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3. Your New Power Source – God’s Spirit

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TOGETHER LESSON

An amazing transformation has begun to take place since you have trusted in Christ as your Savior. You are now beginning to live the Christian life, which isn’t a standard of performance nor a code of ethics, but a vital personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Christianity is Christ!

When you run a race, such as a marathon, it is your race to win or lose. Living for Christ is different.

Just as our relationship with God is totally dependent on what God has done through Jesus Christ, so the power to live a dynamic Christian life also comes totally from God.

A computer has all the potential to do what it was created to do, but it has no power of its own.

Similarly, through your new identity in Christ, you have all the potential you need to live as a new creation in Christ. But, you must continually draw from the proper power source.

When Jesus left the earth after his resurrection, he told his disciples to wait for the “promise” he would send them from his Father.

“And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

Without him, living a life that pleases God is impossible. With him, you can do anything and everything through Christ who gives you strength through the Spirit.

Read John 7:37-39. What does Jesus promise to those who come to him?

Discover more about the Holy Spirit and his role in your life…

1. Who Is the Holy Spirit?

Even though he is invisible, the Holy Spirit is a real Person and completely God. He is addressed by several titles in the Bible – Spirit of God, Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit. We have one God in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

What do these verses say about the Holy Spirit?

  • John 14:16, 17              
  • John 16:8              
  • 2 Corinthians 3:17

When you invited Jesus Christ into your life, he actually entered your life—and will be with you forever—through the Holy Spirit living in you. You will never be alone!

2. What Is the Holy Spirit’s Role in Your Life?

To give you life. Read Ephesians 2:1-5. The Bible describes your life before Christ as being dead in your sins. Think of it as having a disease (sinfulness) that led to death (no life). Christ’s death on the cross took care of your disease; God’s grace has removed your sin from you. You are healed of the disease. Then, God’s Spirit restores life to you. What is declared about you now in Ephesians 2:5?

To give you a new beginning. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. What is declared about you? You may not always feel…or act…new. But, in God’s eyes, you are totally new!

To teach you. Read John 16:13-15. What will the Spirit do for you?

Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. What will the Spirit do for you?

To free you from sin’s power. Read Galatians 5:16. The lure of life’s pleasures and old habits will tug at you. Your own hormones and desires will crave to be filled. What freedom does the Spirit give to you?

To bring your needs to the Father. Read Romans 8:26. What is promised? How does this make you feel?

To transform you into the likeness of Christ. Read Romans 8:29 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. God’s awesome plan is to change you to become more like Jesus Christ in your character. Jesus’ Spirit living in you has begun this change, and he will continue his work throughout your life (Philippians 1:6). Is this something you desire for your life?

To produce fruit in you and through you. Read Galatians 5:22-23. These qualities of Jesus’ character will grow in your life. Which of these qualities would you most like the Spirit to begin developing in your life?

Read Acts 1:8. What else does the Spirit equip you to do?

To be a witness means to share with others what you have seen and experienced yourself.

God’s awesome plan is to transform your life into something beautiful and Christ-like. Sadly, not every believer experiences the power to live this life as God intended. Some are unaware of the treasure of the Holy Spirit living inside them. Others choose to ignore the Spirit’s work in their lives and follow their own desires instead. Living by the Spirit is a choice…

3. Living by the Spirit Is a Life of Faith

The Life-Long Battle

As long as you live on earth, you will not only have the Holy Spirit living inside you, but you will also have your own flesh still with you and its desire for self-gratification. Life will be a continual battle between the desire to do things your way—or Christ’s way.

The Answer

The Holy Spirit is a greater power than your old nature. Choosing to listen to the Spirit and follow his leading will always be the right choice!

Read Ephesians 5:18. What is the choice given?

The word “filled” means to be directed and controlled. Just as a soccer player freely chooses to let her coach direct her so she can do her best to win the game, we must choose to yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives.

The Spirit-Filled Life of Faith

Faith is how you received Christ and his Holy Spirit giving you new life. Faith is how you turn your life over to the Spirit and trust him on a daily basis. The Spirit-filled life is trusting God to produce in you the fruitful life he promised.

You must by faith yield to the Holy Spirit to control your life—recognizing your tendencies to be self-centered and then desire for Christ’s life to grow in you and overcome those selfish tendencies. Consider praying this prayer of faith,

“Dear Lord, I want you to change my life from being self-centered into one that is Christ-centered. I no longer desire to follow my sinful thoughts and actions. I give you, Holy Spirit, control of my thoughts, attitudes, words and behavior today. Fill me with yourself and show me how to live a life that pleases Christ.”

Key Question: The Spirit-filled life is one of adventure with Christ. Are you ready for the adventure? When you think of what God has done for you—and how much your God loves you—is there any other choice?

Discover more treasure: Work through your Personal Discovery Guide to review what you learned in today’s “Together Session” and discover more of the riches that are yours in your relationship with Christ.

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PERSONAL DISCOVERY GUIDE

In this lesson, you learned that when you trusted Christ…

  • God’s Spirit came to live inside you forever (you are never alone!),
  • God’s Spirit empowers you to live your new life of faith, and
  • God’s Spirit produces the character of Christ in you.

Faith is how you received Christ and his Holy Spirit giving you new life. Faith is how you turn your life over to the Spirit and trust him on a daily basis. The Spirit-filled life is trusting God to produce in you the fruitful life he promised.

Renewing Your Mind with Truth

Continue putting truth in your mind through memorizing Bible verses that are relevant to what you are learning.

  • Review Memory Verse 1 – Ephesians 2:8-9.
  • Review Memory Verse 2 – John 20:31.
  • Begin working on this week’s verse – Galatians 5:22-23.

Memory Verse 3

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Day 1 Discovery – Review “Your New Power Source – God’s Spirit”

Review these five truths. Make them part of your life as you grow in Christ. Find and read the verses listed beside each truth. Write observations of what you see and how you feel about the truth in the space given.

  • You are made alive: Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13-14.
  • You are a new creation: 2 Corinthians 5:17.
  • You can understand God’s Word: John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12.
  • You are freed from sin’s power: Read Galatians 5:16; Romans 6:11-14.
  • You are being transformed into Jesus’ likeness: Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23.

A Word of Caution

Many believers have mistaken the Holy Spirit’s power for an emotional feeling or euphoria. Sadly, when the feelings depart, they think they have lost the Spirit’s power. God’s promise is to “never leave or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Getting to Know Christ

Continue to focus on the life of Jesus as told in the gospel of Mark. Spend a few minutes each day reading the verses and reflecting on Jesus—his life, his relationships, and his teaching. As you do so, you will get to know and understand him better—this One who loves you dearly.

Day 2 Discover Jesus

Read: Mark 4:21-41. Reflect on what you read—

Day 3 Discover Jesus

Read: Mark 5:1-20. Reflect on what you read—

Day 4 Discover Jesus

Read: Mark 5:21-43. Reflect on what you read—

Day 5 Discover Jesus

Read: Mark 6:1-29. Reflect on what you read—

Days 6 & 7 Review and Ask Questions

Spend time reviewing what you have learned this week about your new life in Christ. Bring these to your Graceful Beginnings leader so she will know how to help you grow.

  • What discoveries have you made?
  • What questions do you have?

NEXT LESSON: Graceful Beginnings, Lesson 4. “Prayer — Living in the Father’s Love.”

Related Topics: Basics for Christians, Christian Life, Spiritual Life

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