The Word

Read Luke 11:9-13. How willing is God to give you gifts? What gift does He long to give you? What is the one thing we must to do receive these gifts?

Read Acts 1:4-5, 39. What is common to these verses? What does Jesus promise the disciples? Who is this promise for?

Read Acts 1:13-14, 38. In what way were the disciples praying? How is this significant to our current experience? What is key to being able to receive the Holy Spirit?

Read John 14:16-17. What does Jesus do? Why can the world not receive the Holy Spirit? What does this say about our preparation for the Holy Spirit?

Read Acts 1:8 and John 16:13. What does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will enable the disciples to do? How can this apply to your modern situation?

Read Acts 2:4-42, 47. What happens to the believers after this outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

What changes do you notice? What impact could this gift have on our current church?

Ellen White says, “It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men….If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit….The Acts of the Apostles, p. 50.2 (EGW)

Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it?” (AA50).

Try it Out!

Think of the amazing things the Holy Spirit did through Peter and the rest of the apostles. Think about how this could happen in your own life! Yet, as with everything God does, He wants our cooperation. You have to ask the Holy Spirit to come in and change you.

Are you willing to let the Holy Spirit take control? Are you willing to see the change in your life that the Holy Spirit is waiting to make? You can make that decision; you can ask in the privacy of your own mind, and wait to see the adventure that God will set before you.

Yet this adventure cannot start when you have fears and sins holding you back. I want to ask, right now, that we get on our knees before God. Ask Him to show you what you need to do to prepare for the Holy Spirit, and invite Him into your life. The Holy Spirit can have an incredible impact on your life and your church, but only if you're willing.

Try it; see what the Holy Spirit can really do when you let Him take control. Start right now; all you have to do is ask.

(Tell the youth to take time for private contemplation and prayer now.)

What if...?

Please discuss these questions in twos or threes:

What if you asked God to cleanse you of sins and fears, making room for the Holy Spirit? What would you need to let go of?

What if you let the Holy Spirit work through you to be a fearless witness? What could happen in your circle of family, friends, and classmates?

What do you think the Holy Spirit dreams of doing in your life?

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 607