Ignite the Flame: Enthusiastic Faith in Witness and Worship

Main Thought

God wants to empower us through His Holy Spirit! In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he lists three things that come together to characterize enthusiastic faith for God. God wants to give us power to shine, and not shrink back. Light stands out in darkness. If we walk in God’s power, then we should shine in the midst of the dark world around us. God also wants to give us a love that’s expressive and not evasive. Jesus went to the Cross as the ultimate act of love. Followers of Jesus should also be unafraid of acting in love, because clear acts of love are an opportunity to point people to Christ. Finally, God wants to give us the freedom and self-control to move in faith as He leads us. Responding to God, rejecting fear, and renouncing temptation all require self-control. If we’ll live with this enthusiastic faith, we’ll see God do incredible things in us and through us.

Main Passages

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

- 2 Timothy 1:5-7

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

- Acts 1:8

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

- 1 John 4:18

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Main Passages above?

2. Paul lists three things we can gain through the Holy Spirit: power, love, and freedom through self-control. Which of these three things do you need most in this season of your life?

3. God gives us power to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8). Can you think of one or two people who are far from God that you could engage on behalf of Christ by the end of the year? (We engage people when we share the gospel, share our testimonies, invite them to church, etc.) Pray for these people by name.

The Purpose of the Holy Spirit

Main Thought

It feels great when one solution can solve multiple problems and meet many needs. What if there was a Person who could do that? Well, there is! The Holy Spirit can meet virtually every need in our lives - especially the immaterial needs of our inner being. Love, approval, comfort, peace and more can be found in the Holy Spirit. There are also specific, spiritual needs that the Holy Spirit came to fulfill. We need someone to lead us closer to Jesus. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth about Jesus to us. He brings our faith in God to life and raises it to new levels. We need someone to help us grow in God. The Holy Spirit inspires us to pursue God in faith. When we do, He causes us to grow and become like Christ. We also need a purpose and the power to accomplish it. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome obstacles when we make Jesus known. Why not seek the Holy Spirit’s presence? We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain! Every time we make a decision that honors God (like reading our Bibles, praying,  rejecting temptation, etc.), we sow a seed toward our relationship with God. The Holy Spirit wants to show us that He can be everything we need.

Main Passages

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

- John 16:13-14

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. -

Galatians 5:16-17

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

- Galatians 6:8

Discussion Questions

1. What kinds of immaterial (mental, emotional, and spiritual) needs do we have as human beings?

2. Why do you think we turn to earthly or temporary things to meet the needs of our inner beings instead of turning to the Holy Spirit?

3. What’s one decision you can make on a regular basis to invite the Holy Spirit into your life?

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Main Thought

The Book of Joel was written during a dark time in Judah’s history. Locusts ravaged the land and created a famine. It was against this dark backdrop that God made a promise of light and hope. God promised that He’d eventually pour His Holy Spirit out to His people. God kept this promise when the Holy Spirit arrived on the Day of Pentecost (50 days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead). Today, God’s Holy Spirit is available and accessible - but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll experience Him. If we want to experience God’s promises, then we need to fulfill God’s premises. A premise is a condition that we need to meet. If we want to feel close to God, then we need to draw near to Him in faith. God wants to save, shape, and satisfy everyone who draws near to Him.

Main Passages

16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

- Acts 2:16-18, 21

6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

- Galatians 4:6-7

‘On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.'

- John 7:37-39

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought or the Main Passages above?

2. God made a lot of promises in the Bible. Which one is your favorite? Try to find it in the Bible and share it if you can.

3. Is there a promise of God that you’d like to see fulfilled in, or through, your life? If so, then is there a premise (condition) that you are responsible for meeting?

Rediscovering the Holy Spirit

Main Thought

Most Christians have heard of the Holy Spirit. A lot of people who don’t follow God or go to church might have heard of Him too. But how many people know who the Holy Spirit is, and what He came to do? How many people experience His presence? We need to rediscover the Holy Spirit! He’s not a something; He’s a Someone. We can know God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But God won’t force us to do this. The Holy Spirit isn’t forceful; He’s faithful. He’s accessible - and we can experience Him when we’re ready to pursue Him intentionally. When we do, we discover that the Holy Spirit isn’t distant; He’s intimate. We can discern the love, comfort, strength, joy, and leading of God as we draw closer and closer to Him. The Holy Spirit wants to be present in our lives - and, He wants to be transformational in our lives.

Main Passages

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

- John 14:16-18

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…

- Romans 8:15-16
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[a] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

- 2 Corinthians 3:18

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought or Main Passages above?

2. Do you feel like you’ve ever experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence? If so, how would you personally describe what that’s like?

3. What barriers might prevent you from experiencing the Holy Spirit’s presence? (Examples might include busyness, anger, doubt, unforgiveness, sin, etc.) What can you do to remove those barriers and seek the Holy Spirit in faith?