Empowered Living: Embracing the Spirit's Reality

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we are invited to explore the profound reality of living a spiritual life, a life empowered by the Spirit of God. This spiritual existence is not merely a religious or political matter but an ontological one, a matter of being. It is about entering into a new realm, the Kingdom of Heaven, where we learn to live from a different reality, one that is not confined to the limitations of the flesh but is enriched by the Spirit.

The essence of life is power, and true spiritual life is characterized by the power that comes from God. As Jesus declared in John 4, "God is spirit," and to be a spiritual person is to possess powers that derive from God. This is contrasted with living from the flesh, which is illustrated in Galatians 4 through the story of Hagar and Sarah. Hagar's child, Ishmael, was born of the flesh, while Sarah's child, Isaac, was born of the Spirit, symbolizing the promise and power of living in cooperation with God.

Romans 8 further illuminates this concept by emphasizing that those who are in Christ are not bound by the flesh but are alive in the Spirit. This passage is often misunderstood as referring to the resurrection, but it speaks to the present reality of spiritual life. The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, quickening our mortal bodies and enabling us to live a life of righteousness.

Mortification, often misconstrued as punishing the body, is about subordinating the flesh to the Spirit. It is about choosing to live from the Spirit, allowing the Spirit to guide and empower us in our daily lives. This spiritual life is a call to live from a higher reality, to embrace the power and promise of the Spirit, and to experience the fullness of life that God intends for us.

Key Takeaways:

- The Power of Spiritual Life: True life is characterized by power, and spiritual life is empowered by the Spirit of God. This power is not about physical strength but about living from the reality of God's Spirit, which transforms our existence. [00:34]

- Living from the Spirit vs. the Flesh: The story of Hagar and Sarah in Galatians 4 illustrates the difference between living from the flesh and living from the Spirit. Isaac, the child of promise, symbolizes the life that comes from cooperating with God, highlighting the importance of spiritual dependence. [02:53]

- Understanding Romans 8: Romans 8 is often misread as a text about the resurrection, but it speaks to the present reality of spiritual life. The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, empowering us to live a life of righteousness and spiritual vitality. [04:32]

- Mortification and Spiritual Living: Mortification is not about punishing the body but about living from the Spirit and subordinating the flesh. It involves choosing to let the Spirit guide our actions and decisions, leading to a life of spiritual fulfillment. [05:06]

- Entering the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus invites us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, a new realm where we live from a different reality. This spiritual existence is about embracing the power and promise of the Spirit, experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us. [02:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:18] - Introduction to Spiritual Life
- [00:34] - The Essence of Life and Power
- [01:03] - God as Spirit
- [01:22] - The Reality of God's Spirit
- [01:51] - Entering a New Reality
- [02:05] - Living from the Spirit
- [02:22] - Flesh vs. Spirit: Hagar and Sarah
- [02:53] - The Child of Promise
- [03:11] - Understanding Galatians 4
- [03:41] - Romans 8: Life in the Spirit
- [04:08] - Living Beyond Bodily Existence
- [04:32] - The Spirit's Empowerment
- [04:57] - Mortification and Spiritual Living
- [05:19] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 4:24 - "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
2. Galatians 4:22-31 - The story of Hagar and Sarah.
3. Romans 8:9-11 - Life through the Spirit.

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Observation Questions:
1. What does John 4:24 reveal about the nature of God and how we are to worship Him? [01:03]
2. In Galatians 4, how are the stories of Hagar and Sarah used to illustrate the difference between living from the flesh and living from the Spirit? [02:33]
3. According to Romans 8:9-11, what does it mean to be "in the Spirit" and how does this affect our mortal bodies? [03:57]
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of mortification, and how is it different from punishing the body? [05:06]

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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the understanding of God as spirit in John 4:24 influence the way believers should approach their spiritual life? [01:03]
2. What is the significance of Isaac being the child of promise in Galatians 4, and how does this relate to the concept of spiritual dependence on God? [02:53]
3. In Romans 8, what does it mean for the Spirit to "quicken your mortal bodies," and how does this relate to living a life of righteousness? [04:32]
4. How does the sermon explain the present reality of spiritual life as opposed to a future resurrection, according to Romans 8? [04:43]

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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. How can you ensure that your worship is truly "in the Spirit and in truth" as described in John 4:24? [01:03]
2. Consider a situation in your life where you might be relying on your own strength rather than cooperating with God. How can the story of Hagar and Sarah in Galatians 4 inspire you to seek God's help? [02:53]
3. Romans 8 speaks of the Spirit dwelling in us. What practical steps can you take to be more aware of the Spirit's presence and guidance in your daily life? [03:57]
4. The sermon discusses mortification as subordinating the flesh to the Spirit. Identify one area of your life where you can practice this concept more intentionally. [05:06]
5. How can you embrace the power and promise of the Spirit to experience the fullness of life that God intends for you, as mentioned in the sermon? [02:05]
6. Think about a recent decision you made. Did you rely more on your flesh or the Spirit? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [02:22]
7. The sermon invites us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and live from a different reality. What changes can you make in your life to align more closely with this spiritual existence? [02:05]

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Spiritual Life
In the journey of faith, true life is characterized by the power that comes from the Spirit of God. This power is not about physical strength or worldly influence but about living from the reality of God's Spirit, which transforms our existence. The essence of spiritual life is to be empowered by the Spirit, allowing us to transcend the limitations of the flesh and live in a new realm, the Kingdom of Heaven. This spiritual existence invites us to embrace a higher reality, where our lives are enriched and guided by the Spirit. [00:34]

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel powerless? How can you invite the Spirit of God to empower you in that area today?


Day 2: Living from the Spirit, Not the Flesh
The story of Hagar and Sarah in Galatians 4 illustrates the difference between living from the flesh and living from the Spirit. Isaac, the child of promise, symbolizes the life that comes from cooperating with God, highlighting the importance of spiritual dependence. Living from the Spirit means embracing the promise and power of God, allowing His Spirit to guide our actions and decisions, rather than relying on our own strength or understanding. This distinction calls us to a life of spiritual dependence and trust in God's promises. [02:53]

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." (Galatians 5:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a decision you are currently facing. How can you seek the guidance of the Spirit rather than relying on your own understanding?


Day 3: The Present Reality of Spiritual Life
Romans 8 is often misread as a text about the resurrection, but it speaks to the present reality of spiritual life. The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, empowering us to live a life of righteousness and spiritual vitality. This passage emphasizes that those who are in Christ are not bound by the flesh but are alive in the Spirit. It is a call to recognize and live in the reality of the Spirit's presence and power in our daily lives, experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us. [04:32]

"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." (Romans 8:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you become more aware of the Spirit's presence in your daily life? What practices can help you live more fully in this reality?


Day 4: Mortification and Spiritual Living
Mortification is not about punishing the body but about living from the Spirit and subordinating the flesh. It involves choosing to let the Spirit guide our actions and decisions, leading to a life of spiritual fulfillment. This process requires us to consciously choose the Spirit's way over the desires of the flesh, allowing the Spirit to transform our lives and align us with God's purposes. It is a call to embrace the Spirit's guidance and experience the fullness of life that comes from living in accordance with God's will. [05:06]

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming." (Colossians 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one earthly desire or habit you need to put to death? How can you invite the Spirit to help you overcome it?


Day 5: Entering the Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus invites us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, a new realm where we live from a different reality. This spiritual existence is about embracing the power and promise of the Spirit, experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us. Entering the Kingdom of Heaven means living from a higher reality, where our lives are guided and enriched by the Spirit. It is an invitation to step into a new way of being, where we are empowered by the Spirit to live in accordance with God's purposes and experience His abundant life. [02:05]

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What does entering the Kingdom of Heaven mean for you personally? How can you begin to live from this new reality today?

Quotes

"Spirituality and the strict and profound sense of the word is the dominion of the spirit. Remember what Jesus said in John 4, God is spirit. God is spirit. Spirit is disembodied personal power. To be a spiritual person is to have powers which derive from God." [00:01:00]

"Now there also is another spirit which can give you something in this way and there's a whole discussion of that to be had, but we're talking here about God's spirit, about life from the spirit of God. So as I indicate on father down, this is this is an ontological matter." [00:01:23]

"It is not it's a matter of what is a being. It's not a political matter, it's not particularly religious manner. It is it is a matter of another reality of living from another reality and when Jesus announces the kingdom of heaven he is saying enter into this other reality, come and learn to live in it." [00:01:44]

"So the spiritual person then is a person who lives from that realm and I don't know if you were here this morning but we're talking about these two alternatives, living from the flesh and living from the spirit. See a the paradigmatic illustration of what spiritual life is, is in Galatians." [00:02:05]

"The discussion of Hagar and Sarah and Hagar and Abraham generated Ishmael with no help from God and he was a child of the flesh. Sarah and Abraham cooperated in the generation of Isaac with help from God so that Isaac was the child of promise and emblematic of the spirit." [00:02:33]

"Romans 8: You are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you, and if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin. Now remember that means that you now have a choice of living from another reality than just bodily existence." [00:03:53]

"Doesn't mean the body is dead in the biological sense, but the spirit is life because the of righteousness. Now verse 11 here is a great blazing clarion call to the reality of the spiritual life. If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you." [00:04:17]

"He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you. That is not a text about the resurrection, that is a text about this life. Look therefore brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh." [00:04:34]

"For if you live after the flesh you shall die but if he through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body you shall live. Now see mortification got such a bad name because people thought this when you go around punishing the body, right you have you have all this history of body torture." [00:04:53]

"It doesn't it doesn't mean to really do anything about the body except to live from the spirit and subordinate the body to the spiritual life." [00:05:12]

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Transcript
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