One-page BibleStudy - LIVING A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE 

 

Pdf available here

 

These Bible Studies look at important aspects of Christian faith and practice. They can be done individually or used for group discussion. The Bible verses are profound – but keep the study simple. Let God speak to you through the verses, with these two questions in mind:

• What does this verse tell me about God and his good news?

• What does this verse tell me about living as a Christian?

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God gives two gifts to everyone who believes in Jesus – forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39). The past is wiped clean, and God’s Spirit is now with us (Romans 8:9). To enjoy that new relationship fully and fruitfully, we need to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

 

What does it mean to live a Spirit-filled life?

God’s longing for us is that we should keep on being filled with the Spirit, so that we can:

Know God’s presence, his leading and his help. See John 14:16-17; Acts 9:31; Romans 8:14-16

Draw on God’s power, in order to live for him. See Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; John 15:4-5

Grow in God’s character, becoming more like Jesus. See Galatians 5:22-26; John 15:8-9

Share in God’s pain, feeling his grief for the world. See Romans 8:22-23; Philippians 2:1

 

What hinders us from living a Spirit-filled life?

It is God who fills us with his Spirit – it is not something that we can do for ourselves. But there are a number of things that hinder us from living the Spirit-filled life which God wants for us:

 

Complacency. We can become apathetic to the needs of the world, and settle for our present spiritual experience. It is those who hunger and thirst who will be filled (Matthew 5:6).

 

Disobedience. The Holy Spirit is grieved by our sin, particularly lack of love (Ephesians 4:30-32). We need to “keep short accounts with God”, receiving his forgiveness and forgiving others.

 

Unbelief. It may seem unlikely to us that God will bless the likes of us, but we need to rely on his promises, by faith, rather than on our feelings and experiences (Acts 2:38-39; John 7:38-39).

 

Fear. Giving our lives over fully to God and to the work of the Spirit is scary – he will change us radically. But God is our loving Father who only gives good things to us (Matthew 7:9-11).

 

How can I keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Recognise in your heart that being filled with the Spirit is what God wants for every Christian, a gift at the heart of the gospel every day, as real and as available as forgiveness for our sins.

 

Through prayer. Jesus promised that our Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (Luke 11:9-13). So ask! And through prayer nurture your love relationship with Jesus.

 

Through obedience. The coming of the Spirit declares that Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:33-36). So our primary focus needs to be on him being Lord of our lives (Rom.12:1; Acts 5:32; John 15:10-12).

 

Through self-denial. If our aim is to be full of God instead of being full of ourselves then it’s as we learn to deny ourselves and follow Jesus that our lives will daily be Spirit-filled (Luke 9:23-24).

 

Through suffering. Our trials are all used by God to teach us to die to self, so that the Spirit is released more fully in us and God’s work is accomplished in our lives (John 12:24; 2 Cor.4:7-11).

 

Make it your daily prayer (and maybe several times each day!) – “Lord, cleanse me and fill me.”