Week 7 - Being Filled By The Holy Spirit
- Mar 23
- 4 min read
Being Filled By The Holy Spirit
Colossians 3:1-10
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
I. Opening & The "Cup" Metaphor (8 Minutes)
Goal: To understand why we often feel "half-full" despite our faith.
Scripture Focus: Read Colossians 3:1–4. We are called to set our hearts on "things above" because our life is now hidden with Christ.
The Metaphor: Our lives are like a glass; God desires His presence to flow into us and out of us.
The Reality: Often, the glass is full of "dirty rocks" (sin patterns) and "contaminated water" (bad quality of life), leaving limited capacity for the Spirit.
Questions:
What do you think about the idea of fostering a healthy relationship with yourself?
We often feel "frazzled, harried, or running on empty". Which of those words best describes your spiritual state lately?
II. Identifying the "Rocks": Awareness (12 Minutes)
Goal: To recognise the specific signals of our "earthly nature".
Scripture Focus: Read Colossians 3:5–10. We must "put to death" the old self and its practices, such as greed, anger, and lying.
Early Warning Signs: We cannot die to what we are not aware of. We each have "tips of the rock" poking out—like impatience, self-pity, or a competitive spirit—that show deeper work is needed.
Questions:
What are the early warning signs that you are starting to live out of your old, sinful self?
Why are we often so good at spotting stuck patterns in other people but sometimes blind to our own shortcomings?
Common warning signs include "worrying your way to peace," self-pity, or a competitive spirit. Which of these—or others—do you notice most in your own life?
III. The Inner Critic vs. The Holy Spirit (10 Minutes)
Goal: To distinguish between condemnation and conviction.
Scripture Focus: Read Romans 7:24–8:2. While we may feel "wretched" in our own effort, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because the law of the Spirit has set us free.
The Two Voices: The inner critic condemns our core identity and keeps us stuck, while the Holy Spirit convicts our behaviour and offers a path to repair and forgiveness.
Questions:
What are some of the messages that your inner critic sends you when you make a mistake?
What is God’s truth of who you are in Christ that can counter this?
Looking at the "Who I Am in Christ" list, which specific identity (e.g., "I am God's child," "I am complete in Christ") do you find hardest to believe when you've failed?
IV. Moving Deep: False Beliefs (10 Minutes)
Goal: To address the "unreliable narrator" in our hearts.
The "Big 5" False Beliefs: These are survival strategies like Control, Perfection, Knowing the answer, Being the saviour, or seeking Approval.
The Biblical Truth: * Control: God works out everything in conformity with His will (Ephesians 1:11).
Perfection: God is the Rock whose works are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Knowledge: Nothing is hidden from God's sight (Hebrews 4:13).
Saving: God is our ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
Approval: We are already chosen and accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:4-6).
Questions:
Can you think of a book or a movie that uses an unreliable narrator?
Which of the "Big 5" are you most prone to: control, perfection, knowing the answer, being there for people, or approval?
Can you recall a recent time when you succumbed to one of the Big 5? What happened?
What is an unreliable narration in your life that can get you into trouble, and what is the equivalent truth based on the Bible to counter this?
V. Application & Closing (5 Minutes)
Goal: To commit to small, grace-based changes.
Questions:
Can you think of other influences on the sinful self that have not been mentioned?
How can you increase your awareness of God and relax into His presence by just 5% or 10% more this week?
Closing Prayer Exercise: Fill in the blanks for your own prayer this week:
"Jesus died, so I don’t have to ________ anymore."
"Jesus died to free me from needing ________ anymore."
