tongues and praising God”(Acts 10:46). and praising God”(Acts 10:46).

• All should be All should be empoweredempowered to serve (Acts to serve (Acts 6:3-5,10).6:3-5,10).

Ministry time Ministry time (alone and as a group)(alone and as a group)

• Take some time alone, asking God to fill you Take some time alone, asking God to fill you with His Spiritwith His Spirit

• The pastor (s)/key leader (s) asks everyone The pastor (s)/key leader (s) asks everyone to repeat a prayer out loud to be filled with to repeat a prayer out loud to be filled with the Holy Spiritthe Holy Spirit

• Encounter leader (s) go around and lays Encounter leader (s) go around and lays hands on each person, asking the Holy Spirit hands on each person, asking the Holy Spirit to fill each person (another option is to ask to fill each person (another option is to ask everyone to come forward). everyone to come forward).

LIVING IN THE SPIRITLIVING IN THE SPIRIT

Being filled with the Spirit is Being filled with the Spirit is an ongoing experiencean ongoing experience

• Keep being Filled (Continuous Tense, Keep being Filled (Continuous Tense, Ephesians 5:18)Ephesians 5:18)

• Peter was Filled Repeatedly with the Spirit Peter was Filled Repeatedly with the Spirit (Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31)(Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31)– Maybe he leaked!Maybe he leaked!

No turning backNo turning back

• Getting set free is easy.Getting set free is easy.

• Staying set free is harder!Staying set free is harder!

• To a healed paralytic, Jesus said: “See, To a healed paralytic, Jesus said: “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14)(John 5:14)

• To the woman caught in adultery: “Then To the woman caught in adultery: “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)

Realize that you have an Realize that you have an enemy who hates youenemy who hates you

• “ “The thief comes only to steal and kill and The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

• Satan wants to steal your joy and ruin your Satan wants to steal your joy and ruin your life. You must stay close to Jesus. life. You must stay close to Jesus.

Hate sinHate sin• To fear the LORD is to To fear the LORD is to hatehate evil. (Proverbs evil. (Proverbs

8:13)8:13)• HateHate evil, love good. (Amos 5:15) evil, love good. (Amos 5:15)• HateHate what is evil; what is evil; clingcling to what is good. to what is good.

(Romans 12:9)(Romans 12:9)• Develop a hatred toward evil (e.g., greed, Develop a hatred toward evil (e.g., greed,

lust, resentment, etc.) because Satan uses lust, resentment, etc.) because Satan uses these things to destroy you and the ones these things to destroy you and the ones you love. you love.

• “ “As for me and my house, we will serve As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”(Joshua 24:15). the Lord”(Joshua 24:15).

Submit to GodSubmit to God

• Have you determined that you want Christ Have you determined that you want Christ to rule every area of your life (finances, to rule every area of your life (finances, family, career, thoughts & actions)? If not, family, career, thoughts & actions)? If not, do that today! do that today!

Devote yourselves to prayerDevote yourselves to prayer• “ “Devote yourselves to prayer, being Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchfulwatchful

and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:2-4) should” (Colossians 4:2-4)

• Make sure you have a daily quiet time where you Make sure you have a daily quiet time where you read the Bible, pray, and listen to God. read the Bible, pray, and listen to God.

• Quiet time versus praying without ceasing Quiet time versus praying without ceasing

Devote yourselves to prayerDevote yourselves to prayer

Quiet Time Pray without Ceasing

Receive God’s fullness

Study God’s Word Wait on God Pray about particular

matters

Maintain God’s fullness

Remember God’s Word

Walk with God Pray moment by

moment

Ministry time (reflection and Ministry time (reflection and groups of two)groups of two)

• Where are you most easily tempted or Where are you most easily tempted or sidetracked?sidetracked?

• What do you need to hate to avoid the trap of What do you need to hate to avoid the trap of these temptations?these temptations?

• Pray: Lord, I choose obedience to you in every Pray: Lord, I choose obedience to you in every area and every decision in my life.area and every decision in my life.

• Pray for your ministry partner to remain Pray for your ministry partner to remain victorious after this retreat and to remain faithful victorious after this retreat and to remain faithful to God in daily prayer and devotions to God in daily prayer and devotions