04 | Spirit-Led
We recognize and rest upon the necessity of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit for all of life and ministry.
The Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son, whose primary ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. He also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit permanently indwells, graciously sanctifies, lovingly leads, and empowers all who are brought to faith in Christ so that they might live in obedience to the Scriptures. The model for our reliance upon the Spirit and our experience of his indwelling and empowering presence is the Lord Jesus Christ himself who was filled with the Spirit and entirely dependent upon his power for the performance of miracles, the preaching of the kingdom of God, and all other dimensions of his earthly ministry. The Holy Spirit who indwelt and empowered Christ in like manner indwells and empowers us through spiritual gifts he has bestowed for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. We recognize the gifts of the Spirit as divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry, and affirm the full range of spiritual gifts to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines.
Read 1 Thessalonians 1.1-10. What is Paul describing? What happened to those who believe in the gospel there? (See Acts 17.1-9 for the history)
Paul describes how the Spirit brought conviction, transformation, and power to the Thessalonian Christians. How have you experienced that in your own life?
What is your ongoing experience of the Holy Spirit? To what degree do you know his presence and power?
Spend some time in prayer together, asking the Spirit to fill you, confirm your adoption, produce Christ-like character, and empower you for ministry!
May 29, 2022 - Steve Hart