CFC Youth for Christ Youth Camp

Talk 4 : Receiving Gods Gift: The Power of the Holy Spirit

Expanded outline Note: Should be given 1 hour at the most. Goal of the speaker should make the participants willing to receive the Holy Spirit and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It would be better if the speaker can illustrate the bible verses of the talk. I. INTRODUCTION : Christians Today and Before A.. Christians today: Christians today can't seem to live as they should; They seem weak, lacking power. (Give examples / illustrate) However, Christians were not always like that. B. Christians before: The Christians in the early Church possessed a certain strength and boldness of character, a power that attracted so many to join this group of fishermen, slaves, Gentiles and Jews. So many converts from different races, nations, social strata were brought into their fold. By 325 AD, the Emperor of Rome himself became a Christian. And today, it is the largest faith in the world. What was this power that transformed 12 insignificant men and their brethren into the pillars that established Christendom? It wasn't human might or intellect, it was the Power of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that continues to fill and transform the lives of so many Christians today.

II. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A. Misconceptions: 1. God's messenger 2. The dove in Christ's baptism B. The Holy Spirit is God, the 3rd Person in the Blessed Trinity. C. God's promised spirit 1. A New Heart and a New Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27) God promised a spirit that will enable all men to follow Him. He promised to give men "A new heart and a new Spirit... 2. The Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37 : 1 14) This story gives us a vision of what the Power of His Holy Spirit can do.

In scriptures, the wind is often used to refer to Gods Sprit. -- Gods Holy Spirit can fill us and bring life, help us live as His sons and daughters. 3. Gods Spirit brings about a. United with God When we receive the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin a personal and intimate relationship with God. Gods word becomes alive in us as we read scripture. We hear Him speaking to us in our hearts and we experience Him touching our lives. b. A new you (Galatians 5: 22 - 23) As we grow in our personal relationship with God, He slowly molds us into His likeness, removing the selfishness in our hearts, making us more loving, more like Jesus. c. Power to serve ( Acts 1:8) Gods Spirit empowers us to serve, giving us the boldness to speak His words and making us willing to face the challenge of bringing others to Him, in spite of the difficulties and trials we may face. (Note: In sharing the 3 points above, the speaker should share his own experiences of these 3 points.) III. HOW DO WE RECEIVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A. The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-8) Narrate in your own words this passage. Praying for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit may not be exactly like this event. But we can take certain points from this event to help and guide us in receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1. We ask. (Luke 11:9-10) In faith, we know that when we ask for it, it will be given to us. 2. We believe. (Luke 11:13) We should believe that when we ask for God's Holy Spirit, He will surely give it. B. What do we specifically as for? 1. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 2. Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) a. These are gifts that God gives to help us in our Christian lives. Include the gifts of the Holy Spirit with brief explanation of each gifts, should have a standard list of gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1. Wisdom is not just good practical judgment or common sense or a high degree of knowledge. The wisdom that is of the Spirit is centered on Jesus.

2. Healing is the supernatural ability to effect a cure of physical or other human illness through prayer 3. Miracles- is the supernatural ability to perform miraculous act, acts that are not the result of any known natural law or agency but are caused by divine intervention. 4. Prophecy- is the gift by which a person is used by God to speak on his behalf 5. Discernment- is the gift by which a person can recognize the spirit behind a particular situation. 6. Faith- is not just an intellectual belief in God, but a confident assurance in God which allows us to move forward without any doubt at all. 7. Tongues- is a charismatic gift by which a person is able to utter words or sounds which are not known or understandable to his human intellect. 8. Knowledge is not just knowing a lot of things through study or experience. Knowledge that is of the spirit is the fruit of revelation, founded on faith, and synthesized by Christian experience. 9. Interpretation- is a companion to the gift of tongues, when used for prophecy, and is necessary so that those who hear may understand, and so be edified. (Each gift should be explained thoroughly by the DGLs during one-to-ones session) b. Explain especially the Gift of Tongues. It is a gift of prayer - It is a prayer that only God can understand and only we can speak. Because of this spiritual gift, our souls are able to say what it really wants to express to God. This spiritual gift pleases God. We humble ourselves when we pray in a language we don't understand. This total humility pleases God. The gift of tongues becomes a doorway to the other spiritual gifts. C. Hindrances to receiving the Holy Spirit. 1. I am never wrong (self righteousness) Sin alienates us from God. When we refuse to be repentant for our sin, we keep ourselves from experiencing God and His Spirit. This is why we need to go to confession. 2. Am I worthy? (self pity) Everyone is unworthy, what the Lord requires is simply a humble spirit that approaches Him in repentance and asks for forgiveness. 3. I am too cool for this (pride) keeps us from acknowledging our need for God, and asking Him into our lives, but God will keep on knocking until we're humble enough to ask Him in. If we're afraid of looking foolish, we must humble ourselves if we are to receive God's Spirit. Note : People are often willing to look foolish for other reasons, e.g. concerts, basketball games, celebrities. We should be more willing to look foolish for God. 4. Are you for real? Doubt Encourage the participants to focus on what's true. God promised His spirit and He won't go back on His word.

IV. CONCLUSION (This portion may be omitted if the speaker will be conducting the baptism or Pray over Session) Recall Ezekiel 37:1-14 Living the Christian life seems almost impossible. But we have a hope, a hope in god's promise. . . His Holy Spirit which strengthens us and gives us the gifts we need in order to live as true sons and daughters of God. Note : Our next activity will be the commitment ceremony and pray over session. Give the participant a general view of what they can expect. The Speaker must ask the participants to stretch and exercise a bit to avoid people sleeping while the session is ongoing. V. PRAY OVER SESSION EXPLANATION (omit the term Baptism Ceremony)

Note: We recommend that the speaker should conduct the baptism or pray over session.
Our purpose tonight is to ask the Lord for the power of His Holy spirit that enables us to live as true Christians. To do this, we will first have to come before our Lord, believe and accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior and commit our lives to Him. After this, we will pray with one another for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. A. Explain the Baptism. 1. This is not a new baptism. We were all baptized when we became Catholics. What we want to do now is to pray for one another so that we can immerse ourselves in God's Spirit and be empowered as Christians. 2. Explain the process of Baptism / praying over session a. First, we will be having a Commitment to Christ Ceremony where you will be encourage to accept the Holy Spirit because receiving the Holy is receiving Christ. b. After this, your discussion group leaders will approach you and bring you somewhere more conducive and private for the pray-over. c. Process of praying over. * Prayer of Thanksgiving: Your discussion group leaders will thank the Lord for the commitment that you just made. * Prayer of Deliverance: Casting out the works of Satan in you life. (e.g. "In the name of Jesus, spirit of deceit we cast you out".) * Prayer for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit / spiritual gifts. d. After the pray over. * Go back to your seat, we will end together once everyone has been prayed for. * We encourage you to continue to be in an atmosphere of prayer. B. Final tips

1. Relax. Our pray over session, and your decision to follow the Lord, is very important, but don't let this make you anxious. Relax and be at peace, this will make it easier for you to open up to the Lord. 2. Don't expect a particular experience. Expecting one particular type of experience might keep you from recognizing God's work in you. God knows you more than you know yourself. He knows exactly how he should touch you. 3. Don't analyze the sounds you make. In speaking or praying in tongues, just focus on the Lord and praise Him. What comes out of your mouth, and how you praise God is up to Him. 4. Initiate. God respects you, and won't force you to praise Him in tongues. You have to initiate praying in a language you don't know, and then God will inspire you and give you the words to say. (e.g. Even if God has already inspired you to write a song, the song will never be heard unless you actually pick-up a guitar, play the tune and write the words. In the same way, you have to begin praying in tongues by first initiating it.) * Focus on God. Worship Him in your own words. * Once you've run out of words to worship God, utter the first syllables that comes into your mind and use this for worship. * Focus on worshipping God and not the words you use to worship, then let God take control. C. COMMITMENT CEREMONY 1. After the explanation, the speaker or team leader asks the participants to meditate about all the talks. 2. While the participants are meditating, a meditative song may be played (e.g. Here I am to Worship, Heaven). We recommend that there should only be one song for reflection and participants are asked. 3. After the song is sung, the speaker asks those who want to make a commitment to Christ to stand up. Then, the Prayer of Commitment is recited together.

COMMITMENT TO CHRIST Leader : Do you renounce Satan and all wrongdoing?

Participant : Yes, I do. Leader : Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died to free you from sins, that He rose to bring you new life?

Participant : Yes, I do. Leader : Do you choose to follow Jesus as your Lord, to love Him, honor Him and obey Him?

Participant : Yes, I will. PRAYER OF COMMITMENT b(Ask participants to repeat after you.) Lord Jesus Christ,/ I want to belong to you from now on./ I want to be free / from the dominion of darkness/ and the rule of Satan,/ and I want to enter into your kingdom/ and be part of your people./ I will turn away from all wrong doing,/ and I will avoid everything/ that leads me to wrongdoing./ I ask you to forgive/ all the sins that I have committed/ I offer my life to You,/ and I promise to obey you as my Lord. 4. Everyone is then asked to be seated, and wait for their turn to be prayed over. (PRAY OVER SESSION) VI. WORSHIP -is being able to come before the presence of GOD and being able to acknowledge that he alone is GOD. We are created to worship and glorify him. In glorifying him we sing songs of praise and worship. As said by St. Agustine he who sings praise twice. We can Jump and dance like David as he celebrate Gods love in the book of Psalm. We can raise up our hands as a we surrender our lives in prayer. VII. CLOSING EXHORTATION (After the worship) A. Different people different experiences. 1. Some may have prayed in tongues, cried or simply felt God's presence. Others may have had a very simple experience. The Holy Spirit comes to each of us differently. 2. An emotional experience is not an indication of God's Holy Spirit. Rather, focus on the fact, that you committed yourself to Jesus Christ and that is the most important. If you asked for His Spirit, whatever experience you had, He surely gave it to you. B. Satan will tempt you to doubt. * He will never cease in trying to take away the treasure you have just received today. (The speaker should give an example on how satan will tempt them to doubt.) C. Don't expect all your problems to go away.

* Focus on the truth. Now you have God and through all your problems, He will always be there. And these problems will never overwhelm you. D. Go easy on sharing with others what you have experienced. 1. All of these things were first explained to you before they were done. Don't expect your friends to understand you. 2. Try to explain what you went through in a very ordinary and understandable way. Better yet, share to them what you experienced by showing the change in you as Christ begins to dwell at the center of your life. E. Be faithful/ Take care of the Spirit. 1. Like any gift, the gift you received tonight can be lost, so use it. 2. You committed to follow the Lord, be faithful to that decision. 3. Have a daily prayer time where you can experience and get to know God and where He can slowly but surely work in your life daily. VII. CONCLUSION When the Holy Sprit comes upon you, you will be filled with power and you will be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem in all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 (Note : Encourage the participants to be faithful in their commitment to the Lord. God has begun a powerful work in their lives today, He will always be faithful to us, by His Spirit we can be faithful to Him.)