Session 6
Third person

Ice-breaker

Describe what you understand when you speak of the 'Holy Spirit':

Discovering the Holy Spirit

We know a lot about Jesus, and a considerable amount about God. Finding out about the Holy Spirit is slightly harder work, but it's all there, in the Bible.

We first hear about the Holy Spirit in Genesis 1:1-2. He was there at creation. We then see him at work throughout the Old Testament, when his power was given to specific particular people for specific tasks. Read, for example, about Gideon in Judges 6:34.

The Holy Spirit is evident in the life and work of Jesus. It started when his mother Mary 'was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit' (Matthew 1:18). His ministry began after he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22 and 4:1,14). And it was in the power of the Holy Spirit that he did all his teaching and miracles (Acts 10:38).

The life of the early church depended on the Holy Spirit. Look at Jesus' instructions to the disciples in

Acts 1:4-8. Then see the outcome in Acts 2:1-4. From then on, the Holy Spirit transformed the new believers

and the first-century church began to thrive.

The person of the Holy Spirit

Read John 14:15-18. What does Jesus tell his disciples about the Holy Spirit?

He is the third person of the Trinity, God's presence with us, just as Jesus was God's presence on earth.

The work of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit began to work in our lives long before we became Christians. Looking back, in what ways are you aware of this?

The Holy Spirit leads us to faith and motivates us to change. John 16:8 talks oftells us that he makes him making people suddenly aware of their sin and the need for repentance.

He plays a major part in our conversion. Read John 3:1-8. Here is that familiar phrase 'born again'. What do you think it means?

The Holy Spirit helps us to change from the inside out, to become more like our role model, Jesus.

Look at Galatians 5:22-25. What are the qualities that he wants to develop in us?

This may seem impossible, but think of the changes that have already taken place in you since you became a Christian! Creating character is the work of a lifetime. Fruit grows slowly and needs to be nurtured.

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do God's work

The disciples were ordinary people just like us. Yet they took on the authorities and helped to change the world they lived in. To see what made this possible, read Acts 1:8 and Acts 4:8-13.

The Holy Spirit has certain gifts to give us, which will help God to work through us. (The fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be studied in a later session.)

In what ways have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in your own life?

Be filled with the Spirit

The teaching of the Bible is that the Spirit impacts our lives at conversion, but we need to keep asking for him to fill us, throughout our Christian lives. Look up Ephesians 5:18. In the original Greek, the sense of this passage is that we should 'keep on' being filled.

You can ask the Spirit to fill you at any time, in the quietness of your own home, at a church service, or when meeting with others. God wants to change us to be more like Jesus, and he wants to use us. So he will not refuse to give us the gift of the Spirit. Take a look at Luke 11:9-13.

What do you imagine it is like to be really thirsty? What words would you use to describe this feeling? Do you think this can also have a spiritual dimension?

Read John 7:37-39. From this passage what are the conditions (if any) for being filled with the Holy Spirit? Who should we come to? What must we do?

There is a lot to think about here. We will be looking at the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit more fully in a later session.

Your choice

The Holy Spirit is instrumental in helping us to become If you are a Christians. We now , you already have the Holy Spirit 'living inside us'. But the good news this is that is only the beginning. How thirsty are you for more of the Holy Spirit?

A sure sign of the Spirit working is that, You will find that as as God gives you more of himself through his Holy Spirit, so you will respond by wanting to give more of yourself to him.

Reflect on what you would like him to do in your life,. Remember that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to change and the power to do God's work. Then pray for the Spirit to fill you.