The Holy Spirit gives us direction, power, and purpose. JOHN 14:12-14,16 NLT [12] "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. ACTS 3:1-9 NLT [1] Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. [2] As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. [3] When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. [4] Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" [5] The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. [6] But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!" [7] Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. [8] He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. [9] All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. I CAN BEST IMITATE JESUS WHEN I… ONE | WATCH HIM CLOSELY JOHN 5:1-9 NLT [1] Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. [2] Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. [3-4] Crowds of sick people-blind, lame, or paralyzed-lay on the porches. [5] One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. [6] When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, "Would you like to get well?" 2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" TWO | LISTEN TO HIM CAREFULLY JOHN 5:7-9 NLT [7] "I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me." [8] Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!" [9] Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, THREE | ACT BOLDLY LIKE HIM JAMES 1:22 NLT But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. The Holy Spirit gives us the power we need for daily living and the things that God has called us to do! GALATIANS 5:22-23 NLT [22] But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! If we want to receive all God has for us, we must move beyond the natural realm into the spiritual realm. 1 Corinthians 2:10,12-15 NLT [10] But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. [12] And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. [13] When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. [14] But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. [15] Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. HOW DO I RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT? ONE | Remove the barriers that keep me from all God has for me. TWO | Ask God to give me all that He has for me. THREE | Develop an intimate friendship with the Holy Spirit.
