Change

Supernatural change comes from the Holy Spirit

God desires to guide my life

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. EXODUS 13:21 NLT

The Holy Spirit is a person who is within all believers

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. EPHESIANS 1:13-14 ESV
I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. JOHN 16:7 ESV

The Holy Spirit will:

Remind me of God’s wisdom if I store it away

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
“The more Scripture you know, the more illumination the Holy Spirit can give to you… God has never brought to my mind a scripture I did not already know. I know some who claim he has done that for them, but I think the normal way he works is to bring to mind the scriptures we have hidden in our hearts. Memorizing Scripture is like stocking myself with ammunition for the Spirit to fire as I pray—promises I can claim, warnings I can heed. The Bible contains over 3,000 promises. I want to know all of them. God did not give us the Bible simply to read through, but to pray through.” J.D. GREER

Speak to me if I listen

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ISAIAH 30:20-21 ESV
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. JOHN 16:13 ESV

Scout life ahead to warn me of sin

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 NLT
Do not quench the Spirit. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:19 NIV
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. PROVERBS 22:3 NIV

Change my desires as I obey

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. PHILIPPIANS 2:13 NLT
Now may the God of peace… equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight. HEBREWS 13:20-21 ESV

Meet me with supernatural change in my future

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. EPHESIANS 2:10 ESV

Community Group Discussion Guide

  1. What types of things helped you make a significant change in your life?
  2. Have you ever felt as though the Holy Spirit has communicated to you or guided you toward or away from something? What was it like? How did you know it was the Holy Spirit and not something else?
  3. What role does the Bible play in your ability to know God’s Spirit is speaking to you?
  4. Have you experienced the Holy Spirit warning you away from something that wasn’t in your best interest? What happened?
  5. James 1:14-15 tells us that sin starts with desire and ultimately leads to death. What sinful desires are you struggling with right now? How can our group help you overcome them?
  6. Read Ephesians 2:10. How do you experience God’s empowerment to grow and change, knowing that God is in our future and gives us his grace to help us obey?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place where you can spend a few minutes reflecting on something you would like to change or a way in which you would like to grow. Allow yourself to feel the weight of what you want to do. Now imagine what it might feel like to have the Holy Spirit within you knowing exactly how your heart and mind work, and every moment of your past that has made you who you are, and still loving you completely. Allow yourself to reflect on what it would be like to move forward with the Holy Spirit as your friend: always present, always wise and always investing in you. As you take steps forward for growth, ask God to remind you that the Holy Spirit is with you every step of the way.

My Notes