Empowered by the Spirit: Living the New Covenant

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's New Covenant Promise

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given selectively and temporarily to certain individuals for specific tasks. This was evident in figures like Bezalel, who was filled with the Spirit to craft the tabernacle's furnishings. However, the New Testament marks a significant shift with the promise of the Holy Spirit being poured out on all believers as part of the New Covenant. This promise, fulfilled through Jesus Christ's sacrifice, signifies a broader and more permanent indwelling of the Spirit. It empowers every believer to live according to God's statutes, offering a continuous presence and guidance in their lives. This transformation from selective to universal indwelling highlights the profound impact of the New Covenant on the believer's spiritual journey. [05:28]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: How does the understanding of the Holy Spirit's permanent indwelling change your perspective on your daily walk with God? What specific area of your life can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform today?

Day 2: Confession and Repentance: Pathway to Restoration

Restoring our relationship with God after sinning involves both confession and repentance. Confession is about agreeing with God regarding the nature of sin, acknowledging its presence and impact in our lives. Repentance, on the other hand, requires a change in behavior and mindset, turning away from sin and towards God. The assurance of forgiveness is rooted in God's promise, as stated in 1 John 1:9, and is based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. This process of confession and repentance is not just a one-time event but a continual practice that keeps our relationship with God vibrant and alive. [11:16]

Psalm 32:5 (ESV): "I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."

Reflection: Is there a sin you need to confess to God today? What steps can you take to genuinely repent and change your behavior in response to His forgiveness?

Day 3: The Need for Continual Filling of the Holy Spirit

While every believer receives the Holy Spirit upon faith in Christ, there is a continual need for refreshing and filling. This ongoing filling is essential for living a vibrant Christian life, as it empowers believers to face daily challenges and grow in their spiritual journey. Ephesians encourages believers to be filled with the Spirit, highlighting the importance of seeking God's presence continually. This process involves surrendering to the Spirit's guidance and allowing Him to work in and through us, transforming our lives and enabling us to live out our faith effectively. [14:51]

Ephesians 5:18-19 (ESV): "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."

Reflection: In what ways can you seek a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit today? How can you create space in your life for the Spirit to work more fully?

Day 4: Building a Foundation on Truth

Building our Christian life on truth rather than feelings is vital for spiritual stability. This involves knowing and meditating on God's Word, which provides a stable foundation amidst life's trials. Feelings can be fleeting and unreliable, but God's truth remains constant and unchanging. Understanding self-denial and taking up one's cross is integral to following Jesus, as it requires a commitment to live according to His teachings and example. By grounding our lives in truth, we can navigate challenges with confidence and resilience, knowing that our foundation is secure. [18:04]

Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV): "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your life is built on the truth of God's Word rather than your feelings? How can you incorporate more of God's truth into your daily routine?

Day 5: The Unexpected Faith of the Roman Centurion

The story of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 highlights the authority of Jesus and the importance of faith. Jesus marveled at the centurion's faith, showing that great faith can be found in unexpected places. This story underscores the power of believing in Jesus' authority and His ability to act in our lives. The centurion's faith was not based on religious background or status but on a deep understanding of Jesus' power and authority. This challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith and trust in Jesus' ability to work in our lives. [21:17]

Matthew 8:10-11 (ESV): "When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, 'Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.'"

Reflection: How can you cultivate a faith that trusts in Jesus' authority and power, even in unexpected situations? What specific area of your life do you need to surrender to His authority today?

Sermon Summary

In today's session, we explored the profound differences between the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given selectively to certain individuals for specific tasks, such as Bezalel, who was filled with the Spirit to craft the tabernacle's furnishings. This selective and temporary indwelling contrasts with the New Testament promise, where the Holy Spirit is poured out on all believers as part of the New Covenant, a promise fulfilled through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. This shift signifies a broader and more permanent indwelling of the Spirit, empowering every believer to live according to God's statutes.

We also discussed the importance of confession and repentance in restoring our relationship with God after sinning. Confession involves agreeing with God about the nature of sin, while repentance requires a change in behavior and mindset. The assurance of forgiveness is rooted in the promise of God, as stated in 1 John 1:9, and is based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Furthermore, we delved into the concept of being filled with the Holy Spirit. While every believer receives the Holy Spirit upon faith in Christ, there is a continual need for refreshing and filling, as encouraged in Ephesians. This ongoing filling is essential for living a vibrant Christian life.

We also touched on the foundation of our Christian life, emphasizing the need to build it on truth rather than feelings. This involves knowing and meditating on God's Word, which provides a stable foundation amidst life's trials. Additionally, we acknowledged the reality of self-denial and taking up one's cross as integral aspects of following Jesus.

Lastly, we addressed the significance of faith, as demonstrated by the Roman centurion in Matthew 8. Jesus marveled at the centurion's faith, highlighting that great faith can be found in unexpected places. This story underscores the authority of Jesus and the importance of believing in His power to act.

Key Takeaways

1. Jtg&t=328s'>[05:28]
2. Restoring Relationship with God: Confession and repentance are crucial for restoring our relationship with God after sinning. Confession involves agreeing with God about sin, while repentance requires a change in behavior. Forgiveness is assured through God's promise, based on Jesus' finished work on the cross.

3. Continual Filling of the Holy Spirit: While believers receive the Holy Spirit upon faith, there is a need for ongoing filling and refreshing. This continual filling is essential for living a vibrant Christian life and is encouraged in Ephesians.

4. Foundation of Christian Life: Building our Christian life on truth rather than feelings is vital. This involves knowing and meditating on God's Word, providing a stable foundation amidst life's trials. Understanding self-denial and taking up one's cross is integral to following Jesus.

5. Faith of the Roman Centurion: The story of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 highlights the authority of Jesus and the importance of faith. Jesus marveled at the centurion's faith, showing that great faith can be found in unexpected places. This underscores the power of believing in Jesus' authority.

** [05:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction and Announcements
[00:55] - Enduring Word App Announcement
[02:07] - Question: Old Testament Believers and the Holy Spirit
[03:17] - Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
[05:28] - New Covenant and the Holy Spirit
[07:10] - Differences in Theological Perspectives
[09:41] - Restoring Relationship with God
[11:16] - Confession and Repentance
[13:57] - Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
[15:54] - Building a Strong Christian Foundation
[18:04] - Truth vs. Feelings in Christian Life
[20:42] - Insights on Jesus and the Roman Centurion
[22:02] - Role of the Holy Spirit in Correction
[24:22] - The Real Jesus and Salvation
[26:05] - Christian Accountability Groups
[27:53] - Knowing the Holy Spirit's Guidance
[30:59] - Grace vs. Godliness
[32:29] - Closing Remarks and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Exodus 31:1-5
Ezekiel 36:27
1 John 1:9

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Observation Questions:

In Exodus 31:1-5, who was filled with the Spirit of God, and for what purpose was he filled? How does this illustrate the selective nature of the Holy Spirit's work in the Old Testament? [03:47]
According to Ezekiel 36:27, what is the promise of the New Covenant regarding the Holy Spirit, and how does it differ from the Old Testament? [05:28]
What does 1 John 1:9 say about confession and forgiveness, and how is this related to restoring our relationship with God after sinning? [11:16]
How does the story of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 demonstrate the authority of Jesus and the nature of faith? [21:17]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the shift from a selective to a universal indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament empower believers to live according to God's statutes? [05:28]
What role do confession and repentance play in the life of a believer, and how do they contribute to a restored relationship with God? [11:16]
Why is it important for believers to seek continual filling of the Holy Spirit, and how does this ongoing process impact their Christian life? [14:51]
In what ways does building a Christian life on truth rather than feelings provide stability during life's trials? How does this relate to the concept of self-denial and taking up one's cross? [18:04]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt the Holy Spirit guiding you in a specific task or decision. How did this experience compare to the selective indwelling of the Spirit in the Old Testament? [03:47]
Confession and repentance are crucial for restoring our relationship with God. Is there a sin you need to confess and repent from today? How can you take steps towards genuine repentance? [11:16]
The sermon emphasized the need for continual filling of the Holy Spirit. What practical steps can you take this week to seek a fresh filling of the Spirit in your life? [14:51]
Consider the foundation of your Christian life. Are there areas where you rely more on feelings than on the truth of God's Word? How can you shift your focus to build a stronger foundation on truth? [18:04]
The Roman centurion's faith was unexpected and remarkable. Can you think of someone in your life who demonstrates great faith in unexpected ways? How can you learn from their example? [21:17]
Jesus calls us to self-denial and taking up our cross. What does this look like in your daily life, and how can you embrace this aspect of following Jesus more fully? [18:04]
How can you cultivate a habit of meditating on God's Word to strengthen your faith and provide stability during challenging times? What specific passage will you focus on this week? [18:04]

Sermon Clips

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit filled certain people for certain tasks at certain times. So did the Holy Spirit indwell in the Old Testament times? Absolutely, He did. Matter of fact, I want to quote to you one of my favorite examples of this from the scriptures. [00:03:21]

God promises that as a promise of the New Covenant, He will put His Spirit in every believer. This is also promised in Joel chapter 2, beginning at verse 28, where God promises this: "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." [00:06:16]

We restore our relationship with God after falling into sin by a humble confession of the sin and repentance from that sin. Now, confession means to agree with—that is, to agree with God about your sin. You see, we are led into our sin because we think it's something good. [00:09:58]

When we confess and repent, we can have this confidence before God that He actually does forgive us. So we then take it: I am forgiven because of the promise of God. I may or may not feel forgiven, but I am forgiven because of the promise of God. [00:11:30]

The Holy Spirit is imparted to everyone when they believe. You cannot be a believer in Jesus Christ, you cannot be part of the New Covenant, without having the Holy Spirit imparted to you. This is just what I believe, though at least I believe this. [00:14:06]

There can be and there should be continued and abundant refreshings of that filling with the Holy Spirit. One place—and it's only one place—but there's one place that we get this from is in Ephesians, where Paul encourages us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. [00:14:35]

One of the best ways that we can grow stronger in the Lord daily is to make sure that we have a good foundation of our Christian life. I think that most people today, the foundation of their Christian life is what they feel. [00:16:04]

Brother and sister, you need a stronger foundation for your Christian life than what you merely feel. Now, this is difficult because the whole spirit of our age, the zeitgeist, if you want to use that great German term, the whole spirit of our age for generations has been its most important what you feel, not what you think. [00:16:34]

Jesus said, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." That there is an aspect to the Christian life that involves death to self, and we need to be very grown-up about this. [00:18:21]

This story about the Roman centurion shows us the authority of Jesus. It shows us how Jesus notices our faith or lack of faith, and it shows us how we really can believe God to do things that the authority of Jesus gives them to do. [00:21:36]

When we listen to the Holy Spirit, He will guide us into holiness. Let's just remember it's the Holy Spirit. Nobody ever sinned being led by the Spirit. When we sin, it's because we're going our own way, not the Holy Spirit's way. [00:22:08]

Grace describes the favored acceptance and approval that God holds the believer in because of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross and at the empty tomb. It's God's disposition or attitude towards a believer—love, acceptance, approval, delight—not because the believer is so great but because of who the believer is in Jesus Christ. [00:31:23]

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Empowered by the Spirit: Living the New Covenant

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's New Covenant Promise

Day 2: Confession and Repentance: Pathway to Restoration

Day 3: The Need for Continual Filling of the Holy Spirit

Day 4: Building a Foundation on Truth

Day 5: The Unexpected Faith of the Roman Centurion

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Empowered by the Spirit: Living the New Covenant

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