Embracing Radical Faith and the Spirit's Fruit

 

Summary

Psalm 145 is a powerful reminder of God's greatness and the call to praise Him continually. It speaks of His unfathomable greatness, His mighty acts, and His everlasting kingdom. The psalmist encourages us to meditate on God's wonderful works and to proclaim His great deeds. This passage highlights the Lord's graciousness, compassion, and love, emphasizing that He is good to all and faithful to His promises. It is a call to recognize that our understanding of God is limited, and our role is to bow in reverence and awe before Him.

Reflecting on a personal experience of being struck by lightning while on a plane, I was reminded of God's sovereignty and control over all things. This realization should bring us comfort rather than frustration, knowing that we serve a God who is beyond our comprehension. The study of the Holy Spirit has been transformative, particularly the passage in Galatians 5:22, which outlines the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the characteristics that should naturally flow from a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

We are challenged to imagine ourselves embodying these traits in every situation, responding with love, joy, and peace, regardless of the circumstances. This is not something we can achieve on our own; it requires the power of the Holy Spirit. We must pray and ask God to fill us with His Spirit, allowing these fruits to manifest in our lives. It is a call to live a life led by the Spirit, keeping in step with Him in every moment and decision.

The sermon also challenges the notion of a "balanced" Christian life, urging us to embrace a radical, all-in faith. This is exemplified by the widow who gave all she had and by the act of baptism, which symbolizes total immersion and commitment to Christ. We are encouraged to break free from societal pressures and to worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, whether that means singing loudly or sitting quietly in His presence.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Unfathomable Greatness: We are called to praise God for His greatness, which is beyond our understanding. Our role is to bow in reverence and awe, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours. This should bring us comfort, knowing that we serve a God who is in control of all things. [23:18]

2. The Fruit of the Spirit: The characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control should naturally flow from a life filled with the Holy Spirit. These traits are not achieved by our own efforts but through the power of the Spirit. [25:24]

3. Living a Spirit-Led Life: We are challenged to keep in step with the Spirit, allowing Him to guide our every decision and action. This requires a moment-by-moment surrender to God's will, seeking His guidance in all aspects of life. [34:35]

4. Radical Faith Over Balance: The call to follow Christ is not about maintaining a balanced life but embracing a radical, all-in faith. This is exemplified by the widow's offering and the act of baptism, symbolizing total commitment to Christ. [38:21]

5. Authentic Worship: Worship should be an expression of our true selves before God, whether that means singing loudly or sitting quietly. We are encouraged to break free from societal pressures and worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. [42:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [20:53] - Reading of Psalm 145
- [23:18] - God's Unfathomable Greatness
- [24:44] - The Fruit of the Spirit
- [25:52] - Imagining a Spirit-Filled Life
- [28:25] - Repentance and Transformation
- [29:32] - Serving with the Spirit's Fruit
- [31:06] - Praying for the Spirit's Fruit
- [33:39] - Living by the Spirit
- [34:35] - Keeping in Step with the Spirit
- [36:19] - Radical Faith Over Balance
- [38:21] - The Call to Total Commitment
- [40:13] - Authentic Worship
- [42:14] - Worship with All Your Strength
- [44:19] - Closing Encouragement

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 145
- Galatians 5:22-23

---

Observation Questions:

1. What attributes of God are highlighted in Psalm 145, and how do they encourage us to respond to Him? [21:09]
2. According to the sermon, what personal experience did the pastor share to illustrate God's sovereignty? [23:18]
3. What are the characteristics listed as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, and how are they described in the sermon? [24:44]
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of a "radical, all-in faith" as opposed to a "balanced" Christian life? [38:21]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the psalmist's call to praise God continually in Psalm 145 challenge our understanding of worship? [21:09]
2. In what ways does the pastor suggest that the fruit of the Spirit should manifest in a believer's life? [25:24]
3. What does it mean to "keep in step with the Spirit," and how can this be applied to everyday decisions? [34:35]
4. How does the sermon use the example of the widow's offering to illustrate the idea of radical faith? [38:21]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled to see God's greatness. How can Psalm 145 help you find comfort in His sovereignty? [23:18]
2. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that you find challenging. What specific steps can you take this week to cultivate this trait in your interactions with others? [25:24]
3. Consider a decision you need to make soon. How can you actively seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to ensure you are keeping in step with Him? [34:35]
4. Think about an area in your life where you might be holding back from fully committing to God. What would it look like to embrace a radical, all-in faith in this area? [38:21]
5. How can you express authentic worship in your daily life, whether through singing, prayer, or quiet reflection? What societal pressures might you need to overcome to do this? [42:14]
6. Identify a person or situation that tests your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before your next interaction to help you respond with the fruit of the Spirit? [27:21]
7. Reflect on the pastor's story about being struck by lightning. How can this perspective on God's control over all things change the way you view unexpected challenges in your life? [23:18]

Devotional

Day 1: Reverence for God's Unfathomable Greatness
God's greatness is beyond human comprehension, and this truth calls us to a posture of reverence and awe. Psalm 145 reminds us that God's ways are higher than ours, and His mighty acts and everlasting kingdom are a testament to His sovereignty. In recognizing our limited understanding, we find comfort in knowing that God is in control of all things. This realization should lead us to praise Him continually, acknowledging His graciousness, compassion, and love. As we meditate on His wonderful works, we are invited to bow in reverence, trusting in His unfathomable greatness. [23:18]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to trust God's greatness and sovereignty today, even when you don't understand His ways?


Day 2: Manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22, includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These characteristics should naturally flow from a life filled with the Holy Spirit. However, they are not achieved by our own efforts but through the Spirit's power. As we seek to embody these traits, we are reminded of the importance of surrendering to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. By praying and asking God to fill us with His Spirit, we allow these fruits to manifest, transforming our interactions and responses in every situation. [25:24]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to exhibit? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to cultivate this trait in you today?


Day 3: Walking in Step with the Spirit
Living a Spirit-led life involves a moment-by-moment surrender to God's will, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our every decision and action. This requires us to keep in step with the Spirit, seeking His guidance in all aspects of life. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purposes and experience the transformative power of His presence. As we walk in step with the Spirit, we are challenged to let go of our own agendas and embrace a life led by His wisdom and direction. [34:35]

Galatians 5:25 (ESV): "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

Reflection: What is one decision or area of your life where you need to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance today? How can you practice listening to His voice?


Day 4: Embracing Radical Faith
The call to follow Christ is not about maintaining a balanced life but embracing a radical, all-in faith. This is exemplified by the widow's offering and the act of baptism, which symbolize total commitment to Christ. We are encouraged to break free from societal pressures and to worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This radical faith challenges us to prioritize our relationship with God above all else, living a life that reflects our total devotion to Him. [38:21]

Mark 12:43-44 (ESV): "And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel called to step out in radical faith? What practical steps can you take to demonstrate your commitment to Christ in this area?


Day 5: Authentic Worship
Worship should be an expression of our true selves before God, whether that means singing loudly or sitting quietly. We are encouraged to break free from societal pressures and worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Authentic worship involves being genuine in our expressions of praise, allowing our love for God to overflow in our actions and attitudes. As we worship authentically, we create space for God to work in our hearts, drawing us closer to Him and transforming our lives. [42:14]

John 4:23-24 (ESV): "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Reflection: How can you express your authentic worship to God today, free from societal expectations? What does it look like for you to worship Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Quotes


"see our job isn't to understand the things about God that are not for us to understand our job is to bow down before a God we can't understand to reach out to a God who can't understand to uh be blown away by a God you know we were singing that song and it struck me we sang that line who has told every lightning bolt where it should go" [00:23:02]

"and I just want to surrender to that and the Bible tells me as long as I reach out to you as long as I just confess my sin to you that that you you love me as long as I reach out to you for salvation you give that to me and he gives that to us freely through his son Jesus and it's just it ought to just bring Comfort to us rather than frustration that there's a God that we can't completely comprehend" [00:24:10]

"but the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22 it says but the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control I this this verse just just keeps flooding my mind I keep thinking about throughout the day and it's been so so good for me so good I mean just following good God is so good" [00:24:47]

"if you are really filled with the spirit here's here's what should be coming out of you love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithless gentless self-control these things ought to be coming out of your life he says it's the fruit of the spirit see you can say oh I've got the spirit of God I'm so filled with the spirit well do people see this in your life then" [00:25:14]

"try to imagine yourself this way okay just try to use your imag some of you will really have to use your imagination but try to try to picture yourself in every situation all the situations you get in in everyday life just try to imagine just kind of have an out-of- Body Experience right now okay and just picture yourself walking around full of love" [00:26:09]

"and so you realize well here's the one that can save me from all that and fill me with all these things so you repent and go Jesus give me this and the Bible says when he puts his spirit in you that this is going to be the fruit of it and so I'm thinking through all these characteristics to that we can go God you know what I want to love I want to be filled with joy make me this person" [00:28:37]

"since we live by the spirit let us keep in step with the spirit since we live by the spirit let us and by the way I'm going to I'm going to preach through Galatians next I'm going to do one more talk on the Holy Spirit then we're going to preach through the book of Galatians because the book of Galatians is so much about the Holy Spirit anyways and there's just some beautiful things about God's grace" [00:33:39]

"and we step by step go okay Lord what do you want me to do right now no right now this very second not not after service not not when the next song comes right now okay God what does your spirit want me to do right now how does he want me to listen and as I'm going okay Lord I want to keep in step with your spirit what would he want me to say next" [00:34:48]

"and I challenge you where where in scripture do you see a balanced life praised because everything I read in here is about this extreme radical what I could have God I'll sell everything for that field for that treasure oh I'll sell most of it except for you know I got to I got to be prudent no the the only time I see people who who argue for this you know safe zone" [00:36:40]

"but in scripture I see this radical faith I see a a widow who puts everything she has to live on and Jesus doesn't say see that was foolish that that shown a lack of balance he just says you know what she gave everything she had to live on and he lifts up her faith it's this radical extreme that's the only It's All or Nothing with God" [00:37:58]

"and you are going to be filled with these things you are going to be led by him you keep in step with this spirit and he'll change your life but I just I just I know because I fight it in my own life we struggle with this surrender and we struggle with this 100% thing where we say God whatever you want me to do whatever" [00:39:43]

"and I love that do you have any isn't there a sign of you that just goes and and keep your clothes on but isn't there aren't there just times when you just go you know what I'm just going to do whatever God wants me to do I'm just going to sing with all my heart and not hold back and I say that about singing Because I believe it's indicative of Our Lives" [00:42:14]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Mar 31, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?