From the Inside Out
A Grace Filled Life
Grace to receive the Spirit (2|2)
Pages 152-162
John 3:8 (NIV) “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Joel 2:28 (NIV) I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
How did your own baptism (or your understanding of it) shape the way you see your relationship with Christ today?
Why do you think the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is sometimes misunderstood, overlooked, or dismissed in some Christian/Church circles?
Have you ever experienced a moment when you felt especially empowered by the Holy Spirit for service or ministry? How did that encounter deepen your sense of purpose in God’s Kingdom?
Why is intimacy with Jesus through the Holy Spirit essential for fulfilling our calling and living a transformed life? How does understanding the Spirit as a gift, not a reward, shape our walk with God?
How have you experienced the Holy Spirit strengthening or redirecting your heart toward God’s purposes?