Fuel Up: Stay Spirit-Filled

Preached to: Middle & High School Students

Speaker: Pastor Amanda Hahn

Just like you wouldn't cross a long bridge on an empty tank, we can't expect to navigate life’s pressures and temptations without staying spiritually fueled. This message challenges us to daily fill up on God’s presence so we don’t burn out or lose our way.

3 Key Points:

1. What You Feed Is What Will Lead – Our cravings can either feed the flesh or fuel the Spirit; staying connected to God through prayer, worship, and His Word keeps us strong against temptation.

2. The Holy Spirit Is Your Internal GPS – The Holy Spirit not only empowers us but guides and reroutes us when we get off course, giving wisdom and direction in every situation.

3. Stay Full to Stay Strong – Being Spirit-filled is not a one-time experience; it’s a daily choice to refuel so we can pour into others and handle life’s unexpected detours with confidence.

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• Dinner Table Discussion Guide

  Night 1: Running on Fumes or Full?

  Topic: Recognizing our spiritual fuel level.
  Questions:

  • What does it look like when someone is “spiritually empty”?

  • Have you ever felt like you were running on fumes? What caused it?

  • What habits could help you refuel spiritually on a regular basis?

  Challenge:
  Each person share one thing they will do this week to spiritually refuel (e.g., read a chapter of the Bible, pray in the morning, listen to worship music).

  Night 2: What Are You Feeding?

  Topic: Feeding the Spirit vs. feeding the flesh.
  Questions:

  • What are some examples of things that feed our flesh or sinful nature?

  • What are some things that feed our spirit and help us grow closer to God?

  • How do you recognize which one you’re feeding more?

  Challenge:
  As a family, commit to replacing one “flesh-feeding” activity this week with a “Spirit-feeding” one (e.g., family devotional instead of watching a show).

  Night 3: Letting the Holy Spirit Guide You

  Topic: Trusting the Holy Spirit like a GPS.
  Questions:

  • Have you ever made a decision and felt the Holy Spirit guiding or correcting you?

  • What does it mean to let the Holy Spirit lead your life?

  • How can you better tune in to His voice daily?

  Challenge:
  Pray together as a family and ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide each of you in an area where you need direction.

• Sermon Outline

  INTRO:

  Just like the warning sign before the Pensacola Bay Bridge says “Check Fuel – Long Bridge Ahead,” our lives need regular spiritual fuel to make it through the long stretches and detours of life. Too many of us are running on fumes, spiritually empty, and wondering why we feel stuck, stressed, or burned out. God never meant for us to live that way—He gave us His Spirit to fill us and lead us daily.

  POINT 1: What You Feed Is What Will Lead

  (Galatians 5:16–17)
  We all have cravings—spiritual and sinful—and whichever one we feed will ultimately control our direction. Feed your spirit with God’s Word, prayer, and worship, or your flesh will take over.

  POINT 2: The Holy Spirit Is Your Internal GPS

  (John 16:13)
  The Holy Spirit gives real-time guidance, conviction, and correction. Just like a GPS helps us avoid wrong turns, the Spirit leads us into truth and redirects us when we stray.

  POINT 3: Stay Full to Stay Strong

  (Ephesians 5:18–19)
  Being filled with the Holy Spirit isn’t a one-time experience; it’s a daily necessity. Yesterday’s fuel won’t get you through today’s challenges—continual filling brings sustained strength.

  ACTION STEPS:

  • Fuel Check: Ask yourself—am I running full or on fumes?

  • Daily Refill: Set aside time every day for prayer, Scripture, and worship.

  • Let the Spirit Lead: Tune out distractions and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your choices, thoughts, and relationships.

• Scriptures

  1. Galatians 5:16–17 (NLT)

  So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

  2. John 16:13 (NLT)

  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

  3. Ephesians 5:18–19 (NLT)

  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.