Week 1 ~ Receiving the promise
Truth Verses
Luke 24:49 I am sending the promise of the Father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with the power
from on high.
Acts 2:38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so
your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to
all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.
Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Truth Story
My golf clubs were not the greatest, but then it is said that a “good workman never blames his tools”. I would look longingly at others teeing off with pristine new drivers, with one of their clubs probably worth more than all my trusty old irons put together. I had however thankfully invested in my three sons, ensuring that they had each owned a brand new set. Occasionally they'd promise, "Dad when we grow up and have money of our own we'll buy you a really good set." I'd forgotten all about their youthful promise until a recent surprise turned this casual promise into a living reality. To celebrate Fathers Day 2012, one of my big sons, flush with the remuneration of his newfound income, invested in my golf game. He gave me the gift of a lifetime - a brand new set of gleaming Ping irons in their very own Ping golf bag! The golfers among you will appreciate the value of such a gift. To the uninitiated, Ping in golf is like Mercedes is to cars.
Truth Unpacked
"Dad, how's you golf game coming on with those Pings?" My reply was a little hesitant, as I realised I hadn't played with them this season yet. With a sense of embarrassment, I replied to my son, "I do plan to get out to play a game soon." [Note to self: play at least a round per month during the golfing season.]
It is so important that when the promised gift is given, that we put it to good use. The greatest compliment to the gift-giver is not to waste the investment but to use it regularly.
The price of the Spirit of Jesus being poured out on our lives was so very costly (I Corinthians 6:19). We really need to set ourselves reminders that the promise of His presence is continually with us. Every minute of every day this inherent transforming power is at work, shaping us to be more and more like Jesus in all we say and do (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Key bible passages that encourage us to live life by this power of the Spirit are found in Galatians 5 and 1 Corinthians 12.
Therefore, as we move forward we shall be focusing initially to unpack the nine primary Jesus-like characteristics. The scriptures call these 'the fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22).
Just as sure as apple seed produce apples, so the Spirit of Jesus living in us will produce Jesus-like 'fruit' ~ Jesus-like attitudes, character and behaviour. With our Jesus-inspired example and our Holy Spirit-liberated imagination, we can now embrace the abundant life God intended for us to live every day.
Quote Those in whom the Spirit comes to live are God's new temple. They are, individually and corporately, places where heaven and earth meet (N.T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense).
Praying the Word
Thank you Lord for the promised gift of your presence indwelling my life. Lord take me and make me, mould me and shape me to be more and more like Jesus in all I think, say and do. Let me share one of your characteristics today (Exodus 34:6,7). Help me to be counterintuitive; to realise the last shall be first (Matthew 20:16), the way of greatness is the way of the servant (Mark 10:35-45) and foot-washing (John 13:1-11) and the way of non-violence trumps any sense of considering revenge or hatred (John 18:36; 19). Let me walk in the way of Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 9:2). Spirit of Jesus, I invite you to come rule and reign afresh in my thinking today (Luke 17:21). Amen.
Lectio Divina [Prayer reading]
Pray, read and reflect.
• Have those that are willing pray, asking that the Holy Spirit would help them hear His voice (John 10:27).
• Read the scriptures again.
• Then go around the room [allowing for ‘neighbour nudging’ to let people opt out should they not want to share]. Have everyone willing then reflect, acknowledging one thing they sense the Holy Spirit is saying to them as they read.
Pray, reinforce and contemplate.
• Close the connect group time by praying that the Spirit would help empower everyone to demonstrate this Jesus-like characteristic.
• Reinforce this by participating in a symbolic gesture or creative activity that does something to express our desire to further receive this gift (e.g. place a jug of water in the middle of the room, representative of the Spirit. Everyone fill a glass to symbolize the indwelling and infilling of the Spirit of Jesus empowering their life of faith ~ John 7:37-39; Isaiah 44:3; John 4:14).
• Ask everyone to contemplate; to consider how they can receive a greater infilling of the Spirit in their everyday lives.
