introduction
The only way Jesus can come and live in our hearts is by his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is supernatural, and not limited by physical laws and understanding. When God gives us his Holy Spirit, he awakens our dead spirit and supernaturally transforms our life. We should expect a supernatural work of the Spirit inside us. By his grace, the Holy Spirit gifts us with abilities that are supernatural in order to strengthen the church and point the way to God. The aim of this session is to understand and develop in the gifts of the Spirit.
welcome
When was the last time you operated in a gift of the Spirit.
worship
read
John 4:21-24
Stir up worship in you spirit by speaking in tongues or declaring out who God is. Be open to receive a new tongue or song to worship God with. Allow room for God to speak to the group through one another during this time.
word
read
1 Corinthians 12:8-10
discuss
This is one list of spiritual gifts. If you have different versions of the bible, compare the terms used. Take some time to look at each of these, discussing what they mean and when you would use them. As always, please remember that for some people this may all be new.
- Wisdom - knowing the right thing to say or to do because God tells you, not through your own understanding.
- Knowledge - knowing a fact about something, or someone, because God tells you, rather than another source.
- Faith - a confidence, given by God, to believe in his power for difficult and impossible things.
- Healing - seeing God heal people when you pray for them.
- Miracles - seeing God do impossible things when you pray for them.
- Prophecy - delivering the word of God for a situation.
- Discernment - knowing whether something is true or false, good or evil, because God tells you.
- Tongues - speaking, praying or singing in a language that you do not know so that you are built up (it will edify others’ where there is interpretation.)
- Interpretation - knowing the meaning of someone’s tongue because God tells you.
further reading
Here are some stories that give examples of the Holy Spirit working in these ways:
- Matthew 22:15-22;
- Acts 3:1-8;
- John 2:1-10;
- John 4:16-18;
- Acts 10:44-46.
discuss
What gifts have been given to you, either occasionally or regularly? Have they been easy to use or taken lots of courage? What gifts have you seen others use? What have you never seen? Are you nervous about being used by God in these ways?
advice
A couple of sessions ago we discussed why the work of the Holy Spirit might be ignored, or feared. These gifts are from the Holy Spirit but could be faked by users, or imitated by the enemy. These are not reasons to ignore the gifts of the Spirit for our own lives, but rather “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.”
(1 Corinthians 14:1). It is good to desire the gifts of the Spirit because the intention is that they are for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7) and they are all prophetic in that they supernaturally bring the purpose and word of God through speaking, action or knowledge. It is the purpose and word of God that our church and society desperately need!
application
Altogether, ask the Holy Spirit now for gifts that will edify one another in the group.
In pairs: what might be God’s intention and word for the person sitting next to you? Ask God to tell you, rather than using your own inclinations, then edify each other through practising these gifts.
You may use any of these gifts during this time. Decide together to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you during the week for people you see, and expect him to use you supernaturally. Feedback next time!
On a final note, whenever you pray together in your group you should expect to be hearing from God. This is a very natural and normal thing.
witness
Having prayed together for one another, for an infilling of the Holy Spirit, pray now for your friends and for the different things you have been doing recently, that the Holy Spirit will be moving in them and bringing them closer to God. Be open to using these gifts as part of your evangelism in your daily life.
