Empowered by the Spirit: Living a Transformed Life
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into Romans 8, focusing on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We began by discussing the dichotomy between living according to the flesh and living according to the Spirit. Paul shifts the conversation from an external locus of control to an internal one, emphasizing that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now resides within us. This internal empowerment by the Holy Spirit enables us to live a life that aligns with God's will, something impossible to achieve on our own.
We explored how the Holy Spirit is not just a theological concept but a living presence that actively participates in our daily lives. This presence is a down payment on the future restoration of our bodies and creation, a promise of the full redemption to come. The Holy Spirit's role is not limited to grand, miraculous events but extends to the mundane, everyday moments, guiding us, comforting us, and empowering us to make choices that reflect God's love and wisdom.
We also touched on the importance of recognizing the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, especially for those who may have grown up in traditions that did not emphasize the Spirit's role. Personal anecdotes were shared to illustrate how the Holy Spirit has been active in various life situations, from overcoming personal challenges to making significant life decisions.
Furthermore, we discussed the concept of restorative justice within our church community, highlighting the importance of bringing issues to light for healing and growth. This process is not just about addressing past wrongs but also about creating a culture of transparency and care that reflects God's love and justice.
Finally, we encouraged everyone to be more aware of what fuels their lives. Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, or are we driven by other influences? By aligning our lives with the Spirit, we can experience a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with God and others.
### Key Takeaways
1. Internal Locus of Control: The Holy Spirit within us shifts our focus from external circumstances to internal empowerment. This internal locus of control means that we are not merely reacting to the world around us but are guided by the Spirit within us, enabling us to live out God's will in our daily lives. [09:28]
2. Everyday Miracles: The Holy Spirit's work is not confined to grand, miraculous events but is evident in the mundane, everyday moments. Whether it's making a wise decision, showing kindness, or overcoming a personal challenge, the Spirit's presence is a constant source of guidance and strength. [11:20]
3. Restorative Justice: Addressing past wrongs within our community is crucial for healing and growth. By bringing issues to light and working towards restorative justice, we create a culture of transparency and care that reflects God's love and justice. [15:53]
4. Awareness of the Holy Spirit: Recognizing the Holy Spirit's role in our lives can transform our faith journey. By being more aware of the Spirit's presence, we can better align our actions and decisions with God's will, experiencing a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him. [30:06]
5. Fueling Our Lives: It's essential to examine what fuels our lives. Are we driven by the Holy Spirit or by other influences? By allowing the Spirit to guide us, we can live a life that reflects God's love and wisdom, making a positive impact on those around us. [27:36]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - Introduction and Personal Anecdotes
[07:51] - Romans 8: Living by the Spirit
[09:28] - Internal Locus of Control
[11:20] - Everyday Miracles of the Holy Spirit
[15:53] - Restorative Justice in the Church
[20:01] - Personal Story of Overcoming Abuse
[27:36] - What Fuels Your Life?
[30:06] - Awareness of the Holy Spirit
[35:19] - Unique Awareness of God's Presence
[41:41] - Theological Perspectives on the Holy Spirit
[44:00] - Closing Remarks and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Romans 8:9-11 (ESV): "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."
2. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
3. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 8:9-11, what is the significance of the Spirit of God dwelling in us?
2. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, how does Paul describe our bodies in relation to the Holy Spirit?
3. What does 2 Peter 1:3-4 say about the power and promises given to us by God?
4. How did the sermon describe the shift from an external to an internal locus of control? [09:28]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to be a "down payment" on our future restoration, as mentioned in the sermon? [09:28]
2. How can recognizing the Holy Spirit's presence in everyday moments change our daily decisions and actions? [11:20]
3. What are the implications of viewing our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, as stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20?
4. How does the concept of restorative justice within the church community reflect God's love and justice? [15:53]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How might it have been different if you had been more aware of the Holy Spirit's guidance? [11:20]
2. Think about a personal challenge you are currently facing. How can the Holy Spirit's power help you overcome it? [09:28]
3. In what ways can you create a culture of transparency and care in your community, similar to the restorative justice process discussed in the sermon? [15:53]
4. Identify one area of your life where you feel driven by external influences rather than the Holy Spirit. What steps can you take to shift your focus? [09:28]
5. How can you become more aware of the Holy Spirit's presence in your daily routine? Share a specific practice you can implement this week. [30:06]
6. Consider the relationships in your life. How can you show God's love and wisdom more effectively through the guidance of the Holy Spirit? [27:36]
7. What fuels your life currently? Reflect on whether it aligns with the Holy Spirit's guidance and discuss any changes you feel led to make. [27:36]
Devotional
Day 1: Internal Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit within us shifts our focus from external circumstances to internal empowerment. This internal locus of control means that we are not merely reacting to the world around us but are guided by the Spirit within us, enabling us to live out God's will in our daily lives. The transformative power of the Holy Spirit is not just a theological concept but a living presence that actively participates in our daily lives. This presence is a down payment on the future restoration of our bodies and creation, a promise of the full redemption to come. The Holy Spirit's role is not limited to grand, miraculous events but extends to the mundane, everyday moments, guiding us, comforting us, and empowering us to make choices that reflect God's love and wisdom. [09:28]
Romans 8:11 (ESV): "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself reacting to external circumstances rather than being guided by the Holy Spirit within you? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you in those specific areas today?
Day 2: Everyday Miracles of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's work is not confined to grand, miraculous events but is evident in the mundane, everyday moments. Whether it's making a wise decision, showing kindness, or overcoming a personal challenge, the Spirit's presence is a constant source of guidance and strength. Recognizing the Holy Spirit's role in our lives can transform our faith journey. By being more aware of the Spirit's presence, we can better align our actions and decisions with God's will, experiencing a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him. [11:20]
1 Corinthians 2:12 (ESV): "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you made a wise decision or showed kindness. How can you see the Holy Spirit's guidance in that moment? How can you become more aware of the Spirit's presence in your daily life?
Day 3: Restorative Justice in the Church
Addressing past wrongs within our community is crucial for healing and growth. By bringing issues to light and working towards restorative justice, we create a culture of transparency and care that reflects God's love and justice. This process is not just about addressing past wrongs but also about creating a culture of transparency and care that reflects God's love and justice. By aligning our lives with the Spirit, we can experience a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with God and others. [15:53]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Is there an issue within your community or church that needs to be brought to light for healing and growth? How can you contribute to creating a culture of transparency and care that reflects God's love and justice?
Day 4: Awareness of the Holy Spirit
Recognizing the Holy Spirit's role in our lives can transform our faith journey. By being more aware of the Spirit's presence, we can better align our actions and decisions with God's will, experiencing a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit's role is not limited to grand, miraculous events but extends to the mundane, everyday moments, guiding us, comforting us, and empowering us to make choices that reflect God's love and wisdom. [30:06]
John 14:26 (ESV): "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Reflection: How can you become more aware of the Holy Spirit's presence in your daily life? What steps can you take to better align your actions and decisions with God's will?
Day 5: Fueling Our Lives with the Holy Spirit
It's essential to examine what fuels our lives. Are we driven by the Holy Spirit or by other influences? By allowing the Spirit to guide us, we can live a life that reflects God's love and wisdom, making a positive impact on those around us. The Holy Spirit's role is not limited to grand, miraculous events but extends to the mundane, everyday moments, guiding us, comforting us, and empowering us to make choices that reflect God's love and wisdom. [27:36]
Galatians 5:16 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."
Reflection: What influences are currently driving your life? How can you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you more fully, and what changes might you need to make to align your life with God's love and wisdom?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I think that there's hopefully, uh, a lot of, you know, just hope for your day-to-day life to say, Hey, I can't do this. And God's saying, I got you. There's something that's bigger than what you're facing or feeling right now that he says, even in like the deepest, darkest parts of who we are, our mortal flesh, the stuff that's dying, uh, around us and within us, God's spirit, pure life is pulsing through us." [09:28] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We can be so incredibly thankful for the scriptures and God's God's work inside of them. But the Bible is not. Not a member of the Trinity. And so, um, in my story, right, what God was doing in my own home and what God did with my own gifting and how God addressed medical needs in my life and how God, uh, changed this really crazy speech impediment that I had. Those were Holy spirit moments in my life." [11:20] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I hope that there's like just such a, uh, a personal understanding people have as they experience the love of God in them, the presence of his spirit in and through them. And then again, like just such a, such a powerful picture. That the same, the same power infusion that brought a dead Jesus back to life is keeping us alive right now." [13:01] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you don't live empowered by the Holy spirit, the Christian life is life is not difficult. It's impossible. And so hopefully we'll continue to see that and have our mindsets challenged by that in Romans 8, and maybe for you this week, the Lord is just graciously showing you where the Holy Spirit wants to show up and how He wants to reveal things in your life." [14:32] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I think we are actually designed, especially if you're a follower of Jesus, but I would argue all humans are designed to run on the power of the Holy spirit. And so, you know, we spent some time in Philippians eight, we spent some time looking at Galatians five and what does it look like to understand what we're really designed to be fueled with?" [28:45] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So, uh, hopefully Romans eight has like lived up to the hype so far and in whatever way it hasn't. Yeah. So, uh, I think, uh, you know, we've been in this like kind of building conversation over the course of the first couple of weeks and, you know, talking about the choices between, uh, how we live according to the spirit and then how we live according to the flesh." [07:51] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so all of a sudden the things that Paul has been talking about, um, referencing in the past and in the future of chapter eight, all of a sudden now you realize like, well, the reason that these things seemed impossible. Uh, is that. Is because they were right, because there is no capacity for us to do this on our own and it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit, uh, indwelled the believer and then the believer choosing to be empowered by that indwelling that it really changes things." [09:28] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so, um, I think that there's hopefully, uh, a lot of, you know, just hope for your day-to-day life to say, Hey, I can't do this. And God's saying, I got you. There's something that's bigger than what you're facing or feeling right now that he says, even in like the deepest, darkest parts of who we are, our mortal flesh, the stuff that's dying, uh, around us and within us, God's spirit, pure life is pulsing through us." [09:28] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And, uh, we can be so incredibly thankful for the scriptures and God's God's work inside of them. But the Bible is not. Not a member of the Trinity. And so, um, in my story, right, what God was doing in my own home and what God did with my own gifting and how God addressed medical needs in my life and how God, uh, changed this really crazy speech impediment that I had. Those were Holy spirit moments in my life." [11:20] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I think for me, it's like little stuff like that, uh, that can be really helpful and sort of those big moments and milestones, and you know this already, but, uh, if you don't know this, this, this week, so you're listening to this on Wednesday, I am likely on my way, uh, to Montana to a ministry there that I've gone to for the last six years, thank the Lord, uh, where I fly fish with a group of friends and our pastors." [33:29] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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