Crazy Chick's Thoughts Chapter 29

WELCOME

Have you experienced G.o.d's power at work in your life lately, or has your BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN WALK been powerless or boring these days?

WORD

Acts 19:1-10 New International Version (NIV) says

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus . There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[a] you believed?"

They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit . "

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3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"

"John's baptism," they replied .

4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance . He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus . " 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus . 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues[b] and prophesied . 7 There were about twelve men in all .

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of G.o.d . 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way . So Paul left them . He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus . 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord .

continue to read the rest of Acts 19 . There seems to be a common story in the lives of casual 'Sunday Christians'-they live of constant defeat,unable to taste & see victory & is always bugged down by various struggles which they are not able to overcome . If you are like this, then you have not truly experienced the power of the Lord . As followers of Jesus Christ, we must be able to live out the truth that we share to others . THE ONLY WAY WE COULD DO IT IS IF WE ARE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT . This is the power that

Acts 1:8 New International Version (NIV) says

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth . "

talks about & the power that prophets the ministries that began from Jerusam (Acts 1) & now in Acts 19 has reached other nations . When you are empowered by G.o.d's Spirit, you have power to do these three things:

1 . ) POWER TO LIVE LIKE JESUS CHRIST

Ephesus was an amazing city, the capital of the Roman empire in that area . But it was rich in witchcraft & superst.i.tious beliefs, the center of wors.h.i.+p for the G.o.ddess Artemis . Paul was able to find 'disciples' here & he asked them if they have already received the Holy Spirit .

Acts 1:2 New International Version (NIV) says

2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen .

You see, if they really understood Jesus Christ, they were supposed to have the Holy Spirit . But these people are like BORN AGAINS CHRISTIAN today who go to church & love the Lord, but they live as if there is no greater power that is in control of their lives . Now these were the disciples of John the Baptist & Paul found had an opening for a discussion of the of the Gospel . They understood the need to repent of their sins, but the full picture of repentance is the TURNING AWAY FROM SIN & TURNING TOWARDS JESUS CHRIST . This is exactly what it means to 'live like Jesus Christ'

Philippians 1:21 New International Version (NIV) says

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain .

our live must be transformed to be like Jesus Christ .

Romans 8:8-9 New International Version (NIV) says

8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please G.o.d .

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of G.o.d lives in you . And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ .

tells us that we are either living in the flesh or in the Spirit . Do you have G.o.d's Spirit in your heart? If you cannot answer yes, do not rest until you find out why . You cannot live the BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN LIFE on your own; you need G.o.d's Spirit to transform you in order to give you power .

2 . ) POWER TO UNDERSTAND G.o.d'S WORD

In Acts 19:8-10 New International Version (NIV) says

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of G.o.d . 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way . So Paul left them . He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus . 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord .

we see Paul & his pa.s.sion for the TRUTH . The BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN LIFE is not just experiential, you also need G.o.d's Truth . How do you develop a hard heart? It is when you allow compromises in your life & not act upon the truth that you hear from G.o.d's word . You eventually become calloused! To combat this, we must choose to be empowered by G.o.d to continually depend on His Word for our 'renewed' way of living . When G.o.d empowers you with His Spirit, you are able to have a continuous thirst for G.o.d's Word-not just for knowledge, but for practice . 1 Peter 2 reminds us to 'long for the pure milk' of the Word .

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 New International Version (NIV) says

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are peris.h.i.+ng . 4 The G.o.d of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of G.o.d .

shows us that it is possible to be veiled from seeing the truth . This explains why the Bible seems dry for those who read it but cannot appreciate it or learn from it . The Holy Spirit will be one to remind you of G.o.d's Truth & enable you to understand what you read from it .

John 14:26 New International Version (NIV) says

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you .

G.o.d's Word coupled with G.o.d's Spirit leads to REAL TRANSFORMATION .

3 . ) POWER TO OVERCOME EVIL

This continuous transformative work that Paul's ministry had in Ephesus led to some Jews like the sons of Sceva to oppose Paul's ministry .

Acts 19:13-15 New International Version (NIV) says

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed . They would say, "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out . " 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this . 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"

This was an act of the enemy who would like to stop the spread of the Gospel . Many times, we experience the same opposition & evil influences that derail our walk with the Lord . Remember that our enemies in the BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN LIFE involves the world,

Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV) says

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Then you will be able to test and approve what G.o.d's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will .

the flesh

Galatians 5:16-17 New International Version (NIV) says

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh . 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh . They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want .

& Satan

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version (NIV) says

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms .

Paul was able to overcome evil & the work continued to flourish & the effect was that many were compelled & convicted of sin, they confessed & eventually surrendered their lives to G.o.d . This is telling us simply that we must surrender anything to G.o.d that stands in the way of us fully experiencing the power of G.o.d's Spirit in our lives .

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANYMORE YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOW AT THE PRESENT TIME)

1 . How confident are you right now that you are filled (directed & empowered) by the Holy Spirit? Explain your answer briefly .

Mia's answer: I am somewhat confident right now that I am filled by the Holy Spirit; because sometimes some of the situation is in my own will

Kathy's answer: I am very confident right now . I believe that G.o.d is within me . And G.o.d would guide me in every step of the way . Amen .

2 . What truth from G.o.d's word, the Bible do you need to live out or obey right away? This may be something that you already got convicted of but have not obeyed . Is there a sin you need to confess & repent from?

Mia's answer: The truth of understanding G.o.d's word, I need to live out right away; this maybe something that I already got convicted of but have not yet obeyed; there is a sin that I need to confess & repent from is not letting G.o.d's Spirit lead me

Kathy's answer: The truth from G.o.d's word tells that Jesus died on the cross to save all of us from our sins . Those who believed in Him would not perished . I would obey the ten commandments of Moses which is anointed by G.o.d .

3 . In what area of your life do need the Holy Spirit's help right now? Is it to live like Jesus Christ, to understand G.o.d's word, or to overcome evil?

Mia's answer: In the area of disciplining myself I need the Holy Spirit's help right now; for me it is

Kathy's answer: We need the help of the Holy Spirit . Because Holy Spirit tells us which way to go . He would lead us to the right direction . There is only one way . That's Jesus, the Messiah .

. . .

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