Listen: The Spirit

Apr 19, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Burning Bushes and Bare Feet

Moses trudged through the desert, staff in hand, when fire crackled in a thornbush. The flames didn’t consume it. He stepped closer, boots crunching on dry soil. A voice boomed: “Moses! Take off your sandals—you’re on holy ground.” God didn’t send an angel or a memo. He called Moses by name, assigning him to free an entire nation. [46:03]

This wasn’t a suggestion. God spoke clearly, personally, and with purpose. The same voice that named Moses knows your fears, dreams, and the exact help your neighbor needs. He doesn’t shout over life’s noise—He ignites holy moments to get your attention.

Where is your “burning bush” this week? A repeated Bible verse? A friend’s sudden text? A burden you can’t shake? Stop justifying why you’re the wrong person. Moses argued too. What ordinary place might God be asking you to treat as holy today?

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’ ‘Do not come any closer,’ God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’”
(Exodus 3:2–5, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to make His next step for you as clear as a burning bush.

Challenge: Spend 10 minutes in silence today—phone off, shoes off—and whisper, “Speak, Lord.”

Day 2: Fruit on the Branch

A peach tree doesn’t grunt to grow fruit. It drinks sun, sinks roots, and—when season comes—juicy peaches drip from its branches. Paul told the Galatians: “The Spirit grows love, joy, peace…”—not your effort. Religious rule-keeping withers like plucked fruit. But abiding in Jesus? That nourishes others naturally. [35:09]

God isn’t grading your spiritual resume. The Spirit works through ordinary moments—helping a coworker, choosing patience in traffic, biting back gossip. These aren’t checklists. They’re evidence of roots tapping into Living Water.

What “fruit” feels hardest to display this week? Resentment choking joy? Anxiety drowning peace? Don’t manufacture fake sweetness. Sit with Jesus now. Which relationship needs His kindness more than your opinion?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
(Galatians 5:22–23, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for one specific fruit He’s grown in you this month. Name it aloud.

Challenge: Text someone who embodies a fruit you lack: “How do you stay kind/patient/gentle?”

Day 3: When the Piano Calls

The text popped up: “Need help moving a piano Saturday.” Excuses fired—too busy, too heavy. But the Spirit nudged: Is this loving? Kind? Two hours later, sweaty and sore, he met a woman he hadn’t seen in years. Divine appointments hide in mundane yeses. [38:05]

God’s guidance often feels inconvenient. Moses’ bush detoured him from shepherding. Your “piano moment” might interrupt plans but unlock purpose. The Spirit prioritizes people over productivity.

What request have you been ignoring? A favor? An apology? A risky invitation? Stop weighing pros and cons. Which “no” have you dressed up as wisdom that’s really fear?

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one selfish excuse you’ve used to avoid serving others.

Challenge: Say “yes” to the next small request—even if it’s inconvenient.

Day 4: Crucified Flesh, Risen Courage

Paul didn’t sugarcoat it: “Crucify your selfish desires.” No gentle pruning—a bloody execution. That anger you nurse? The secret habit? Nail it to the cross. Daily. Not because you’re strong, but because Christ’s resurrection power lives in you. [42:48]

Crucifixion hurts. Saying “no” to gossip, lust, or pride feels like losing part of yourself. But empty tombs follow crosses. What addiction, grudge, or lie have you been feeding instead of burying?

What’s one “fleshly work” sabotaging your relationships? Write it down. Now tear the paper. Who can hold you accountable to leave it in the grave?

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
(Galatians 5:24–25, NIV)

Prayer: Name one attitude you need God’s strength to crucify today.

Challenge: Delete one app/contact that tempts you toward old habits.

Day 5: Whispers in the Wilderness

Mples spent 40 years in the desert before the burning bush. No promotions, no miracles—just sheep and sand. But God was preparing humility in the silence. Your waiting season isn’t wasted. Droughts deepen roots. [47:07]

God didn’t rush Moses’ training. He won’t rush yours. That job you didn’t get? The unanswered prayer? Trust His timing. The same voice that called Moses knows when you’re ready.

What desert have you been begging God to end? A strained marriage? A stagnant career? How might this wilderness be preparing you for a future “Pharaoh”?

“Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness… There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.”
(Exodus 3:1–2, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one purpose in your current wilderness.

Challenge: Write “Wait” on your wrist—let it remind you God’s timing is holy.

Sermon Summary

God speaks personally and practically; living by that voice requires more than rules. Grounded in Galatians 5, the teaching contrasts two ways of life: works of the flesh—immediate, self-directed choices that satisfy and destroy—and the fruit of the Spirit, a single abiding life that naturally produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Walking by the Spirit means moving through daily life attentive to God's presence, not trapped in legalism but freed by grace to be led in concrete decisions. The Spirit never prompts unrighteousness; unkind words, impulsive reactions, and sinful choices cannot be blamed on divine guidance.

Fruit does not demand performance; it requires abiding. Like fruit that remains on a branch, spiritual character emerges from remaining connected to Christ and allowing the Spirit to work, rather than from laboring to produce behavior. Discerning God’s voice combines humility, Scripture, and practical markers: clarity (moments that cannot be reduced to coincidence), personal address (God names the individual), a clear goal, and encouraging presence. Moses’ burning bush models these marks—God calls the weak and equips the called—so insistence on readiness becomes a barrier, while humility opens one to unexpected vocation.

Practical discernment matters: everyday nudges—responding to a request to move a piano, an invitation to walk across the Grand Canyon, or a call to start a ranch for rescued women—can reveal God’s orchestrating of timing, opportunity, and relationships. Responding does not guarantee control over outcomes; obedience often asks only for the next step while God holds the results. The Christian life moves from a checklist of rules into a rhythm of listening, crucifying selfish impulses, and keeping step with the Spirit, producing lasting transformation in ordinary interactions, ministry initiatives, and life decisions. The call to surrender carries risk and reward: surrender opens ordinary days to divine intersections that reshape people, communities, and vocations.

Key Takeaways

1. Walk daily by the Spirit Walking by the Spirit means making small, moment-by-moment choices to align actions with God’s presence rather than defaulting to personal impulse. This requires attention, prayer, and a willingness to be interrupted by Kingdom opportunities that look ordinary at first. Consistent walking trains perception so nudges become recognizable and trustable. [29:03]
2. Fruit contrasts with fleshly works Fruit flows from abiding; works spring from striving. Trying harder to behave produces short-lived compliance, while remaining in Christ cultivates character that nourishes others and reproduces. Evaluate decisions by whether they increase reliance on grace or on willpower alone. [34:31]
3. Discernment requires humility and presence God often calls the weak so reliance on divine power becomes unavoidable; humility unclogs vocation. Pride imagines readiness and seizes control, while humility waits and responds to clear, personal prompts. Scripture and quiet attentiveness refine that sensitivity. [48:11]
4. Pay attention to small nudges Everyday prompts—texts, encounters, requests—can be divine threads linking timing, opportunity, and relationships. Saying yes to minor inconveniences can unlock providential encounters that lead to ministry and restoration. Obedience usually asks for one next step, not full knowledge of the outcome. [40:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:50] - Series: Listen — God Speaks to Everyone
[12:00] - Opening Prayer and Intent
[28:22] - Context: Galatians 5 and Legalism
[29:03] - Walk By The Spirit Explained
[34:31] - Works of Flesh vs Fruit of Spirit
[35:29] - Why Fruit Is One Fruit
[37:30] - Practical Filter for Decisions
[40:21] - Everyday Nudges and Providence
[46:03] - Moses at the Burning Bush
[52:30] - Timing, Opportunity, Relationships
[56:39] - Invitation to Surrender and Respond
[68:56] - Announcements and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Galatians 5:16-25 (ESV)
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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Observation Questions

According to Galatians 5:22-23, the "fruit of the Spirit" is listed as a single "fruit" (singular) with nine characteristics. Why might Paul use the metaphor of fruit (singular) instead of fruits (plural) to describe these qualities? [35:29]
In the sermon, what practical example was given to illustrate how small, everyday decisions (like helping move a piano) can align with walking by the Spirit? [40:21]
How did Moses’ burning bush experience (Exodus 3:1-10) demonstrate the four markers of God’s voice mentioned in the sermon: clarity, personal address, a clear goal, and encouraging presence? [48:30]

Interpretation Questions

Galatians 5:16-18 contrasts "walking by the Spirit" with being "under the law." How does relying on rules (legalism) hinder the kind of freedom and responsiveness described in the sermon? [28:48]
The sermon emphasized that "fruit does not demand performance; it requires abiding." How does abiding in Christ differ from striving to "produce" good behavior on our own strength? [34:31]
Why might humility be essential for discerning God’s voice, as illustrated by Moses’ story? How does pride block our ability to respond to God’s leading? [48:11]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent decision where you acted impulsively (e.g., an unkind text, a selfish choice). How could pausing to ask, “Is this loving, kind, or self-controlled?” have changed your response? [38:22]
What is one “small nudge” you’ve sensed this week—a text to send, a conversation to initiate, or a need to meet—that you’ve hesitated to act on? What practical step could you take to obey that prompting? [40:21]
The sermon mentioned “crucifying the flesh” as a daily choice. Identify a recurring habit or attitude (e.g., impatience, envy) that feels like a “work of the flesh.” How could abiding in Christ (e.g., prayer, Scripture) weaken its grip? [43:10]
Moses felt unqualified when God called him. Where do you feel inadequate or unready for a task God might be inviting you into? How could surrendering that fear open you to His equipping? [47:54]
The phrase “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) implies rhythm, not rigidity. What does your current “rhythm” of listening for God’s voice look like? How could you create space for quiet attentiveness this week? [43:49]

Sermon Clips

41s

#LiveInTheSpirit

“You've been playing church. You've been you've been playing religion for far too long. You've been checking the boxes. You've been doing all the the rules. We don't we don't follow that anymore. We follow with the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus leaves, he's like, somebody greater is coming. The Holy Spirit. And it is so freeing to live in the spirit. So I'm not bound by a list of all these things I have to do tomorrow. I'm bound by the Holy Spirit and as the Holy Spirit leads and guides. And if you you live that way, you'll never have two days exactly the same. You'll go this way one day, and you'll go that way one day based on the Holy Spirit's leading and guiding.”

37s

#AbideInTheSpirit

“It wouldn't be called faith if God gave him everything that he needed. If God told him at the burning bush of all the plagues and how many trips he was gonna have to make to pharaoh, Moses and I, I'm out of it. I'm like, didn't tell him all that. He didn't need to know all of that. He said, what's the next step? What's the next step? This is what it looks like to abide in the spirit. Pay attention to the spirit as you go throughout your day. Crucify the old works of the flesh, and as you abide in the spirit, there'll be fruit. You don't create the fruit. Be careful.”

38s

#DontBlameGod

“The Holy Spirit will not lead you to do anything sinful. You you cannot blame the Holy Spirit on the email that you wish you could retract. The text that you sent that was unkind and uncalled for, you were reacting to something that they said, it's not of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will never lead you to do something unholy, unrighteous. That that is not of the Holy Spirit. Do not blame God for that. Never blame God for your poor behavior.”

39s

#NoCoincidences

“What are the chances of that happening? There are no coincidences in the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit leads you so that you might experience all that is good for you. What the choices that you make might think they're good, they're not good compared compared to what the Holy Spirit has for you. What I had for myself on a Saturday morning, I would've wasted it away. Instead, I got the opportunity to come alongside a family and help them and get to know them a little bit better and then have a really sweet conversation with somebody I hadn't seen in a couple years.”

39s

#SpiritPersonalizes

“So the Bible was written for you, but not specifically to you. And so what does it mean to live in the power of the Holy Spirit day to day? The Bible doesn't tell you where to go to college, what job to take, who to marry. Right? Gives us some general principles on that. But the what the Holy Spirit will do, we'll personalize it for you. And our prayer is that it'd be clear. That, God, make this clear. In Isaiah, there's a voice behind us. Isaiah the prophet writes, there's a voice behind us that says, turn to the left or turn to the right as we go throughout our day.”

35s

#GodWorksInWilderness

“Some of us are in the wilderness right now. We're waiting for God to just reveal himself and call us into something. God does his best work in the wilderness. It wasn't when Moses thought he was ready that God called him. It was when Moses realized he wasn't ready. Anybody ever says have you ever thought, I am not the person for that job? You are exactly the person for that job when you think that. Moses thought he was the person for the job. He took matters in his own hands and it caused him to flee. Forty years. Now now he's 80, and God wants to speak to him.”

34s

#LiveInGrace

“But but we're not under the law anymore. I'm more under the spirit. We we live in a day of grace, which is a beautiful thing that when you wake up tomorrow morning, you can be led by the spirit, and the spirit will lead you differently than he might lead me. Live in a day of grace. How you choose to give may be different than how I choose to to give. How you serve might be different than how I serve. We it's a spirit grace that exists. Again, Paul's saying you're not under the law.”

38s

#LeverageYourResources

“Some of you, God's been nudging you because you have influence, you have power, and you have resources. In fact, I'd argue everybody in this room has power, influences, and resources. Leverage them. Leverage them for the kingdom of God. Listen to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit says, use your time. Use your resources. Use what you have. Pay attention to that. I stepped off the board. I felt like my time was done, and I was on the website yesterday. Was so proud of Sarah and the work that God has done in Tucson. Right? That's how that's how God works.”

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Listen: The Spirit

Devotional

Day 1: Burning Bushes and Bare Feet

Day 2: Fruit on the Branch

Day 3: When the Piano Calls

Day 4: Crucified Flesh, Risen Courage

Day 5: Whispers in the Wilderness

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Listen: The Spirit

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