From the Inside Out
A Grace Filled Life
Grace to walk in the Spirit (2|3)
Pages 170-177
John 7:37-39 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
1 Corinthians 14:29-33 (NIV) Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace —as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV) “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
What helps you trust the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudges instead of resisting them?
How does faith operate not only in receiving salvation but also in receiving the fullness of God’s promises, such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit? What does this reveal about the relationship between grace, faith, and God’s Word?
Why is wholehearted surrender essential for experiencing the fullness of the Christian life and the presence of the Holy Spirit?
What would change in our lives (and churches) if we sought God with complete surrender and expectancy?
When you pray and ask God for something (especially for more of His Spirit), do you approach Him with confidence or hesitation? What helps you trust that He delights to give good gifts to His children? (Matthew 7:11)