Naturally Supernatural Study - Session 2
The Big Reveal
Part of Naturally Supernatural Sermon Study
December 6, 2020

Session 2 – The Big Reveal

BIG IDEA
To activate the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives, stepping out in the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits.

MAIN SCRIPTURE
Luke 11:9–13 (NIV) – “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

ICEBREAKER
1. If you could have one of the following three superpowers,
which would you pick: A) reading minds, B) knowing the future,
or C) x-ray vision?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
2. What is different about the way the Holy Spirit interacted with people in the Old Testament compared to how He interacts with people in the New Testament?
• Old Testament examples include Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37), Othniel (Judges 3:10), and Gideon (Judges 6:34).
• New Testament examples include Luke 11:13 and Acts 2:4.


3. How do you (personally) hear from God?


4. When we are trying to hear from God, how can we overcome barriers like focusing on our sin and our weakness, our past, fearing failure or the unknown, or feeling unworthy?


5. Can you name a time or an experience where you knew that someone’s word to you or a word in your mind was from God? Please describe the experience.

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE: reveals a fact about someone’s past or present and gives God’s perspective so they can be encouraged, comforted, or built up.
WORD OF WISDOM: reveals part of God’s plan and purpose to help a person be encouraged comforted or built up.
DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS: insight into the spirit world so the kingdom can be advanced.
6. What’s the difference between being naturally knowledgeable, discerning, or wise, as compared to operating in the gifts of word of knowledge, word of wisdom or discerning of spirits?


7. How does the fact that these are gifts coming from a good Father change how you receive them or how you operate in them?


8. According to Luke 11:9-13, the Holy Spirit will be given to whoever asks. Read the story of Simon the Sorcerer is in Acts 8:9-25. Based on Simon’s story, what should be our motivation in asking to be naturally supernatural?

ACTIVATION
Remembering this time is for strengthening, comforting and encouraging one another (and that this is a safe place to develop these gifts) pick a member of the group and take a few moments to ask God if He has a message for them. It could be a prophetic word, a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom.

THIS WEEK
Ask the Holy Spirit for opportunities to strengthen, comfort and encourage the people you come in contact with (at a safe distance 😊).

 
FOR REFERENCE - How to Receive the Gift of Speaking in Tongues

Realize that God commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:17–18)
a) Ask for it – Luke 11:13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
b) Expect to receive it - Believe God that He will give His Holy Spirit to us in accordance with His Word. We receive the Holy Spirit not by our own works, but by believing what we have read and heard from His Word. People tend to lean on sense and emotions; therefore, if one does not have a sense of “righteousness” or “feeling worthy,” one closes oneself off from the blessings of God.
• Galatians 3:2, “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
• Galatians 3:14, “That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
c) We must be willing to submit ourselves to the will of God. In Acts 2:37–38, the people were pricked in their hearts and were willing to ask, “What shall we do?” Peter told them to repent and be baptized and then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Blatant sin, if not dealt with, may hinder our receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:18–23)
d) In faith step out and use it – In faith, we need to step out and begin using and exercising that which God has given us. Faith is the condition upon which one receives from God (Hebrews 11:6, James 1:6–8).
• This is as simple as opening your mouth and beginning to speak your prayer or praise to God. How else will you be able to hear whether your words are in your native language or now in one you don’t yet know?