Read Galatians 5:19-21. God has a way for you to live in order to protect yourself from those evil desires that sometimes fight against you. And if you follow God’s way not only will you protect yourself but experience the Kingdom of God right here and now. The key to this kind of living has to do with the Holy Spirit living inside of you. Read Galatians 5:16-18.

• What are some of the ways you normally protect yourself from daily physical harm?  What about spiritual harm?
• Do you think people around you can tell the Holy Spirit is living inside of you?  How?

Read Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 8:9 & Ephesians 5:18. Since there is this conflict between doing what God wants you to do and doing what you want to do, you must rely on the Holy Spirit to give you power as well as change you from the inside out. Although the means to this kind of living is the Holy Spirit living inside of you, you must learn to ‘Get into the Spirit’ so that you will be led by God in your actions and not by your flesh.

• Name some of the changes that have taken place in your life since you met Jesus?
• How do you distinguish between actions that are from your flesh versus from the Spirit?
• How do you typically fight the desires of your flesh each day?

The first key to being spiritually alive and getting into the Spirit each day is to focus on God in daily prayer. Prayer is everything and the more you are in contact with God the more God will change your ‘to-do’ list to God’s ‘to-do’ list. The second key is to spend time in God’s word, meditating and studying it for direction and life application. Since Scripture is active and alive, getting God’s word into your system will change you as well as take you down the path God desires for your life.

• How much ‘conversation’ do you have with God on a typical day?  How much would you like to have?
• Is getting into the Word a part of your daily routine?  How much time do you spend now and how much would you like to improve on that time?
• What do you think is on God’s ‘to-do’ list for you right now?  What do you need to do to get it done?

The last two keys to getting into the Spirit each day are worship and Christian fellowship. There is something about worship, either alone or in community that allows God to speak to you right where you are. And fellowship with other believers keeps you on track in fulfilling your potential as the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. Many times you might not feel like it or want to go to those gatherings, but in the end you will find yourself in that special place of the Spirit where God will fill you up beyond measure.

• Has God ever moved in you or spoken to you during a time of worship?  Explain.
• How does your cell group help you ‘get into the Spirit’?
• How will you begin seeking that special place in the Spirit more often?  Who will keep you accountable?