Notes provided below!
Mission/Vision Statement
The Mission of the No Substitute Ministries Bible study group is to bring clarity and understanding to God’s Word so that we can apply it to our lives in a practical and effective manner, enabling us to impact the lives of others and bring change to our world through our application of the Gospel.
Bible Study Agenda
- Prayer
- Song
- Bible Study/Topic Discussion
- Questions/Answers/open discussion
- Close with prayer
Study Focus for Saturday, November 24, 2012
Life in the Spirit – The Bible explicitly states that we should “walk in the spirit” in order to have the life God wants for us. But what does that mean and how exactly do we do it?
Key Points of Discussion:
- Review
- Renewing the Mind/Soul
- Tri-part nature of Man
- The Gospel of Grace
- Life “In the Spirit”
Review
- Change begins with renewing your mind and it is a process, not a one time event.
- In order for change to take place around you, it must begin with you. Change begins with renewing your mind and altering the way you think to line up with God’s Word (Romans 12:1, 2).
- Change can be a difficult process; however, it is necessary – People love the result of change; however, they don’t always like the process.
- Change involves adding and subtracting things to and from your life.
- Doing the same thing and expecting different results is insanity – Nothing will change unless you do something different. There must be a putting on and a taking off to experience change – For example, when you change a baby’s diaper, you take off the old diaper, clean the baby and put on the new one. You must put off the old man (how you used to be), and put on the new man (who you are in Christ). (Ephesians 4:22-24).
- Many Christians, try to keep the old and then put on the new; however, in order to experience change you must get rid of the old, and then add the new. Apply the “Chain of Destiny!”
- Man is a tri-part being—spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
- We ARE spirit beings, created in the image and likeness of God.
- We POSESS a soul – our mind, will and emotions.
- We LIVE INSIDE of a body.
- The spirit was never designed to be led by the Body, or by the worldly, sense-knowledge of the mind, but by the Word of God. We are spirits and must keep our bodies and minds in subjection to the Word of God.
- Grace is the power that we have through Jesus not only saves and restores us to right standing with God, but also helps us live victoriously.
- When we become born again, God not only gives us the grace to receive salvation, He also gives us the grace to live our lives in a way that pleases Him. There is grace available for everything we will ever need in life; however, we must remember that we access grace through faith in God’s Word (Ephesians 2:4-10, Romans 3:21-31, 5:1-5).
- We are the righteousness of God through grace (2 Corinthians 5:21). God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) increase in our lives (2 Corinthians 9:6-8, AMP).
Life in the Spirit
Scripture References
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Romans 7:4-6
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Galatians 2:19
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Galatians 5:18-23
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Galatians 5:3-4
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Romans 8:26-28
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2 Corinthians 3
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Deuteronomy 28
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Ephesians 5:15-18, 19
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Acts 10:43-44
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2 Corinthians 3:5-9
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1 Corinthians 14:4,5,2, 14, 15, 38-89
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Jude 1:20-21
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Acts 19:2-6
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Mark 16:14-18
Summary
The life of a Christian is a life of being led constantly, through any and all situations by the Spirit of God. The Bible is very explicit about this. Even so, many of us attempt to live our lives as best we can “on our own” and tap into the leading of God when “necessary” – times of extreme uncertainty or despair. Or just when you come to the end of the things hat you can easily and directly control in life. How do we make the transition from being the “spare tire” type of Christian to the live the life that God called us to? When we confess Jesus as our Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within our hearts. We must allow this powerful force to lead us in order to live a successful and effective life as a believer. We must learn to hear and obey his voice at all times – this facilitates the constant release of the power of God in all aspects of our lives!
- The Law demands, The Spirit imparts.
- Under the grace of God, we are dead to the law, and birthed into a life in The Spirit (Romans 7:4, Galatians 2:19).
- The law you try to keep, you break because the law activates your flesh. Attempting to manifest righteousness through your flesh is the REAL fall from grace (Galatians 6:11-14, Galatians 5:1-4).The Spirit however, activates grace. In the Bible, The Law is referred to as the ministry of death and the Spirit is the ministry of Life (2 Corinthians 3:5-9, Romans 7:5-6)
- By GRACE, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law (Deut 28, Gal 3:13).
- Walk in The Spirit
- Understand the Grace of God and what it means to you (Acts 10:43-44).
- Be FILLED with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:15-19, Acts 2:1-4)
- Keep the Spirit in your mouth (Joshua 1:8, James 3:1-8)
- Praying in The Spirit
- Praying in the Spirit (aka. Praying in tongues) is a powerful tool that is available to EVERY BELIEVER that allows us to pray using the spirit of God to pray for whatever is necessary. (Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 12:7, Corinthians 14:4,5,2,14-15, 38-39)
- Praying in tongues releases the things of God
- Praying in tongues crucifies the flesh and humbles the pride of man (John 16:7)
- Holy Spirit keeps you walking in the Love of God and builds you up in faith (Jude 1:20-21)
- The Bible EXHORTS us to be filled with the spirit and pray IN TONGUES. The “new tongues” of our Spirit language enables us to live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and be led of the Spirit, have the fruit of the Spirit, manifest the gifts of the Spirit and go from Glory to Glory until we are transformed in into HIS image BY the SPIRIT (Mark 16:14-18, Galatians 5:25, Romans 8:14, Acts 19:2-6)
