Aligning with God: The Power of Community and Spirit
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we continue our series called "Ignite," where we explore how aligning ourselves with God's truth, purposes, promises, and our God-given identity can spark the good life as defined by God. We began with a story about a friend who felt no regrets about a significant decision because she was aligned with God's will. This led us to reflect on how living in alignment with God brings confidence, courage, and joy, even when making decisions that seem irrational on paper.
We then turned to the book of Acts to see how the early church ignited a global movement despite having no resources, power, or military. Jesus' final instructions to His disciples were to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. This waiting period was emotionally taxing, but it was essential for receiving the power to be His witnesses. The disciples had to align themselves with God's commands, promises, and purposes, even when they didn't fully understand or like them.
When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples at Pentecost, it empowered them to speak in various languages, declaring the wonders of God to a diverse crowd. This miraculous event led to the conversion of about 3,000 people. The Holy Spirit not only changes individual lives but also transforms communities, enabling them to achieve what no single person could do alone.
We discussed the importance of being part of a Spirit-filled community, as it is through collective effort that we can change the world. The early church's alignment with God's will led to unprecedented growth and impact, a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit working through a united community.
Finally, we reflected on the call to repentance and baptism as a way to realign our lives with God. Repentance is both a one-time and ongoing process, while baptism is a public declaration of our commitment to Jesus. As we prepare for communion, we are reminded that this sacrament is a means of aligning ourselves with the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection.
### Key Takeaways
1. Alignment with God's Will Brings Confidence and Joy: When we align ourselves with God's truth, purposes, promises, and our God-given identity, we experience a life of confidence and joy. This alignment allows us to make courageous decisions that may seem irrational to the world but are deeply rooted in faith. [01:06]
2. The Power of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, enabling us to declare the wonders of God in ways that others can understand. This power is not for personal gain but for the purpose of spreading the gospel and transforming lives. [07:09]
3. Community Over Individualism: While the Holy Spirit works in individuals, it is through Spirit-filled communities that the world is changed. Collective efforts achieve what no single person can, demonstrating the importance of being part of a church community. [17:50]
4. The Call to Repentance and Baptism: Repentance is an ongoing process of realigning our lives with God's will, while baptism is a public declaration of our commitment to Jesus. Both are essential steps in experiencing the fullness of God's promises and the power of the Holy Spirit. [27:38]
5. Overcoming Cynicism: Cynicism can blind us to the miracles happening around us. By aligning ourselves with God's truth and promises, we can overcome the cynical voices in our heads and experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. [22:35]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - The Story of Alignment
[02:21] - Algebra 1 and the Good Life
[03:28] - Introduction to Acts
[04:44] - Jesus' Final Instructions
[05:57] - The Emotional Ringer
[07:09] - The Promise of the Holy Spirit
[08:12] - The Role of Witnesses
[09:21] - The Disciples' New Purpose
[10:34] - Aligning with God's Commands
[12:58] - The Impact of Obedience
[14:15] - The Power of Prayer and Waiting
[15:28] - The Miracle of Pentecost
[17:50] - Spirit-Filled Communities
[19:03] - The Importance of Community
[20:15] - Collective Efforts in the Church
[22:35] - Overcoming Cynicism
[23:48] - Peter's Courageous Stand
[25:12] - The Impact of the Early Church
[26:28] - The Call to Repentance
[27:38] - The Role of Baptism
[28:45] - Receiving the Holy Spirit
[29:48] - Aligning with God's Will
[30:45] - The Courage to Obey
[31:38] - The Importance of Repentance
[32:46] - Communion and Alignment
[34:58] - Prayer and Realignment
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Acts 1:4-5: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
2. Acts 2:1-4: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
3. Acts 2:38: "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What were Jesus' final instructions to His disciples before He ascended to heaven? (Acts 1:4-5)
2. Describe the events that took place on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:1-4.
3. According to Peter in Acts 2:38, what are the steps to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit instead of immediately sending them out? [04:44]
2. How did the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost empower the disciples to fulfill their mission? [15:28]
3. What is the significance of repentance and baptism in aligning one's life with God's will, according to Peter's sermon? [27:38]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt aligned with God's will. How did it impact your confidence and decision-making? [01:06]
2. The disciples had to wait for the Holy Spirit, which was emotionally taxing. How do you handle periods of waiting in your spiritual journey? [05:57]
3. The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in various languages, making the gospel accessible to a diverse crowd. How can you make the message of Jesus understandable to those around you? [15:28]
4. Being part of a Spirit-filled community is essential for collective impact. How can you contribute to your church community to help it fulfill its mission? [17:50]
5. Peter called for repentance and baptism as steps to realign with God. Is there an area in your life where you need to repent and seek realignment with God's will? [27:38]
6. Cynicism can blind us to the miracles around us. Are there cynical voices in your life that you need to overcome to fully experience God's transformative power? [22:35]
7. The early church's alignment with God's will led to unprecedented growth and impact. What steps can you take this week to better align your life with God's purposes and promises? [29:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Confidence and Joy in Alignment with God's Will
When we align ourselves with God's truth, purposes, promises, and our God-given identity, we experience a life of confidence and joy. This alignment allows us to make courageous decisions that may seem irrational to the world but are deeply rooted in faith. The story of a friend who felt no regrets about a significant decision because she was aligned with God's will illustrates this point. Living in alignment with God brings confidence, courage, and joy, even when making decisions that seem irrational on paper. [01:06]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made that seemed irrational to others but felt right to you. How did aligning with God's will give you confidence and joy in that decision?
Day 2: The Empowering Presence of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, enabling us to declare the wonders of God in ways that others can understand. This power is not for personal gain but for the purpose of spreading the gospel and transforming lives. The early church ignited a global movement despite having no resources, power, or military, all because they waited for the Holy Spirit as Jesus instructed. When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples at Pentecost, it empowered them to speak in various languages, leading to the conversion of about 3,000 people. [07:09]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? How can you use this power to witness to others about Jesus?
Day 3: The Importance of Spirit-Filled Community
While the Holy Spirit works in individuals, it is through Spirit-filled communities that the world is changed. Collective efforts achieve what no single person can, demonstrating the importance of being part of a church community. The early church's alignment with God's will led to unprecedented growth and impact, a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit working through a united community. Being part of a Spirit-filled community is essential for achieving God's purposes and transforming lives. [17:50]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: How can you contribute to your Spirit-filled community to help achieve collective goals? What specific actions can you take this week to support and encourage others in your church?
Day 4: The Call to Repentance and Baptism
Repentance is an ongoing process of realigning our lives with God's will, while baptism is a public declaration of our commitment to Jesus. Both are essential steps in experiencing the fullness of God's promises and the power of the Holy Spirit. The early church emphasized the importance of repentance and baptism as a way to realign lives with God. As we prepare for communion, we are reminded that this sacrament is a means of aligning ourselves with the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection. [27:38]
Acts 2:38 (ESV): "And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to repent and realign with God's will? How can you publicly declare your commitment to Jesus through baptism or another act of faith?
Day 5: Overcoming Cynicism Through God's Promises
Cynicism can blind us to the miracles happening around us. By aligning ourselves with God's truth and promises, we can overcome the cynical voices in our heads and experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The early church's experience at Pentecost shows how the Holy Spirit can transform lives and communities, overcoming doubt and cynicism. Aligning with God's promises helps us see and participate in the miraculous work He is doing in the world. [22:35]
2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV): "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Reflection: What cynical thoughts or doubts are you struggling with today? How can you take these thoughts captive and align them with God's promises to experience His transformative power?
Quotes
1. "When we align ourselves with God, she used that word align, when we align ourselves with all the things that are true about God, releases us and sparks this good life, sparks courage, sparks joy, sparks crazy, wise, courageous decisions like to not sell your business, even when on paper it made sense to do so." [01:06] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we're aligned with God's A, B, C, and D, that is when we line up with these four things that are true about God and true about us, that is what ignites the good life. And by the good life, we mean the way that God defines the good life. Totally submitted and lockstep with who God is, what God's up to, what does it mean to be a child of God, what does it mean to sort of be aligned with all the things of God." [02:21] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God's commands always serve God's purposes. And there's a call on them, a command, wait in Jerusalem. Don't go nowhere. The disciples have to choose, are we going to do that or not? Are we going to obey that command? Are we going to obey that command? Are we going to obey that command? Are we going to obey that command or not?" [10:34] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When the Holy Spirit falls on you, it gives you the power to demonstrate the truth and goodness of God in ways people around you can understand, receive. That's what the Holy Spirit does. The Holy Spirit falls on you. God gives you the gift of the Holy Spirit that you might demonstrate his wonders to people who don't yet know, people who don't yet believe." [15:28] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Spirit-filled communities change the whole world. There's 120 people gathered together. The passage in Acts lists 15 different people groups, 15 different people groups and different languages being spoken by these 120 people. One person could not have spoken all 15 different languages at the same time. They're proclaiming the wonders of God in 15 different languages between 120 different people spread out through this crowd." [17:50] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Listen, people walking by themselves in the woods don't build hospitals. People walking by themselves in the woods don't feed millions of hungry people. People walking by themselves in the woods don't help other people save their marriage. People walking by themselves in the woods is great. It doesn't change the world. It's not how God designed it. God designed us to be in community." [20:15] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The cynical voice can't even see a miracle when it happens right in front of them, right? The cynic in you or around you has no capacity to perceive even a miracle when it happens right in front of them. They will write it off. And so, my friends, those of you who battle, battle the cynical voice, right now, right here in your head, some of you feel it. I want you to look at this passage. I want you to hear, you don't want to be this guy." [22:35] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If you had to place a bet here in Acts chapter 2, 2,000 years ago, who would still be standing 2,000 years later? Rome or this little small splinter Jewish group led by an uneducated fisherman named Peter? Who would still be standing 2,000 years later? You know what you would have bet? You would have bet the house, the farm, and your local aqueduct on Rome. And you would have been wrong." [25:12] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Repentance is a first-time work and an ongoing work. Where it literally means change direction, U-turn, change course. In the Greek, it means change your mind. Change your mind about what matters most. Change your mind around what you're aligning your life around, whether that's your politics or your career or your money or your ability to kind of make your own decisions and kind of being left alone, whether it's what other people think about you." [27:38] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Spirit-filled individuals change lives. That's a part of what God's doing in us. Spirit-filled communities change lives. Change the world. I want to invite you to find your place. If you haven't yet found a place in a church community, please, please, please step in. There's a reason why God has given us to each other. I want to invite you to find your place to step in, to bring your gifts, that we might be the fruitful church that God's inviting us to be." [30:45] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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