Week Five

Opening Praying God, help us to experience your presence in a new way today and as we open the scriptures, help us to better understand your love for us.

Talk It Over This week as we look at the Bible and its role in our life, we introduced the idea of illumination: Understanding the meaning and application of God’s word. Illumination is powered by the Holy Spirit. In other words we need the spirit of God to light our path. -As a kid what was one of your favorite light up toys? -Are you a night person or do you prefer the daylight hours? -What are some things you enjoy about the dark? What are some things you fear or dislike about it?

Read 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 1:18 (NIV) At birth, God gave you five senses – hear, taste, touch, feel and smell. If any are missing, your life experience is limited. When you’re spiritually born again, when you become a Jesus follower, God gives you spiritual ears to hear the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will teach you… And spiritual eyes, the eyes of your heart…your new spiritual senses. The voice of the Holy Spirit can often feel like what others might describe as our intuition. -What is your experience with the Holy Spirit? -During your quiet time have you ever experienced insight or clarity around something you have struggled with in life? -If you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit regularly, share with the group how you recognize it in your life?

Read Numbers 22: 23,24,26,30, 31 (NIV) The Holy Spirit helps shed light in areas where we are stuck. Areas where we might be stubborn, slow to change, or simply just missing what is really happening. We see this Balaam’s story. In the end, he recognizes the voice of God and falls on his face in submission -What is your typical response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in your life? -Do you tend to submit, push back, ignore, wrestle? -What does it look like for you to experience a break through or illumination in your life?

Read John 14:26 (NIV); 1 Thess. 4:11 (TLB) The Holy Spirit also sheds light on our next right step. More times than not, this is not a big thing but a small- yet often difficult- series of steps. God’s desire for our life is for us to experience freedom and healing. In order to do this we need the voice of the Holy Spirit to explore what is hiding inside us. Do we need to forgive someone? Seek forgiveness? Make a change in behavior? Seek help for something? -If you have a story of the Holy Spirit leading you in a next right step, share that with the group. -How has listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit helped you in your spiritual life. -What would you do, if you knew you couldn’t fail?

(Continued on next page.) Read James 1:22; Prov. 3:5-6; 1 Cor. 9:27 (NIV)

I can cooperate with this process of illumination through my obedience, using self-discipline, and opening my heart to him.

-Obedience can open our eyes to the freedom we have as we follow him. When have you found obedience to be a difficult thing? When have you found it to be easy?

-Self-discipline can come in the form of spiritual habits or practices. Which spiritual practices are your favorites or most natural for you to add to the rhythm of your life? Do you enjoy serving, praying in a group, spending time in silence and solitude, journaling as you read God’s word?

-God is always with us. When we open our heart we typically find him. In the stress of life this can be difficult to do. In what ways can you rest in God’s presence? How do you open your heart toward God during a difficult or stressful, busy time?

Challenge One / Homework: Try to take a few minutes this week to connect with God’s love through his word. Practice the different ways God’s Holy Spirit can illuminate your path and open your heart to see him. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

Challenge Two / Homework: If you haven’t done so, Consider committing to the summer scripture reading plan we heard about this week at church. The plan was given to you in your program and can also be found on the EastLake Church app which is accessible on iPhone and Androids.

Closing Prayer Holy Spirit open our eyes to your ways and your will as we open Your Word. Illuminate our path and help us to rest in your presence each day.