Cultivating Spiritual Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
Summary
### Summary
In today's talk, we explored the concept of being overly sensitive, particularly in the context of our spiritual lives. We began by discussing how people often turn to God in times of need, only to revert to their old ways once their prayers are answered. This cycle of seeking God only in crises leads to a stagnant spiritual life. The key to breaking this cycle is developing a consistent sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
I shared a personal story about watching the Disney movie Tarzan with my son, Zion, to illustrate how our sensitivities can change over time. While we may become more sensitive to certain things as we age, this isn't always true for our spiritual lives. Spiritual sensitivity requires intentional growth and maturity. Just because we are filled with the Holy Spirit at salvation doesn't mean we are automatically sensitive to His guidance. We must cultivate this sensitivity through a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
We delved into the importance of not grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit. Grieving the Holy Spirit happens when we live in ways that are contrary to His nature, such as holding onto our old selves, lying, or harboring bitterness. Quenching the Holy Spirit occurs when we ignore His promptings, effectively telling Him "no." Both actions hinder our spiritual growth and sensitivity.
We also discussed practical steps to enhance our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. These include worshiping the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, taking spiritual breaks to check in with God, reading the Bible until we hear from Him, and asking God for a listening heart. By implementing these practices, we can develop a deeper, more consistent relationship with the Holy Spirit, enabling us to live out our faith more fully and effectively.
### Key Takeaways
1. Break the Cycle of Crisis-Driven Faith: Many people turn to God only in times of crisis and revert to their old ways once their prayers are answered. This cycle leads to spiritual stagnation. Consistent sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is key to breaking this pattern and growing in faith. [00:24]
2. Spiritual Sensitivity Requires Intentional Growth: Just because we are filled with the Holy Spirit at salvation doesn't mean we are automatically sensitive to His guidance. We must intentionally cultivate this sensitivity through a relationship with the Holy Spirit, making mature decisions that align with His will. [04:21]
3. Don't Grieve or Quench the Holy Spirit: Grieving the Holy Spirit happens when we live contrary to His nature, such as holding onto our old selves or harboring bitterness. Quenching the Holy Spirit occurs when we ignore His promptings. Both actions hinder our spiritual growth and sensitivity. [13:04]
4. Worship and Daily Spiritual Breaks: Worshiping the Holy Spirit in our daily lives and taking regular spiritual breaks to check in with God can enhance our sensitivity to His guidance. These practices help us stay connected to the Holy Spirit throughout the day, making us more attuned to His voice. [25:39]
5. Read the Bible Until God Speaks: Approach Bible reading not just for intellectual growth but for intimate communion with God. Read until you hear from Him, and when a verse stands out, pause to reflect and pray. This practice fosters a deeper, more personal relationship with God. [29:17]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - The Cycle of Crisis-Driven Faith
[00:56] - Overly Sensitive: A Personal Story
[04:21] - Spiritual Sensitivity Requires Intentional Growth
[05:08] - Understanding the Holy Spirit
[06:02] - Jesus' Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
[07:22] - John the Baptist's Sensitivity
[08:52] - Jesus' Ministry and the Holy Spirit
[10:09] - Greater Things of the Spirit
[11:04] - Practical Faith and Healing
[12:34] - Six Sensitive Secrets
[13:04] - Don't Grieve the Holy Spirit
[19:38] - The Cycle of Spiritual Stagnation
[23:08] - Don't Quench the Holy Spirit
[25:39] - Worship the Holy Spirit
[26:58] - Take Daily Spiritual Breaks
[29:17] - Read the Bible Until God Speaks
[30:35] - Ask for a Listening Heart
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 4:30 - "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 - "Do not quench the Spirit."
3. Acts 10:38 - "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."
### Observation Questions
1. What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 4:30? How does this concept relate to our daily actions and attitudes?
2. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, what does Paul mean by "quenching the Spirit"? How might this look in a believer's life?
3. According to Acts 10:38, what role did the Holy Spirit play in Jesus' ministry? How does this illustrate the importance of being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance?
4. The sermon mentioned a cycle of crisis-driven faith. What are the characteristics of this cycle, and why is it detrimental to spiritual growth? [00:24]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How can believers avoid grieving the Holy Spirit in their daily lives? What practical steps can be taken to align more closely with the Holy Spirit's guidance? [13:04]
2. What are some common ways people might quench the Holy Spirit, and what are the consequences of doing so? How can we become more responsive to the Holy Spirit's promptings? [23:08]
3. Reflecting on Acts 10:38, how does Jesus' reliance on the Holy Spirit challenge our understanding of spiritual power and ministry? What does this imply about our own need for the Holy Spirit's empowerment?
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of worship and daily spiritual breaks. How do these practices enhance our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? [25:39]
### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you may have grieved the Holy Spirit by holding onto bitterness or lying. How did it affect your spiritual life, and what steps can you take to avoid this in the future? [13:04]
2. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt prompted by the Holy Spirit but chose to ignore it. What was the outcome, and how can you be more obedient to the Holy Spirit's guidance next time? [23:08]
3. Jesus was sensitive to the Holy Spirit in all aspects of His ministry. How can you cultivate a similar sensitivity in your own life? What specific actions can you take this week to listen more closely to the Holy Spirit? [06:02]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of reading the Bible until God speaks. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine? Share a recent experience where a specific Bible verse spoke to you deeply. [29:17]
5. Worship was highlighted as a way to enhance sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. How can you make worship a more integral part of your daily life, beyond just Sunday services? [25:39]
6. The sermon discussed taking daily spiritual breaks. What are some practical ways you can implement this in your busy schedule? How might these breaks impact your relationship with God and your overall spiritual sensitivity? [26:58]
7. The cycle of crisis-driven faith was described as a pattern of seeking God only in times of need. How can you develop a more consistent and mature faith that doesn't rely on crises to draw you closer to God? [00:24]
Devotional
Day 1: Breaking the Cycle of Crisis-Driven Faith
Many people turn to God only in times of crisis and revert to their old ways once their prayers are answered. This cycle leads to spiritual stagnation. Consistent sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is key to breaking this pattern and growing in faith. When we only seek God during emergencies, we miss out on the richness of a continuous relationship with Him. This kind of faith is shallow and does not allow for deep spiritual growth. Instead, we should strive to maintain a constant connection with God, seeking His guidance and presence in both good times and bad.
To break this cycle, we need to develop a habit of daily communion with God. This means setting aside time each day to pray, read the Bible, and listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance. By doing so, we can cultivate a deeper, more consistent relationship with God that goes beyond crisis management. This consistent sensitivity to the Holy Spirit will help us grow in our faith and live out our spiritual lives more fully. [00:24]
Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV): "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Reflection: Think about a time when you only turned to God in a crisis. How can you start building a daily habit of seeking Him, even when things are going well?
Day 2: Intentional Growth in Spiritual Sensitivity
Just because we are filled with the Holy Spirit at salvation doesn't mean we are automatically sensitive to His guidance. We must intentionally cultivate this sensitivity through a relationship with the Holy Spirit, making mature decisions that align with His will. Spiritual sensitivity requires intentional growth and maturity. It involves making a conscious effort to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His lead in our daily lives.
This intentional growth can be achieved through various spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, worship, and Bible study. By engaging in these practices regularly, we can become more attuned to the Holy Spirit's voice and guidance. It's important to remember that this is a lifelong journey, and we must continually seek to grow in our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. [04:21]
Hebrews 5:14 (ESV): "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to intentionally grow in your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's guidance?
Day 3: Avoiding Grieving and Quenching the Holy Spirit
Grieving the Holy Spirit happens when we live contrary to His nature, such as holding onto our old selves or harboring bitterness. Quenching the Holy Spirit occurs when we ignore His promptings. Both actions hinder our spiritual growth and sensitivity. When we grieve the Holy Spirit, we create a barrier between ourselves and God, making it difficult to hear His voice and follow His guidance.
To avoid grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit, we must strive to live in a way that aligns with His nature. This means letting go of old habits, forgiving others, and being open to the Holy Spirit's promptings. By doing so, we can maintain a close relationship with God and continue to grow in our spiritual sensitivity. [13:04]
Ephesians 4:30-31 (ESV): "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you might be grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit? How can you address this and realign yourself with His guidance?
Day 4: Worship and Daily Spiritual Breaks
Worshiping the Holy Spirit in our daily lives and taking regular spiritual breaks to check in with God can enhance our sensitivity to His guidance. These practices help us stay connected to the Holy Spirit throughout the day, making us more attuned to His voice. Worship is not just about singing songs on Sunday; it's about living a life that honors God in everything we do.
Taking daily spiritual breaks can be as simple as pausing for a few minutes to pray, meditate on a Bible verse, or reflect on God's goodness. These moments of connection can help us stay focused on God and be more receptive to the Holy Spirit's guidance. By incorporating worship and spiritual breaks into our daily routine, we can cultivate a deeper, more consistent relationship with the Holy Spirit. [25:39]
Psalm 119:164 (ESV): "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules."
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship and spiritual breaks into your daily routine to stay more connected to the Holy Spirit?
Day 5: Reading the Bible Until God Speaks
Approach Bible reading not just for intellectual growth but for intimate communion with God. Read until you hear from Him, and when a verse stands out, pause to reflect and pray. This practice fosters a deeper, more personal relationship with God. The Bible is not just a book of rules and stories; it's a living, breathing document through which God speaks to us.
When we read the Bible with the intention of hearing from God, we open ourselves up to His guidance and wisdom. This means taking the time to meditate on the scriptures, allowing them to penetrate our hearts and minds. By doing so, we can develop a deeper, more intimate relationship with God and become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's voice. [29:17]
Psalm 119:18 (ESV): "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
Reflection: The next time you read the Bible, take a moment to pause and reflect when a verse stands out to you. How can you apply this verse to your life today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "A lot of times when it comes to sensitivity, what we think is as we mature over time, we'll become more sensitive to things because of our situation. Can I tell you that is true of your natural life, but it's not always true of your spiritual life. There's not just a correlation that because I've gotten older in my faith and I've matured over time, I'm going to be more sensitive. I'm going to be more sensitive to what God is doing because the reality is friends, you can enter into your spiritual realm in one season, but if you choose not to grow and make more maturing decisions, you'll still stay at the same mature level the entire season." [03:22] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You know, we began a conversation a few weeks ago about the Holy spirit. Understand. That our God is made up of father, son, Holy spirit, that the Trinity is three in one. And what we understand is that the Holy spirit is a person. He's a person. He's not just a random chock of feeling or like a random mist or an ethereal vibe, but the Holy spirit is a person. And that person desires to have a relationship with you. And as you grow in the relationship with the Holy spirit, there's a sensitivity that you can have." [04:21] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Do you realize that greater things of the spirit is your inheritance? Do you realize that greater things of the spirit is your inheritance and it doesn't just remain in the spirit. It takes place in the practical. It's true in scripture. My question is, do you actually believe it? We just had a huge moment as a community where we just talked and prayed about something that was super serious, uncomfortable for some of us. Some of us that are like, oh, I'm going to be thinking about that all day. Here's my question. Do you believe that God will actually do something different because we stopped and prayed for it?" [11:04] (40 seconds)
4. "Worship brings us into God's presence but it also brings his presence into us. See that's what I love about corporate worship when we gather together and we have time before service to spend in the presence of God it's a time for us to usher into his presence but can I tell you you don't need to live a life of worship only on Sundays or church gatherings you need to make sure every part of your life is spit and worship and everything that you're doing if you're a teacher teach us unto the Lord if you're a mechanic mechanic unto the Lord if you're a barista make coffee unto the Lord if you're a student study unto the Lord if you're in the middle of transition transition is unto the Lord if you're retired I'll retire unto the Lord you are in a blessed life right now listen in every season do it as unto the Lord because your life is an altar it's a place of worship and when you live it you're going to be a place of worship and when you live in this posture of worship this reflection of God seeing God understanding that he's at work you'll constantly constantly constantly have an awareness a sensitivity to what he is doing." [24:26] (59 seconds)
5. "Ask God to give you a listening heart. I love Solomon wisest man scripture says first Kings chapter 3 verse 9 says here's what I want Lord give me a God listening heart so I can lead your people well discerning the difference between good and evil for who on their own is capable of the glorious people you want to be overly sensitive to the Holy Spirit just ask God for a listening heart in your personal life say God can you give me this sensitivity where I can hear what you're saying I can understand what you're doing because whenever we ask that God will begin to grant it and he'll begin to create spaces in our life for that to take place." [30:35] (43 seconds)
### Quotes for Members
1. "You can be full of the Holy spirit, but not sensitive to the Holy spirit working in your life. Just because you're full of the Holy spirit at salvation, and he's already dwelling within you, doesn't necessarily mean that you're sensitive to the Holy spirit. You still have to grow in a maturity. And dare I say, my prayer is that for every single one of us, that we would be overly sensitive to the Holy spirit and what he has, because it's possible to live your whole Christian life, barely talking to the Holy spirit. And it's possible to live your life on the, and get to heaven and really not. Not have a relationship with the Holy spirit." [04:21] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The only way that Jesus was able to do and accomplish all that he did was because of the Holy spirit and his sensitivity to the Holy spirit. Remember when Jesus came into this world. Did he come as a king? With all authority and power? No. Came as a little baby in a manger. He came as the lowest of the low and he took off all of his Godness and he set it aside becoming fully God and fully man. So much. So he said, I only do what I see here. My father do. He says, I don't do anything else on myself, but notice all of the great works that Jesus did. He didn't do it by his might, but by his power, but he did it by the Holy spirit at work with him." [06:02] (44 seconds)
3. "When Jesus continues to do his ministry, a lot of times what we think is Jesus did whatever he wanted to do. This is going to get really practical to your life very quick. You just think Jesus goes into a town situation. He's kind of like, all right, what do I want to do? And he makes his plan. He's like, okay, today we're going to heal all the deaf people. If you don't have an ear, go ahead and come on down. It's your lucky day. And they're like, I didn't hear what he said. Can someone help me? Horrible joke. I'm sorry about that. Okay. So they come on down. All right. So we think Jesus walks into a situation. He makes his own plan. But notice that's not what happened in scripture." [08:52] (29 seconds)
4. "If you would be as scripture says planted in the house of the lord you would prosper because when you're planted in the house of the lord you realize showing up to church is not an attendance thing being the church it's a people thing I was just talking about when my mom was before service she said I love our church because when I show up early I can get coffee I can get a little bagel with cream cheese which I'm staying away from right now and then I can hang out with everyone here and then after service we got some other stuff like we're doing community in life and it's like exactly because not only are you making fun memories but in the hallway conversations you're talking about real life hey this is going on with my family member hey this is going on with my situation and then all of a sudden people that have spiritual gifts like we learned last week are in the room with the exact gift you need for the situation you're going through that's why it's important to be a collaboration that's why it's important to be a so that we can walk fully in the spirit and when we live like that what happens is we don't cause the grief of the holy spirit we become conduits for him to be heard and to move in our life." [21:45] (59 seconds)
5. "Read your Bible until God speaks. So a lot of times what happens even with me I love to read the Bible for intellect for growing and understanding and a mental capacity for capacity but can I tell you if you approach the Bible like that all the time you can really sacrifice just hearing his voice in an intimate and practical way and so some of you are like well how do I read the Bible until I hear from God honestly you just read it until you hear from him you just keep like reading the Bible and if and don't get up until you do I would just encourage you with that and you're like well that may mean you have to wake up 15 minutes earlier sit down but what happens is when you're reading the Bible there's going to be a moment when you're going to have a thought and you're going to be like wow there's something there can I tell you that's the Holy Spirit talking to you so instead of just going oh I'm going to read to the end of the chapter stop right there on that moment and go okay what is God saying in this verse right now like I'm reading this verse and it's really sticking out to me and then begin to think about your own life begin to journal begin to write down begin to pause begin to pray say okay God what are you trying to speak to me because can I tell you when you do that right there you're not just focusing on oh I read a massive quantity of scripture but there's a greatness of quality of communion with the Lord that's taking place in that moment." [29:17] (71 seconds)
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