SUNDAY WORSHIP GUIDE: EMPOWERED - YOUR POWER SOURCE

1. OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART

2. HOLY SPIRIT

3. YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE

MESSAGE: EMPOWERED - POWER SOURCE

"a doctrine has practical value only as far as it is prominent in our thoughts and makes a difference in our lives. By this test the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as held by evangelical Christians today has almost no value at all. In most Christian churches the Spirit is quite entirely overlooked"  A. W. Tozer (The Pursuit of Man)

Is the Holy Spirit underutilized in my life?

TEXT: John 14:15-31 (ESV)

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[a] to be with you forever, 
   John 14: 16 (ESV)

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 
   John 14: 18 (ESV)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 
   John 14: 15 (ESV)

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[b] in you.  John 14: 17 (ESV)

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14: 23 (ESV)

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  John 14: 26 (ESV)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" John 14:27 (ESV)

To whom or what do you turn for help when facing a challenge?

THREE PRACTICAL WAYS TO LIVE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

ACKNOWLEDGE HIS PRESENCE
 
 YEILD TO HIS GUIDANCE
 
 FILL YOURSELF WITH GOD’S WORD

MOVING FORWARD - JOHN HOUGOM

Read: John 14:15-31

Faith Exercise:

What is your source of power for living out your faith journey? Thankfully, Jesus offers us the Holy Spirit, which He promises in today’s text. In times of challenge, where do we turn? Many of us trust God with the trivial aspects of our lives. Then we go to church on Sunday, and toss a $20 bill into the offering, finding comfort in our faith. While this is acceptable and not disingenuous, it is after all where some of us are at. A.Z. Tozer wisely observed that a doctrine’s relevance lies solely in its application in our lives. John 14 takes place in the upper room on the night before the crucifixion, with the disciples’ feet washed, Judas’ betrayal predicted, and Peter’s denial revealed, the scene is set. It is about to get real. Today’s faith exercise invites you to reflect on the impact of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Consider the following questions:

• Do I genuinely believe in the Holy Spirit? Is there evidence of my belief?

• Where do I turn to in times of trouble?

• Is the Holy Spirit under utilized in my life? How will I change this?

Prayer:

“Dear Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to be my helper in all things. Lord, you are my true power source. Please continue to guide me into Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Live:

Many of us have an attitude of “I got this!” This can be healthy in the right context. Confidence is after all, a virtue. However, if we never read the directions, check the manual, or seek help, this confidence turns into foolish pride. Let us not forget the gift that Jesus gives us to fulfill His desires for us here. When we acknowledge His presence and simply yield to His guidance, we can undergo transformation, receiving knowledge and insight. for what lies ahead my friends.

CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD - STEPHANIE HAMRE

Read:   John 14:15–31

Faith Exercise:

This new series focuses on the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often overlooked, left out, or misunderstood as mystical. But the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, is real and has His own personality and purpose, just like Jesus has His own personality and purpose. Jesus said that He had to go back to the Father so that the Comforter would come—the Spirit of truth, the Helper, the One who would teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance. The Holy Spirit also nudges; He is the One who gives us a tap on the shoulder or a deep stirring in our hearts when we need to shift gears, go in another direction, or get out of a situation immediately. He will give us solutions, ideas, inspiration, boldness, and courage. He is a powerful power source for daily living.

Live:

The Holy Spirit is often misunderstood because we cannot see Him with our naked eye. But can we see the wind? We can feel it, we can see what it does when it blows through the trees, and we can sometimes hear it, but we cannot see the wind—yet it is still real, and so is the Holy Spirit. Some translations say "Holy Ghost," but He is not a ghost, which can cause thoughts of someone who is scary. The Holy Spirit, I have discovered, is so much fun. What do I mean by fun? When I lean into Him, talk to Him, and ask Him, He HELPS me. Like, for real, He really helps!

One fun way was when I was working on a word jumble and I could not figure out the word. I said, "Holy Spirit, help me with this word," and He did. I would not have ever guessed it! Just this week, I was praying and I said, "I need some help, but when 'I', I don’t get any help." So, I asked the Lord, and He sent someone to me who asked if they could help. That is the Holy Spirit helping. Another time, I was distraught about some home repairs and I went to my prayer closet and cried and prayed. I heard a car pull into my driveway. The guy said, “Do you know why I am here?” Yes, I knew... because the Holy Spirit prompted him to come and help me. The Holy Spirit is so much fun because He brings so much J O Y!

Reflect & Respond:

• When you think about the Holy Spirit, do you tend to view Him as a mysterious or ghost-like, or as a real Person who wants to talk to you and help you?

• Can you think of a time when the Holy Spirit gave you a "shoulder tap," a nudge, or a sudden answer to a problem just when you needed it?

• What is one small, everyday area of your life this week where you can stop trying to do it all on your own and say, "Holy Spirit, help me with this"?

Pray:

Father God, help us to grasp hold of this series, learn more, and grow deeper in the knowledge of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and our Helper—the One whom You sent to us after Jesus went to be with You. Enlighten us, teach us, and give us an understanding of the Holy Spirit, His power, and His purpose. Help us to discern the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides us in paths of righteousness. Help us to experience the fun of interacting with the Holy Spirit and the J O Y it brings to our hearts and to others. Amen.