Empowered by the Holy Spirit: Living in Faith
Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound relationship we have with God through the Holy Spirit and the active role we are called to play in His kingdom. We began by acknowledging the importance of being immersed in the Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to us and bring scripture to our remembrance when needed. I shared personal testimonies of how God's Word, recalled at the right moment, has had a significant impact on others' lives, leading to transformation and salvation.
We then transitioned to the theme of the month, the Holy Spirit, and the various ways He operates in our lives. The Holy Spirit is not only the agent of our conversion, transforming us into new creations, but He also desires our active cooperation. We are exhorted to be continually filled with the Spirit so that we can represent Jesus well in all aspects of life, demonstrating His kingdom and drawing people to Himself.
The sermon highlighted the gifts of the Spirit, emphasizing that they should be ministered in love and are often most effectively used outside the church setting, in our daily lives. We discussed the importance of hearing God's voice and being ready to act on His promptings, which often requires taking risks and stepping out in faith.
Furthermore, we delved into the concept of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, which is an immersion into His person and power, enabling us to operate in the gifts and to reveal Jesus to the world. We were reminded that the initial experience of the Holy Spirit's baptism is often marked by a vocal gift, such as tongues or prophecy, and encouraged to continue using these gifts to build our faith and deepen our connection with God.
Finally, we were challenged to rewild our spiritual lives by the Holy Spirit, to step out in faith, take risks, and engage in the exploits God has prepared for us. We were called to rise up and believe for more miracles, more salvations, and more encounters with the Holy Spirit, recognizing that there is still much work to be done in reaching the unreached with the gospel.
Key Takeaways:
- The Holy Spirit desires to speak to us through the scriptures, and as we immerse ourselves in God's Word, we become equipped to share His truth with others at the divinely appointed times. This is not a passive activity but an active readiness to be used by God to impact lives. [01:33:26]
- Our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit is multifaceted. We are not merely followers from a distance but friends walking side by side with Christ, sharing in His secrets and joining Him in His work. This intimacy is a privilege that calls us to a deeper obedience and a willingness to embark on adventures with the Lord. [01:17:11]
- The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for the edification of others and should be exercised in love. They are not for personal glory but to serve and minister to those around us. As we operate in these gifts, we become conduits of God's power and love in the world. [01:30:02]
- Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is a transformative experience that empowers us to live out the power of Jesus through our lives. It is an invitation to partner with the Holy Spirit in revealing Jesus to the world and should be sought after with earnest expectation. [01:28:06]
- We are called to a life of spiritual rewilding, where we allow the Holy Spirit to restore us to our original purpose in God's kingdom. This involves taking risks, stepping out in faith, and being open to the new things God wants to do through us, regardless of our age or stage in life. [01:40:18]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission)
- "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
2. John 15:15
- "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
3. Ephesians 5:18
- "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
#### Observation Questions
1. What command does Jesus give to His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20?
2. According to John 15:15, what new relationship does Jesus offer to His followers?
3. What does Ephesians 5:18 instruct believers to do instead of getting drunk on wine?
4. In the sermon, what are some examples given of how the Holy Spirit can guide and prompt us in our daily lives? ([01:17:11])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 relate to our daily lives and interactions with others?
2. What does it mean to be called a friend of Jesus according to John 15:15, and how does this change our relationship with Him?
3. What are the implications of being continually filled with the Holy Spirit as instructed in Ephesians 5:18? How might this look in practical terms?
4. The sermon mentioned taking risks and stepping out in faith. How does this concept align with the idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit? ([01:10:39])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current relationship with the Holy Spirit. How often do you seek His guidance in your daily decisions? What steps can you take to be more attuned to His voice? ([01:33:26])
2. Jesus calls us friends and not just servants. How does this perspective change the way you approach your faith and your daily walk with God? ([01:17:11])
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit continually. What are some practical ways you can ensure you are being filled with the Spirit daily? ([01:24:27])
4. Think of a recent situation where you felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to take a risk or step out in faith. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more courageous in following these promptings in the future? ([01:10:39])
5. The sermon mentioned the gifts of the Holy Spirit being used to edify others. Identify one gift you believe the Holy Spirit has given you. How can you use this gift to serve and minister to those around you this week? ([01:30:02])
6. The concept of spiritual rewilding was discussed in the sermon. What areas of your spiritual life feel "tamed" or stagnant? What specific actions can you take to rewild your faith and step out into new spiritual adventures? ([01:40:18])
7. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples. Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. What is one specific way you can share the love of Christ with them this week? ([01:09:10])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Word in Action
The Holy Spirit longs to communicate through the scriptures, and by immersing oneself in God's Word, one becomes prepared to share His truth with others at precisely the right moments. This is an active readiness, not a passive state, where one is equipped and willing to be used by God to make a significant impact on the lives of others. It's about allowing the Holy Spirit to bring scripture to mind when it's most needed, which can lead to transformation and salvation in the lives of those around us. This readiness to act on the divine prompts of the Holy Spirit is a crucial aspect of living a life that reflects God's love and purpose. [01:33:26]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." - Psalm 119:105,11
Reflection: How can you more intentionally store God's Word in your heart this week, and what practical steps will you take to be ready to share it with someone in need?
Day 2: Intimate Walk with the Spirit
Our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit is intimate and collaborative. We are not mere followers but friends of Christ, privy to His secrets and co-laborers in His work. This privilege invites us to deeper obedience and the willingness to join Him in His adventures. It's about walking side by side with Christ, sharing in His life and work, and experiencing the joy and privilege of intimate friendship with the Lord. This relationship calls for a commitment to obedience and a readiness to embark on the adventures that God has in store for us. [01:17:11]
"The secret of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant." - Psalm 25:14
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a closer walk with the Holy Spirit this week, and how might this change your daily routine?
Day 3: Serving with Spiritual Gifts
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us to edify others and must be exercised in love. These gifts are not for our own glory but to serve and minister to those in our everyday lives. By operating in these gifts, we become channels of God's power and love, impacting the world and demonstrating the kingdom of God in tangible ways. It's about recognizing that the most effective use of these gifts often occurs outside the church walls, in our daily interactions with others. [01:30:02]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." - 1 Peter 4:10
Reflection: What spiritual gift have you been given, and how can you use it this week to serve someone in your community or workplace?
Day 4: Empowered by the Spirit's Baptism
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is a transformative experience that empowers us to live out the power of Jesus through our lives. It's an immersion into His person and power, enabling us to operate in the gifts and reveal Jesus to the world. This baptism is often accompanied by vocal gifts like tongues or prophecy, which serve to build our faith and deepen our connection with God. It's an invitation to partner with the Holy Spirit in a powerful way, and we should earnestly seek this experience with expectation. [01:28:06]
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4
Reflection: Have you experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and if so, how can you continue to seek and use the gifts He has given you to strengthen your faith and serve others?
Day 5: Rewilding Our Spiritual Lives
We are called to rewild our spiritual lives by the Holy Spirit, to restore our original purpose in God's kingdom. This involves taking risks, stepping out in faith, and being open to the new things God wants to do through us. It's about believing for more miracles, salvations, and encounters with the Holy Spirit, recognizing that there is still much work to be done in reaching the unreached with the gospel. This call to spiritual rewilding is a challenge to rise up and engage in the exploits God has prepared for us. [01:40:18]
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:19
Reflection: What is one risk you can take this week to step out in faith and participate in the 'new thing' God is doing in your life or community?
Quotes
1) "The Holy Spirit came on special individuals in the Book of Judges... the spirit took possession of Gideon's faculties and put on the man like a garment, living in the man, thinking through his brain, speaking through his voice, working with his hands." [01:25:14](Download | Download)
2) "The initial yielding to the Holy Spirit and our first tentative steps of active cooperation with him is usually the result of our asking the Lord to baptize us with the Holy Spirit, immersing us in the person of the Holy Spirit." [01:28:06](Download | Download)
3) "The mighty, uncontrollable, indescribable, creative Holy Spirit... wants to partner with you and me to reveal Jesus in the world, to represent Jesus well in all of his attributes and all of his power." [01:26:41](Download | Download)
4) "The gifts of the Spirit... should only be ministered in love as an expression of the Lord's love for that person. They're not for show or to expose people, and the majority of the operations of the gifts will likely be outside of the gathered church meeting." [01:30:44](Download | Download)
5) "The spirit is longing for our active cooperation. The scriptures exhort us to be continually filled with the spirit, because he wants the Lord Jesus to be reproduced in each and every one of us." [01:24:27](Download | Download)
6) "It's time for us as the people of God to be rewilded by the Holy Spirit... the Lord has unimaginable exploits for you to be engaged in, whether in your 20s or in your 70s or '90s." [01:40:18](Download | Download)
7) "The Savior wants to walk with you and he may want to show us what's going on in people's lives, encourage us, and send us somewhere. I've had some interesting adventures with the Lord." [01:17:11](Download | Download)
8) "The world needs to see Jesus is alive today and they'll only see him in and through the lives of his people. As we yield to the working of the Holy Spirit, he comes to stir faith in us." [01:27:25](Download | Download)
9) "Let's rise up and believe for more: more miracles, more salvations, more encounters with the Holy Spirit. There are still 6,000 unreached people groups to hear the gospel yet." [01:42:34](Download | Download)
10) "The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the seal of conversion and the guarantee that what God has started in you will be completed." [01:23:45](Download | Download)
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