Becoming Spiritually Sensitive Through Obedience and Humility
Summary
In our gathering tonight, we focused on the theme of becoming more spiritually sensitive. This journey begins with understanding the importance of obeying the Word of God, which trains us to follow the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit, who authored the Scriptures, will never lead us contrary to the Word. Therefore, our obedience to the Word is foundational in discerning the Spirit's guidance in our lives. We also explored the significance of spending time with God to recognize His voice. Just as we become familiar with a loved one's voice through repeated interactions, so too do we learn to discern God's voice through consistent communion with Him.
Walking humbly before God is crucial to avoid being led astray. Knowledge can puff us up, but humility keeps us grounded and receptive to God's leading. We reflected on Peter's experience, where he went from receiving divine revelation to being rebuked by Jesus for speaking contrary to God's will. This serves as a reminder of the importance of humility in our spiritual journey.
We delved into the Spirit's witness in our lives, highlighting five key aspects: conviction, conversion, Christlikeness, correction, and guidance. Conviction is the Spirit's way of drawing us closer to God, inviting us to bring our sins and burdens to Him. Conversion is the transformative work of the Spirit, assuring us of our new identity as children of God. Christlikeness is the fruit of the Spirit's work in us, manifesting in love, joy, peace, and other virtues. Correction is the Spirit's loving discipline, guiding us back to the right path. Finally, the Spirit provides guidance, leading us into all truth and helping us discern God's will.
As we continue to grow in spiritual sensitivity, we are encouraged to remain open to the Spirit's leading, allowing Him to shape us into the image of Christ. This journey is ongoing, and as we commit to it, we will see the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our lives, bringing us closer to God and aligning us with His purposes.
Key Takeaways:
1. Obeying the Word of God: Obedience to Scripture is essential for spiritual sensitivity. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Bible, will not lead us contrary to it. By obeying the Word, we align ourselves with the Spirit's guidance, allowing us to discern His voice and follow His leading. [35:10]
2. Recognizing God's Voice: Spending time with God helps us recognize His voice. Just as we become familiar with a loved one's voice through repeated interactions, we learn to discern God's voice through consistent communion with Him. This involves both speaking to God and listening for His response. [43:04]
3. Walking Humbly Before God: Humility is crucial in our spiritual journey. Knowledge can lead to pride, but humility keeps us grounded and receptive to God's leading. Peter's experience reminds us of the importance of humility in discerning God's will and avoiding deception. [48:08]
4. The Spirit's Witness: The Holy Spirit's witness in our lives includes conviction, conversion, Christlikeness, correction, and guidance. Each aspect plays a vital role in our spiritual growth, drawing us closer to God and aligning us with His purposes. [55:14]
5. Guidance and Correction: The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and corrects us when we stray. This loving discipline helps us stay on the right path and grow in Christlikeness. By remaining open to the Spirit's leading, we become more sensitive to His guidance and experience spiritual growth. [01:08:39]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Opening Prayer and Worship
- [02:00] - Introduction to Spiritual Sensitivity
- [05:45] - Obeying the Word of God
- [12:30] - Recognizing God's Voice
- [18:15] - Walking Humbly Before God
- [25:00] - The Spirit's Witness: Conviction
- [30:45] - Conversion and Assurance
- [35:10] - Christlikeness and Spiritual Growth
- [40:00] - Correction and Discipline
- [45:30] - Guidance and Decision Making
- [50:00] - The Role of Humility
- [55:14] - The Spirit's Ministry in Our Lives
- [01:05:00] - Closing Thoughts and Prayer
- [01:10:39] - Invitation for Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Becoming More Spiritually Sensitive
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
2. Romans 8:12-17
3. John 10:27
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, what are the purposes of Scripture in a believer's life? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on obeying the Word of God? [35:10]
2. In Romans 8:14, what does it mean to be led by the Spirit of God, and how does this relate to our identity as children of God? [48:08]
3. How does the pastor describe the process of recognizing God's voice, and what analogy does he use to explain this concept? [43:04]
4. What example from Peter's life was used in the sermon to illustrate the importance of humility in our spiritual journey? [48:08]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the pastor explain the relationship between obeying the Word of God and following the Spirit of God? Why is obedience emphasized over mere study? [35:10]
2. What role does humility play in avoiding spiritual deception, according to the sermon? How does Peter's experience serve as a warning for believers? [48:08]
3. The sermon mentions the Spirit's witness in our lives, including conviction and correction. How can believers distinguish between conviction from the Holy Spirit and condemnation from other sources? [55:14]
4. How does spending time with God help believers recognize His voice, and what practical steps can be taken to improve this recognition? [43:04]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current practice of reading the Bible. How can you move from merely reading to actively obeying the Word in your daily life? What changes might you need to make? [35:10]
2. Consider a time when you felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you be more open to the Spirit's conviction in the future? [55:14]
3. Think about your prayer life. How can you incorporate more listening into your time with God to better recognize His voice? What specific steps will you take this week to practice this? [43:04]
4. In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride? How can you cultivate humility to ensure you remain open to God's leading? Reflect on Peter's experience and how it might apply to you. [48:08]
5. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that you want to see more of in your life. What specific actions can you take this week to cultivate this fruit? [58:40]
6. How can you ensure that your spiritual sensitivity is growing? What practices or habits can you implement to become more attuned to the Holy Spirit's guidance? [01:08:39]
7. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in that decision? What can you learn from that experience to apply to future decisions? [01:10:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning with the Spirit through Obedience
Obedience to the Word of God is foundational for spiritual sensitivity. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Scriptures, will never lead us contrary to them. By aligning our lives with the teachings of the Bible, we open ourselves to the Spirit's guidance, allowing us to discern His voice and follow His leading. This obedience is not just about following rules but about cultivating a heart that is receptive to God's direction. As we commit to obeying the Word, we find ourselves more attuned to the Spirit's promptings, leading to a deeper relationship with God. [35:10]
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific area of your life is God calling you to greater obedience today? How can you take a concrete step to align with His Word?
Day 2: Cultivating Intimacy to Hear God's Voice
Recognizing God's voice requires spending intentional time with Him. Just as we become familiar with a loved one's voice through repeated interactions, we learn to discern God's voice through consistent communion with Him. This involves both speaking to God and listening for His response. By setting aside dedicated time for prayer and reflection, we create space to hear from God and grow in our understanding of His character and will. [43:04]
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, ESV)
Reflection: What specific time can you set aside today to listen for God's voice? How will you ensure this time is free from distractions?
Day 3: Embracing Humility in Our Spiritual Walk
Walking humbly before God is crucial in our spiritual journey. Knowledge can lead to pride, but humility keeps us grounded and receptive to God's leading. Peter's experience, where he went from receiving divine revelation to being rebuked by Jesus, serves as a reminder of the importance of humility in discerning God's will and avoiding deception. By embracing humility, we remain open to correction and guidance from the Spirit, allowing us to grow in our faith. [48:08]
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility today, especially in your interactions with others? How might this openness to humility change your perspective?
Day 4: Experiencing the Spirit's Transformative Work
The Holy Spirit's witness in our lives includes conviction, conversion, Christlikeness, correction, and guidance. Each aspect plays a vital role in our spiritual growth, drawing us closer to God and aligning us with His purposes. Conviction invites us to bring our sins and burdens to God, while conversion assures us of our new identity as His children. Christlikeness is the fruit of the Spirit's work in us, manifesting in virtues like love, joy, and peace. Correction and guidance help us stay on the right path, leading us into all truth. [55:14]
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: Which aspect of the Spirit's work do you feel most present in your life right now? How can you cooperate with the Spirit to deepen this work?
Day 5: Remaining Open to the Spirit's Leading
As we continue to grow in spiritual sensitivity, we are encouraged to remain open to the Spirit's leading, allowing Him to shape us into the image of Christ. This journey is ongoing, and as we commit to it, we will see the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our lives, bringing us closer to God and aligning us with His purposes. By staying receptive to the Spirit's guidance and correction, we experience spiritual growth and transformation. [01:08:39]
"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to be more open to the Spirit's leading? How can you actively seek His guidance today?
Quotes
Obeying the word of God trains you to follow the spirit of God. Think about that. Obeying the word of God trains you to follow the spirit of God. Who's the author of holy scripture? The holy spirit. The holy spirit moved among men of old. God breathed upon them through his spirit, and we believe that the words that they wrote were the exact words that the Lord wanted written. [00:31:12] (35 seconds)
Spending time with God helps you to recognize the voice of God. Now, the first time that I met Mickey and the first time I heard her voice, that I knew it was her voice, I probably heard her voice six or seven months before we met officially because she was cheerleading on one sideline and I was on the opposite team. [00:35:10] (27 seconds)
And the truth is there's a certain amount of trial and error that you miss it. Well, that wasn't the Lord. You do it. He comes. That was the Lord. And so, you learn to better recognize the voice of the Lord in this way by spending time with him. Now, if you're spending all your time just praying and talking to him, it's probably going to take you longer to learn and recognize and discern his voice. [00:36:51] (30 seconds)
Walking humbly before God keeps you from being led away from God. Knowledge puffs up if we are not careful because of our default mechanism being people who are not strangers to pride. Sometimes arrogance is not a distant cousin or sometimes maybe we've read so much, studied so much, prayed so much, been in church so much that we start having an air of superiority. [00:39:09] (39 seconds)
The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. Not, this helps me. We're led by the Holy Spirit. Come, follow me. That's what a shepherd does. The butcher drives sheep to the slaughter. So, when the Holy Spirit's convicting, He's inviting you to draw near to God. He's inviting you to bring your sin, bring your stuff, bring your brokenness, bring your anger, bring your pornography, bring your lust, bring your adultery, bring your addiction, bring your bitterness, bring your unforgiveness, bring your grudges. [00:50:08] (43 seconds)
Condemnation will not draw you to the Lord it'll make you run from the Lord case in point a perfect man perfect woman commit the first sin and the first instinct of the fallen heart is to run and hide from God but what did God do you have to put scriptures together the Lord is of two pure eyes to behold evil but you know what he did when his kids ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he went looking for them. [00:52:07] (36 seconds)
When you were saved, you were born again by the Spirit of God. And this verse we just read in Romans 8 verse 16, that's a refrigerator verse. That's when you want to highlight in your Bible. That's when you want to tattoo on your heart. I'm talking about deep down inside your heart. All right? The Spirit Himself, let me personalize it, will bear witness with you that you belong to God. [00:55:04] (38 seconds)
The Spirit Himself is responsible to make known to you that you are now intimately known by Him as His child. So, I try to be careful when I lead someone to the Lord, I'll show them the Scripture. This says, whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Did you call on the name of the Lord? Yes. Then, according to what God's Word says, what happens to you? [00:55:50] (32 seconds)
But they need to know from the Spirit Himself and have that assurance internally that they're saved. You can go years without having that assurance that you want because of wrong teaching. And I know this because I know when I gave my heart to Jesus at 10 years of age and I had several years where I was getting lost and saved several times a week because that's how I was taught and that's how I believed. [00:57:37] (32 seconds)
The last thing is ministry of the Holy Spirit. He will guide us into all truth. And through that, He will direct us. He'll give guidance in our life. And He can do it through the written word. He can do it through a dream. He can do it through a prophetic word. He can do it through a vision. He can make God's way, direction, known to us very specifically in a number of ways. [01:09:07] (27 seconds)
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