The Fusion of Prayer and the Holy Spirit

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

Discover
1. What specific instructions do you see in these verses?
2. When are we told to stop praying?
3. How are we told to respond to the Holy Spirit?

Respond
When it comes to living out the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, our only hope is the fuel of prayer and the Holy Spirit. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul summarizes what this kind of fuel looks like. It’s a life of joy and gratitude. It’s a life of continual prayer, recognizing God’s presence everywhere we go and talking to Him throughout our day. It’s a life attuned to the Holy Spirit, letting Him not only shape our thoughts but also our words and actions. It’s a life lived on mission, using the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us.

It all starts with a simple prayer: “God, I want to be filled with Your Holy Spirit.” This is the first step to knowing God, connecting to life-giving relationships, and making a difference. Through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, you can play a critical role in living out the mission of the gospel.

Here are next steps you can take:

How You Can Pray
Thank God for the access He gives you to talk with Him and experience the Holy Spirit’s presence at all times. Acknowledge the times when you’ve neglected to live in the power He provides. Invite Him into every part of your life, asking the Holy Spirit to speak and act through you as you reflect Him to others.

What You Can Do
As we close out this message series, reflect back on the areas we talked about this month. Let the following questions guide your reflection, and mark the one area you sense God asking you to grow in next. Write down one step you’ll take in response.

WE HELP PEOPLE KNOW GOD. 

• Have you committed to knowing God through His Word?
• Have you committed to removing unnecessary barriers that keep people from knowing Jesus?
  
• Have you committed to gathering regularly with other believers?
• Have you committed to scattering to share the good news of the gospel with others?
• Have you committed to pursuing unity with people in the Church?

WE HELP PEOPLE FIND LIFE-GIVING RELATIONSHIPS.

• Have you committed to regularly gathering in community, both in large and small group spaces?
• Have you committed to sharing your resources to build up the body of Christ?
• Have you committed to being present for others who are walking through a difficult situation?
• Have you committed to stepping out of your comfort zone to show selfless love for others?

WE HELP PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

• Have you committed to looking for opportunities to engage the needs around you?
• Have you committed to serving as a way to grow spiritually and in community?
• Have you committed to caring for the vulnerable, including orphans and the fatherless?
• Have you committed to praying for the needs in your community and around the globe, specifically for heart transformation to happen as physical needs are met?
• Have you committed to taking action, giving of your time, treasure, and talent for the sake of others?

WE LIVE LIVES FUELED BY PRAYER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

• Have you committed to refueling continually in the presence of the Holy Spirit?
• Have you committed to letting the power of the Holy Spirit fill you as you tell others about Jesus?
• Have you committed to inviting the Holy Spirit into every part of your life, not just some?
• Have you committed to a life of continual prayer?