Thursday, May 1st

The River Gushes

Read:

Pages 38-47 of River Dwellers

Receiving the Holy Spirit

When you run a race you often fix your eyes on the person in front of you. That is the person you want to pass. To achieve that, it takes effort. Often when you hit that last mile you decide it is time to give that extra effort in pursuit of catching one last person in front of you. You often push yourself more than you thought was possible in those situations. What would it be like if you pursued a relationship with the Holy Spirit like that?

Questions:

1. How are you pursuing the Holy Spirit today?

2. What would it look like to put more effort into your pursuit of the Holy Spirit?

3. Is there someone you could do this with?

Prayer:

Lord, we long for your presence. Give us the strength, desire, focus and determination to pursue you like we did at first. Give us the patience to wait upon you without agenda. To wait knowing that just sitting here with you is enough.

Wednesday, April 30th

The River Gushes

Read:

Pages 28-38 of River Dwellers

Evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is meant to transform us. In my own life I have often thought that it was just to make me more like Jesus intellectually. In today’s reading Rob talks about the Holy Spirit giving us power to perform great deeds. A power to bear bold witness, a power to heal, a power to love supernaturally and a power to speak prophesy. Wow!

Questions:

1. Of the evidences of the Holy Spirit that Rob shared, which of these have you experienced in your life?

2. If you didn’t have an answer for the first question, ask someone else how the Holy Spirit has manifested in your life. The thing I want everyone to avoid is allowing the devil to get a foothold here. It is easy to go down the path where you think God has forgotten you. Trust me, He has not. He loves you more than you can imagine. And maybe you are just taking your first steps into a better understanding of the Holy Spirit and that is okay.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. If I am lacking understanding or the experience of Him, open my mind and heart to receive what you have to offer. Help me to not be afraid, but to have courage to accept what you have for me. Help me to humble myself and to trust you in your timing and your plan for me.

Tuesday, April 29th

The River Gushes

Read:

Pages 21-28 of River Dwellers

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

I find it extremely exciting that God promises to pour out his Spirit on all people (Acts2:16). He says that he will pour it out on all people and they will prophesy, have visions and dream dreams. Uh… yes. Sign me up!

This outpouring, which is for all of us, is meant to empower us to share His love with all of those around us. And yes, that ‘all’ means you. God promises to pour out His Spirit on you.

Questions:

1. Have you been “baptized” by the Holy Spirit? If no, what is stopping you from asking God for this?

2. Do you need a new filling of the Holy Spirit? Were you once empowered, but the glow has faded?

Exercise:

Write down your favorite Holy Spirit experience, even if you are not sure if it was a “baptism”. I encourage you to write down any experience you have had with the Holy Spirit. And I encourage you to not skip out on this or to just do the exercise in your head. There is something that happens when you take a pen or pencil and write out these experiences. Details will come to your mind which you may have forgotten about and there is a good chance that the Holy Spirit will speak to you as you are writing this out.

I am praying that the Lord will impact you through this exercise.

Monday, April 28th

The River Gushes

Introduction

Is the Holy Spirit the least known member of the trinity? I have encountered people who have had an apprehension to the Holy Spirit. I think it is easy to understand the Father and Son as they have titles that we are familiar with. But what is the Spirit?

I don’t know if Jesus helped anything when he described those born of the Spirit to Nicodemus, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

My hope for you as you embark on this study is that you get to know the Spirit better and that you would come to recognize His voice. Also that you would develop a longing for Him and an expectation that He would meet with you every day.

Read:

Pages 13-17 of River Dwellers

Questions:

1. The author, Rob Reimer talks about becoming “spirit people”. What kind of reaction does that stir inside of you?

2. In John 7:37-38 Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come and drink. Do you have any apprehension about drinking deeply of this living water? What changes would you expect in your life if you do fully drink from this river of life?

3. Are you ready to fully surrender to the Holy Spirit?

Prayer:

Pray that God would open your heart and mind to hear His thoughts about the Spirit.