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Week 7 : 19 July 2009 Connect Group Outline


Ice breaker: What has been your experience of the Holy Spirit up to this point?

Key thoughts:

Symbols of the Holy Spirit used in Scripture

Fire
Matt 3:11 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Fire is used through scripture as a symbol of:
  • God’s divine presence & power (Pillar of fire leading Israelites)
  • Purification & Cleansing (as a refiner’s fire; refiner of silver…)
  • The Holiness of God
  • In OT God often answered by fire
  • In NT in reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Cloud
1 Kings 8:10-11 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.
  • CLOUD by day with the Israelites in the wilderness…
  • Gods manifest presence – His GLORY (Exod 19 – the Lord came to the Israelites – covered the mountain in thick dense cloud…Mount of Transfiguration – a bright cloud enveloped them and God spoke from the CLOUD)
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Dove
John 1:32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
  • Bill Johhnson:  If we had a dove land on us; and wanted him to remain; how would we walk? Every move would be in consideration of what I am carrying; so as not to lose him. Every move would be with HIS presence in mind.  

Water; Rain/Dew/RIVER: LIVING WATER:
John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
  • The best way to rid ourselves of ungodliness is to allow ourselves to be filled with the presence of God. Remember the Powerade bottle!

GAL 5:16-18  So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Spirit didn’t come to give us religion, but true freedom: we don’t get free by fighting the flesh, we get free by being filled & led by the SPIRIT!  

Being Led by Spirit: Num 9:15-23
  • Don’t get settled in your tabernacle/comfortable situation – follow the presence!
  • Many churches & Christians have camped out in the Form; but the cloud left long ago – now they have a form of Godliness, but no power!
  • Learn to keep your eyes on the cloud:  Whether moving, or staying in one place: are you in the place God wants you? It is not just about where God wants to take you next, but what He wants you to do where you are now – He’s not always moving…

Questions to consider:
  • Is there a time that you remember being led by the Spirit to do something? How did it turn out?
  • How can we be more led of the Spirit in our everyday lives?

Week 6 : 12 July 2009 Connect Group Outline


Ice breaker: From you past experiences/religious journey; describe how you perceived; or were taught; regarding the Holy Spirit?

Key thoughts:

Fire
One of most common symbols – power, strength; force…
  • Matt 3:11 He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
  • Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
  • Rev 4:4-6 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
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Many times the Holy Spirit manifests as fire.  It was the tongues of fire that came upon the disciples to baptise them in the Spirit.
Fire is used through scripture as a symbol of:
  • God’s divine presence & power (Pillar of fire leading Israelites)
  • Purification & Cleansing (AS a refiner’s fire; refiner of silver…)
  • The Holiness of God
  • In OT God often answered by fire
  • In NT in reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Cloud
  • 1 Kings 8:10-11 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.
  • Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple
  • CLOUD by day with the Israelites in the wilderness…
  • Gods manifest presence – His GLORY (Exod 19 – the Lord came to the Israelites – covered the mountain in thick dense cloud…Mount of Transfiguration – a bright cloud enveloped them and God spoke from the CLOUD)
 
Dove
  • Matt 3:16-17  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
  • John 1:32  Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
Dove often speaks of gentleness & peace: Was an ancient symbol of PURITY and INNOCENCE; The only clean bird allowed to be offered as a sacrifice;   

It has been asserted that, among the Jews, the Holy Spirit was presented under the symbol of a dove, and a passage is cited from the Talmud; "The Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters like a dove." (from Vincent's Word Studies of the New Testament, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)

Bill Johnson:  If we had a dove land on us; and wanted him to remain; how would we walk? Every move would be in consideration of what I am carrying; so as not to lose him. Every move would be with HIS presence in mind. 

The Holy Spirit is IN all believers; but not UPON all believers.

Consider Charles Finney: The Spirit was so upon him that wherever he went, people would fall on their faces & repent.  Would walk into factories & workers would fall in repentance.

Finney wrote how God gave him mighty infillings of the Holy Spirit “that went through me, as it seemed, body and soul. I immediately found myself endued with such power from on high that a few words dropped here and there to individuals were the means of their immediate conversion. My words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. They broke the heart like a hammer.

Multitudes can attest to this...Sometimes I would find myself in a great measure empty of this power. I would go and visit, and find that I made no saving impression. I would exhort and pray with the same results. I would then set apart a day for private fasting and prayer...after humbling myself and crying out for help, the power would return upon me with all its freshness. This has been the experience of my life.”

Peter’s Shadow… 
People throughout history who moved in this anointing were not only conscious of the Spirit on them, but knew how to co-labour with him to take the kingdom with them everywhere they went!


Water; Rain/Dew/RIVER
  • John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
  • John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
  • Ezek 47:1 The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east  Ezek 47:5-8 But now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in-a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?"  Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.
  • Gal 5:16-18  So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Spirit didn’t come to give us religion, but true freedom: we don’t get free by fighting the flesh, we get free by being filled & led by the SPIRIT!

(The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness – being led of the Spirit doesn’t mean a comfortable life; but he may lead us into tough times to develop character.  But it is kindness that leads us to repentance – the Spirit fills us with joy despite what were going through; its not all about enduring trials, but enjoying life – good or bad – finding & living in the joy of the spirit; choosing to be like Jesus in attitude and action)

Used to say: LESS OF ME & MORE OF HIM! Actually: More of Him – Less of me!

We didn’t get saved by working on cleaning up our act & forcing sin out of our lives – only once we were filled with the Holy Spirit were we able to start walking free…

Learn to co-operate with the Holy Spirit & you will become more like Jesus & carry more anointing & authority…

Not a dam/lake – but a river; we should have STREAMS OF LIVING WATER FLOWING OUT FROM WITHIN US! 

We are often satisfied to just have enough for ourselves but Jesus said: 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

The Holy Spirit is not content to just fill you with His POWER – He wants out!

D. L. Moody When DL Moody was asked if he was SPIRIT FILLED – he replied YES; BUT I AM ALWAYS LEAKING….

Application Questions

  • From John 14; 15 & 16: What are some of the key characteristics of the Holy Spirit that stood out for you?
  • What are some practical ways we can train ourselves to live in, and think according to, the unseen realm; the Kingdom of God?
  • Consider the different symbols/manifestations of the Spirit we discussed:  How does the understanding of the Holy Spirit as Fire / Cloud / Dove / Water & River impact your understanding of how He operates and relates to you?
  • Discuss ways in which we can grow in our constant communion and relationship with the Holy Spirit?  How can I make His input more real in my everyday life?

Week 5 : 5 July 2009 Connect Group Outline


Ice breaker: Share how you became born again, describe the events that led you to that point

Key thoughts:

Some quotes on the cross:
  • J I Packer "Men are opposed to God in their sin, and God is opposed to men in his holiness"
  • Anselm "The debt was so great, that while man alone owed it, only God could pay it"
  • R C Sproul "Divine love triumphed over Divine wrath by Divine self-sacrifice"
  • C J Mahoney "We were at the cross morally"


Application Questions

Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" Who is Jesus to you?

Which of the effects of the cross has most powerfully worked in your life?
  • right standing with God
  • the wrath of God is satisfied
  • no condemnation from God
  • no more guilt
  • no more shame
  • sin (Satan, sickness) has lost its power
  • death has lost its sting
  • we now have relationship with God
  • we are alive in Christ
  • now we can live for God
How would you describe grace?

What plans do you have to reach those who don't know the gospel?
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Week 4 : 28 June 2009 Connect Group Outline


Ice breaker: Share how you feel Jesus Christ has influenced your life in a positive way since you gave your life to Him

Key thoughts:

There are 3 aspects that we looked at concerning ‘The Son’.
We said that Jesus is: The Eternal Son; The Living Word and The Friend that Stays Closer than a Brother.

THE ETERNAL SON
He is eternally emmanating from the Father. Begotten not created, the first-born over creation, that means that He is:
  • the embodiment of the Father
  • our way to the Father
  • and the Father’s way to us.
John 14:6-11  6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
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Application
  • We are co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17) therefore through Him we enter into unending fellowship with the Father.
  • This inheritance comes to us not when we died, but because Jesus died. We can have it now, if we want it.

THE LIVING WORD
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Bible is meant to entice, inspire, draw you into a deeper love relationship with The Living Word – Jesus Christ.

Application
  • When we read our bibles, we should not just be reading words. But we should be listening for ‘The Living Word’ – Jesus Christ – speaking truth to our souls. Journal, ask questions – what does this mean for me? Etc…
  • When we face any situation, The Living Word – Jesus Christ – is present to give us wisdom, insight, strategy, strength. He will respeak the bible we have read and he will speak truth to us.

THE FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
Prov 8:30-31 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
An outstanding Characteristic of Jesus Christ is that He delights to be with people! He loves to be with you, He loves to be with us, He loves to be with His heavenly Father, He loves to be with us and His Father at the same time – hence one of His greatest works – reconciliation.

Jesus identifies with our humanity – He was of humble birth and was tempted as we are in every way.(Heb 4:15).

Application
Jesus identifies with you?  He has been there! There is nothing that you can go through that He has not already experienced, and there is not one experience you will face that His grace has not made provision for. He will strengthen, equip, comfort and make a way for you.



To Consider in Small Groups
  • How can we grow in our fellowship with our heavenly Father?
  • How can we grow in our knowledge of the Living Word?
  • Pray for each other for a greater sense of God’s presence and for God’s help in areas where we are having difficulties

Week 3 : 21 June 2009 Connect Group Outline


Ice breaker: Who has the reflected the Father’s heart to you? (This could include fathers, role models, authors etc.)

Key thoughts:
  • We are called to reflect (echo) God’s image in the earth.
  • Romans 8 v29, “Those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His son.”
  • Before the reformation, before the bible got into the hands of the laity, before the printing presses rolled -  the pictures in the cathedrals were known as the bible of the laity.  The reformation is passed, we have the Word but we need to be graphic (striking) picture of God in the earth.

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

PEER CONSTANTLY INTO GOD’S WORD
  • God’s word is a mirror, it brings correction it brings cleansing. It enables us to conform to His image.
  • Talk about God’s word in the home. Deut 6v6, “These commands that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.” Impress – produce a strong and lasting effect on the mind and feelings. Fix firmly in the mind. Mark a surface by pressure or stamp.
  • We need to have an encounter with the Father before we can make an impression on others.
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HAVE NO FALSE GODS
  • We conform to the image of our gods.  The word used for image is the same word used to describe idols. POWER, MONEY, FAME, CULT FIGURES
  • The fall is the root cause of man’s identity crisis. Because we are alienated from our Creator, we have no suitable source from which to take our identity. Our worth and identity are established in worship.
BY THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT
  • Illustration – God helps us as a ‘crushed can’ to transform into His likeness. We are not on our own.
  • Corinthians 3v18, “And we are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord which is the Spirit."
Practical Application:
  • Make a list of the Father’s attributes.
  • Which of these do you display on a regular basis? Which of these do you need to exhibit in a greater way?
  • Which people has God placed in my life that I need to reflect His heart to?
  • Take time to pray for these people.

Week 2 : 14 June 2009 Connect Group Outline


Ice breaker: Picture the home you lived in as a child. What room do you see your father in and what is he doing?

Key thoughts:

We very often see our HEAVENLY FATHER through the lens of our relationship with our EARTHLY FATHER.

Your earthly father was supposed to reflect the image of our Heavenly Father, thereby introducing you to ‘Abba Father’.

Luke 11:11 -13:“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

As a result of the fall, the image of God is obscured in the earth. Instead of fathers introducing their children to their HEAVENLY FATHER, many are hindering the process and wounding their children in the process. There is a seeping wound in the earth today that many refer to as the father wound.

The healing of the ‘father wound’ takes place as we are introduced to our Heavenly Father and His love washes away the: pain, rejection, anger and abandonment caused by our father’s sins of commission and omission.

“Dear Friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God.” 1 Jn 4:7

It does not say …….because love comes from human beings, “that is, “If you don’t get love from another person, you cannot be loved.” Rather, John says you must first understand that love does not come from another person but only through him or her. (Gordon Dalbey)
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The best that can be said about our human efforts to love one another is that we mediate God’s love. That is, when we say we love another person, we are essentially receiving love from God and channeling it to him or her. We are a conduit.

A summary: truths we need to comprehend from this verse and the concepts we have shared so far
  • Love comes from (originates) with God 1 John 4:7
  • The image of the Father: God intended for you to experience His love and be introduced to Him through your earthly father.
  • The truth is that many of us did not experience this and need healing.
  • Where does this leave us? Forsaken?  No! No! No!
  • God is redemptive and your ‘father wound’ can facilitate your introduction to your Heavenly Father.
  • He reaches out to us, saves us, accepts us – makes us His son or daughter.
THE DIGNITY OF SONSHIP - knowing that you are a son or a daughter of the Most High God is the antidote (answer, cure) for the shame of being fatherless.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 Jn 3:1

Application Questions and Ministry:
  • How has your relationship with your earthly father influenced your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
  • In a few words how would you describe your Heavenly Father?
  • Do you believe that spiritual sonship is the antidote for fatherless generation?
  • Ask if anyone needs to release the unforgiveness in their heart towards their father and open their heart to receive God’s love.
  • Encourage people to memorise 1 John 3:1

Week 1 : 7 June 2009 Connect Group Outline


Ice breaker: if you could design the perfect holiday what would it be like?
 
Key thoughts:
“What we think about God is the single most important thing in our spiritual journey. Our image of God will drive every single part of our life and declare how we show up in the world” Graham Cooke

“He must be the most important thing in our world. We’re shaped, emotionally and spiritually, by the image of God we carry in our hearts and minds” Graham Cooke

Application Questions
  • What is the picture that you have of God? How would you describe Him?
  • How has you perception of God changed over time?
  • Do you believe it is possible to have increasing revelation of God?
  • What steps can you take to practically draw near to God? James 4v8-10
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