The Spirit-filled life … like wind in your sails.

As the wind fills the sails, so the Spirit fills us, and empowers us to live a joyous and dynamic life, in a day-by-day and moment-by-moment relationship with God.

It really is possible! Because the moment a person believes in Jesus, a person is immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. By faith, a child of God. New life, new identity, new purpose, new power. The Holy Spirit means God with us and God in us, once and for all, forever. Yet, there is also a daily responsibility to “be filled with Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). There must be a daily yielding to the Holy Spirit and a fresh empowering of the Spirit in our lives.

So, where is the power today? The book of Acts records stories of incredible power, stories that make us long for that same power. Too often, the fullness of the Holy Spirit is missing in many Christians today. Historically, that longing has led to some serious theological error. As we pursue the filling of the Spirit, we must be biblically grounded in our understanding of the Holy Spirit and avoid charismatic error and excess.

Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Helper,” and we need His power. To help us resist temptation and live a godly life. To give us gifts and abilities with which to serve Him. And to empower us as confident witnesses of the Gospel. This is the true evidence of the Spirit-filled life; seen in character, service, and sharing the Gospel. February 26 – The Holy Spirit – John 14-16 March 5 – A Godly Life – Galatians 5:16-15 The Spirit-filled life … March 12 – A Gifted Servant – 1 Peter 4:10-11 like wind in your sails. March 19 – Grieving the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 4:30 March 26 – Be Filled – Ephesians 5:18 April 2 – An Empowered Witness – Acts 1:8 Date & Date & Title, Text, & Theme Title, Text, & Theme Speaker Speaker

February 26 Title – March 12 Title – Monty Text – “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever” (John Damon Text – “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s 14:23). grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV). Other Texts – Exposition of John 14, 16 | Other … Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, Galatians 4:6-7 | Other Texts – Exposition of 1 Peter 4:10-11 | Other … Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14 New life … 2 Corinthians 5:17, Titus 3:5, Galatians 2:20, John 3:6 Theme – A GIFTED SERVANT. One of the clearest evidences of being filled with the Spirit is how we serve Theme – THE HOLY SPIRIT. What Jesus said and promised about the Holy Spirit … God, especially displaying the power of our gifting. Possible angles … • Who is the Holy Spirit? What does He do? What are His activities? • Address charismatic confusion on sign gifts, theology on cessation • He helps – “the Helper” – what real, tangible, discernible difference does the HS really make in our • SHAPE, practical way to identify best way for you to serve lives? | USS Cole salvage • Ways you can serve in our church, and beyond • He indwells – distinguish between baptism (Acts 2:38, Romans 8:9) v. filling (Ephesians 5:18), • Servanthood, heart willing to serve regeneration, explain the “delay” in Acts 19 of those who received the HS later (John 7:37-39 pre-HS, • Serving > miracles, sensational experiences pre-Pentecost), refute second blessing and tongues mandate | Not only with us, but “in us.” • Spirit-filled, empowered, prompting • He teaches • Seeing God work through your occupation • He guides – John 16:13, illustration of Tenerife air disaster, when the fog is thick

Illustration/Stories – OT, Spirit shined on, NT, Spirit within | Metaphors for the HS – clothing Luke 24:49, Illustration/Stories – dove Matt 3:16, pledge Eph 1:14, fire Acts 2:3, oil Luke 4:18, seal Eph 1:13, water John 4:14, 7:38f, wind John 3:8, Acts 2:1-2 | illustration of air | the power of wind, storms, wind energy | sailing video Application/Next Step/Experience the Word – tie to IMAGE | Application/Next Step/Experience the Word – tie to IMAGE | If you believe in Jesus, YOU HAVE the Holy Spirit. You are a child of God. | Correct theology | You can live a Spirit-filled life. March 19 Title – Monty Text – “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30) Other Texts – Exposition of Ephesians 4:25-32, highlight 4:30 | Other … “do not quench” 1 Thes 5:19, March 5 Title – “Abba” Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6 Monty Text – “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16) Theme – GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT. Other Texts – Exposition of Galatians 5:16-25, focus on 5:16 | Other … Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, • We contradict who we really are, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:22, 24 James 4:8, Hebrews 2:18, Romans 8:6 “mind set,” Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:2, Acts 6:3, 11:24, 2 • We offend His holiness, Habakkuk 1:13, 1 Peter 1:15 Corinthians 10:5 | People … Luke 1:41, 4:1, Acts 13:9, Acts 4:8, Acts 6:5, Luke 1:67 • We break His heart, Genesis 6:5-6, NLT, Psalm 78:41, Isaiah 63:10 • Quench an object (1 Thes 5:19), but grieve a person (Eph 4:30) Theme – A GODLY LIFE. • We forfeit His help, list all the things we forfeit when we grieve the HS • Walk by the Spirit. It’s obvious when a person is not walking with the Spirit, and it’s obvious when a person is. Illustration/Stories – • Resist temptation, and avoid the deeds of the flesh. • Conscience, mind set on the Spirit Application/Next Step/Experience the Word – tie to IMAGE | Dread the thought of doing anything that • Fruit of the Spirit … would break His heart Illustration/Stories – Fruit proves Application/Next Step/Experience the Word – tie to IMAGE | Mind set Date & Date & Title, Text, & Theme Title, Text, & Theme Speaker Speaker

March 26 Title – April 2 Title – Monty Text – “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) Donnie Text – “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8) Other Texts – Set up from Ephesians 5:14-20 | Other … Acts 4:31, Acts 13:52 Other Texts – Acts 1:8, see “power” verses in Acts | Other … Romans 15:13 Theme – BE FILLED. • “be filled” is a command, responsibility to obey, by yielding Theme – EMPOWERED WITNESS. Confidence, boldness, fearlessness, daring • Filling v. baptism, explain theological distinction Illustration/Stories – • Warn of charismatic error and excess Application/Next Step/Experience the Word – tie to IMAGE-MISSION | How to have an empowered, • Spiritual disciplines, putting ourselves before God and allowing Him to fill us and shape us confident witness Illustration/Stories – Miracles, tongues, healings, prophecy (revelation) today?? | Bethel, charismatic extremes and chaos Application/Next Step/Experience the Word – tie to IMAGE | | How to be filled with the Spirit – through spiritual disciplines, putting ourselves before God, yielding to Him, allowing Him to fill us and shape us

RESOURCES

o Charismatic Chaos – John MacArthur o Flying Closer to the Flame – Chuck Swindoll o Forgotten God – Francis Chan o Strange Fire – John MacArthur o The Holy Spirit – Bill Bright o The Joy of Supernatural Living – Bill Bright o The Power of A Whisper – Bill Hybels o The Wonderful Spirit-filled Life – Charles Stanley