Harvesting Spiritual Victory Through Disciplines and Choices
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the concept of spiritual weariness and the importance of perseverance in doing good. I emphasized that if we sow into the spirit, we will reap a harvest of freedom, breakthrough, and revival. This is not a promise I made up to sound good, but a truth taught by Jesus himself in the parable of the sower. If the truth of the kingdom of God falls on good soil in our hearts, we will reap a harvest 30, 60, a hundred times what was sown. I urged the congregation to choose to dig into God's word, to fast, pray, memorize scripture, and work together. I reminded them that the choice is theirs: they can sow to please the spirit and reap a harvest of revival, or they can sow to please the flesh and reap destruction.
In the second part of the sermon, I discussed the importance of spiritual disciplines in achieving victory over the flesh. I urged the congregation to choose to read the Bible instead of scrolling through their phones, to memorize God's word, to share their struggles with an accountability partner, to give, and to serve. I emphasized that they need to choose to do the work in order to walk in step with the spirit. I concluded by reminding them of the simple but life-changing truth from God's word: on the cross, Jesus did everything we need to walk in victory and freedom in the kingdom of God.
Key takeaways:
- The importance of sowing into the spirit to reap a harvest of freedom, breakthrough, and revival. ([01:16:00])
- The choice between sowing to please the spirit and reaping a harvest of revival, or sowing to please the flesh and reaping destruction. ([01:16:42])
- The necessity of spiritual disciplines in achieving victory over the flesh. ([01:12:44])
- The power of God's word to bring victory and freedom in the kingdom of God. ([01:18:13])
- The importance of acknowledging the victory and standing in it in the battle against the flesh. ([52:34])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The Lord calls us to actively participate in our spiritual growth and victory over the flesh. This involves making conscious choices such as reading the Bible, memorizing scripture, and sharing our struggles with accountability partners. It's through these disciplines that we can walk in step with the Spirit. #!!01:12:44!!#
2. Our victory comes through Jesus Christ. He has given us everything we need to overcome the flesh and walk in victory. We are not left to battle alone; God is faithful and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. #!!49:45!!#
3. We are called to live in the freedom that Christ has set for us. This involves understanding the spiritual battle we face against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and choosing to live in the freedom that Christ has won for us. #!!47:46!!#
4. We reap what we sow. If we sow to please the flesh, we will reap destruction, but if we sow to please the Spirit, we will reap life. We are encouraged not to grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. #!!01:16:00!!#
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Romans Chapter 6
2. Galatians Chapter 5
3. Matthew Chapter 24
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In Romans Chapter 6, how does Paul describe our relationship with sin now that we are in Christ?
2. What does Galatians Chapter 5 teach us about the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit?
3. How does the parable in Matthew Chapter 24 illustrate the consequences of sowing to please the flesh versus sowing to please the Spirit?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans Chapter 6 help us understand the concept of victory over the flesh through Jesus Christ?
2. In Galatians Chapter 5, what does it mean to walk in step with the Spirit?
3. How does the parable in Matthew Chapter 24 apply to our daily choices and actions?
Application Questions:
1. What are some practical ways you can sow to please the Spirit in your daily life?
2. How can you apply the truth of God's faithfulness in not letting us be tempted beyond what we can bear in your current circumstances?
3. Can you share a time when you experienced the consequences of sowing to please the flesh? How did this experience shape your understanding of the importance of sowing to please the Spirit?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Choice
The sermon emphasizes the power of choice in our spiritual journey. We have the power to choose to read the Bible instead of scrolling through our phones, to memorize God's word, to share our struggles with an accountability partner, and to serve. These choices help us walk in step with the spirit and resist temptation. [01:12:44]
Bible passage: Deuteronomy 30:19 - "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you had to make a choice that impacted your spiritual journey. How did you make that choice and what was the outcome?
Day 2: Sowing and Reaping
The sermon discusses the concept of sowing and reaping in our spiritual lives. What we sow in our daily lives, whether it's to please the flesh or the spirit, will determine what we reap. If we sow to please the spirit, we will reap life. [01:14:42]
Bible passage: Galatians 6:7-8 - "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
Reflection: Reflect on what you have been sowing in your life recently. How can you sow more to please the Spirit?
Day 3: The Battle Against Instant Gratification
The sermon highlights the battle against instant gratification in our spiritual lives. It emphasizes the importance of spiritual disciplines, like fasting, in this battle. [01:04:51]
Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 9:27 - "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent instance where you had to battle against instant gratification. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
Day 4: The Victory in Christ
The sermon reminds us of the victory we have in Christ. Despite the difficulties and challenges we face, we can walk in victory because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. [01:16:42]
Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you experienced victory in Christ. How did that victory impact your faith?
Day 5: The Power of Prayer
The sermon emphasizes the power of prayer in our spiritual journey. It encourages us to pray for openness, transformation, and freedom in Christ. [41:34]
Bible passage: James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where prayer played a significant role. How did prayer impact the situation and your faith?
Quotes
1. "Let us not get become weary and doing good for at the proper time if you're so into please the spirit you will reap a harvest if we don't give up. Let's choose to dig into his word to begin to fast and pray and memorize and work together because do you know what the Harvest is? It's a harvest of freedom and breakthrough and Revival." - 01:16:00
2. "Choose to take your body to church, choose to read your Bible and not scroll through your phone, choose to memorize God's word that it can be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path, choose to share the things you're struggling with with an accountability partner, choose to give, choose to serve. You need to choose to do the work and you'll be able to walk and step with the spirit." - 01:13:21
3. "The truth is that on the cross you did everything that we need to walk in Victory and in Freedom in the kingdom of God. That it is your desire that we reign with you, that sin doesn't Reign, that we don't walk in the in the flesh but that we walk in the power of the spirit." - 01:18:13
4. "The truth is there is freedom for each one in this place, victory in the name of Jesus. Let us believe for it, let us stand on it, let us sow into it all the days of our lives that we may see a Revival Harvest, a harvest according to the power of God at work in us his church that would be infinitely above all we could ask or imagine." - 01:19:39
5. "We are those who have died to sin, how can we live in it any longer? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father we too may live a new life." - 54:40
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