Week 7 - SAY IT
CONNECT
What are you thankful for?
What challenge are you facing?
Have there been any answers to prayer?
Pray for each other.
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings?
How did your “I will …” statement from last week go?
How did your sharing goal from last week go?
How’s your memory work coming along?
Acts 4:31 (NIV)
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
DISCOVER
Let’s start with a review.
NEED IT
As we partner with Jesus in mission to those around us, we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
BELIEVE IT
Just as Jesus ministered through the Person and power of the Holy Spirit, so can we.
SEEK IT
Because we continually need the filling of the Holy Spirit, we need to continually seek it.
TRY IT
As you are led by the Holy Spirit, act on these leadings from the Holy Spirit.
USE IT
Use your spiritual gift(s) for the blessing of others and the glory of God.
PRAY IT
Pray for others in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And now …
SAY IT
Say what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
John 10:27 (CSB)
My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.
What’s the prerequisite for hearing the voice of Jesus? What’s the appropriate response to hearing Jesus’ voice?
Acts 2:14-18 (NLT)
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy” (quoting Joel 2:28-29).
Who gets filled with the Holy Spirit?
What are some results of having the Holy Spirit poured out upon us?
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
How’s it possible to speak the very words of God?
What’s the ultimate purpose for speaking God’s words and serving in God’s strength?
1 Corinthians 14:1-3 (NIV)
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NET)
What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
What are other reasons for using the speaking gifts of the Holy Spirit?
How have you experienced the gift of prophecy in Christian community? Was this positive or negative?
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV-1984)
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
Why does the gift of prophecy or any leading from the Lord need to be tested?
ABC Test for Prophecy
Here are 3 tests for prophetic words, interpretation of tongues or any leading from the Spirit.
A. Is it Affirming?
Spiritual gifts are given for the strengthening, encouraging and comforting of the body. Does that mean there can never be a difficult word of correction? No. But those need to be handled with great care and probably should be processed with a community leader for wisdom on how to proceed. The point is, even a difficult word needs to be given in an affirming way.
B. Is it Biblical?
It doesn’t necessarily have to be chapter and verse specific, although, the Spirit can direct you to a specific passage of Scripture. The question is, Does it fit within the overall flow and teaching of the Bible?
C. Is it Christlike?
From what you know of Jesus, would this be something He would say?
Even if it’s not technically a word from the Lord, but it passes these 3 tests, it just may become a word that the Lord uses to speak to the person you share it with.
When sharing what you sense is from the Lord, don’t say, “This is what the Lord says to you.” Say, “I had this thought (passage, picture, pain, prompting, impression). I think it may be from Lord. What do you think?” Or “Why don’t you take that to the Lord and ask Him about it?” Or “Does this make sense to you at all?”
Do you find these guidelines helpful?
What might you add to these guidelines?
Practice the Prophetic
Take turns focusing on each person in your group. You could use a chair to have people sit on while the others gather around. Ask the Lord to give you prophetic leadings for that person. And then say, “Person’s name, I think God would say to you …” and share what comes to mind. Or “Person’s name, I think God is showing me this for you …” and share what comes to mind.
Test these leadings using the ABC Test.
Remember, faith can be spelled T-R-Y. So try it. Don’t force things. But if something comes to mind, share it. Let’s practice the prophetic.
LIVE
What truth have you discovered from today’s Bible passage(s) and conversation?
What would stop you from believing and obeying this truth?
How will you live out this truth this coming week? Finish this statement: “I will ….”
Who else needs to hear this truth? How could you share it with them?
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.
FOLLOW-UP BIBLE READINGS
Let’s finish off FILLING with 3 more passages.
BUDDY SYSTEM
Connect with your buddy this week and ask each other these questions:
How are your readings going?
How’s your “I will …” statement coming along?
How’s your sharing goal coming along?
How can I pray for you?
PRINTABLE PDF
FILLING - Week 7 printable PDF
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