Living by the Spirit: A Journey of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Living by the Spirit's Power

The Christian life is not about self-reliance but about living by the power of the Holy Spirit. This requires a radical shift from our natural inclination to depend on our own strength. Instead, we are called to a life of dependence on God, which is a profound mystery. This mystery challenges our understanding and invites us to trust in the Spirit's power rather than our own abilities. By embracing this dependence, we open ourselves to the transformative work of the Spirit, allowing us to live in a way that glorifies God. [01:18]

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength instead of the Spirit's power? How can you begin to shift that reliance today?

Day 2: The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

There are two types of people: those controlled by the flesh and those indwelt by the Spirit. The flesh is inherently hostile to God and cannot submit to His law, while the Spirit brings life and peace. This distinction is crucial for understanding the Christian walk. Walking by the Spirit is essential to overcoming the desires of the flesh, which are in constant opposition to the Spirit. By choosing to walk by the Spirit, we align ourselves with God's will and experience the peace that comes from living in harmony with Him. [04:04]

Galatians 5:16-17 (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."

Reflection: Identify a specific desire of the flesh that you struggle with. How can you actively choose to walk by the Spirit in this area today?

Day 3: Active Participation in the Spirit's Work

Walking by the Spirit does not mean passivity. We are called to actively use our will and resolve, but in reliance on the Spirit's power. This balance of divine empowerment and human responsibility is a key aspect of the Christian walk. It requires us to engage our will in obedience to God while trusting in the Spirit to empower our actions. This active participation allows us to experience the fullness of life in the Spirit and to fulfill God's purposes for our lives. [07:46]

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Reflection: What is one area where you can actively participate in the Spirit's work today? How can you balance your efforts with reliance on the Spirit?

Day 4: Faith as the Foundation

The Spirit is received and supplied through faith. This ongoing faith is crucial for living a Spirit-led life, enabling us to perform acts of love and service that glorify God. Faith is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of trusting in God's promises and His Spirit's work in our lives. By maintaining this faith, we remain open to the Spirit's guidance and empowerment, allowing us to live out the miraculous love that reflects God's character. [11:07]

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Reflection: How can you strengthen your faith today to ensure a continuous supply of the Spirit in your life? What specific steps can you take to deepen your trust in God?

Day 5: The Miracle of Self-Denying Love

The greatest miracle is a life transformed by the Spirit, characterized by self-denying love for others. This is the ultimate expression of walking by the Spirit and is achieved through faith and reliance on God's power. Such love goes beyond human capability and reflects the heart of God. By allowing the Spirit to transform us, we become vessels of God's love, impacting those around us and bringing glory to His name. [12:49]

1 John 3:16-18 (ESV): "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God's love through you today? What specific action can you take to demonstrate self-denying love to them?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound mystery of the Christian life, which is to live by the power of another—specifically, the Holy Spirit. This concept may seem strange, especially to those new to the faith, but it is central to understanding how we are called to walk as Christians. We are not to live by our own strength or will, but by the Spirit who dwells within us. This is a radical departure from the mindset of atheism, deism, or Pelagianism, which rely on self-sufficiency or a distant God. Instead, we are called to a life of dependence on the Spirit, which is both a mystery and a miracle.

Paul's teachings in Romans 8 highlight the distinction between those who are flesh-controlled and those who are Spirit-indwelt. The flesh is hostile to God and cannot submit to His law, while the Spirit brings life and peace. This is why it is crucial for us to walk by the Spirit, as the flesh and the Spirit are in constant opposition. Walking by the Spirit means that we are not merely passive robots; we actively use our will and resolve, but in reliance on the Spirit's power.

The mystery deepens as we consider how we can act by the act of another. This is not something we can fully grasp through human experience; it is divine and spiritual. The key to living this way is faith. We receive the Spirit by faith, and we continue to rely on the Spirit through faith. This ongoing supply of the Spirit enables us to perform miraculous acts of love and service, which are the true marks of a Spirit-led life.

In the coming sessions, we will delve deeper into the practical aspects of walking by the Spirit, but for now, we understand that the foundation is faith. It is through hearing with faith that we receive and continue to be supplied by the Spirit, allowing us to live out the miraculous love that glorifies Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. reliance to dependence on God, which is a mystery that challenges our natural inclinations. [01:18]
2. The Flesh vs. The Spirit: There are two types of people: those controlled by the flesh and those indwelt by the Spirit. The flesh is hostile to God, while the Spirit brings life and peace. Walking by the Spirit is essential to overcoming the desires of the flesh.

3. Active Participation: Walking by the Spirit does not mean passivity. We are called to actively use our will and resolve, but in reliance on the Spirit's power. This balance of divine empowerment and human responsibility is a key aspect of the Christian walk.

4. Faith as the Foundation: The Spirit is received and supplied through faith. This ongoing faith is crucial for living a Spirit-led life, enabling us to perform acts of love and service that glorify God.

5. Miraculous Love: The greatest miracle is a life transformed by the Spirit, characterized by self-denying love for others. This is the ultimate expression of walking by the Spirit and is achieved through faith and reliance on God's power.

** [01:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:18] - The Mystery of Living by Another's Power
[02:02] - Walking in Love and Service
[03:41] - The Urgency of Walking by the Spirit
[04:04] - Flesh-Controlled vs. Spirit-Indwelt
[05:02] - The Hostility of the Flesh
[06:11] - The Importance of Walking by the Spirit
[07:07] - The Balance of Divine Empowerment and Human Responsibility
[08:07] - Working Out Salvation with God's Help
[09:25] - The Relationship Between Effort and Grace
[10:08] - Obeying the Mysterious Command
[11:07] - Receiving the Spirit by Faith
[12:28] - The Ongoing Supply of the Spirit
[12:49] - The Miracle of Self-Denying Love
[13:08] - Looking Ahead to Practical Application

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Romans 8:5-9
Galatians 5:16-18
Philippians 2:12-13

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Observation Questions:

According to Romans 8, what are the characteristics of those who are "flesh-controlled" versus those who are "Spirit-indwelt"? How does this distinction affect their mindset and actions? [04:04]
In the sermon, what does the pastor say about the relationship between human effort and divine empowerment? How does this relate to the concept of walking by the Spirit? [08:07]
How does the pastor describe the mystery of living by the power of another, specifically the Holy Spirit? What makes this concept challenging to understand? [01:18]
What does Galatians 2 suggest about how we initially receive the Spirit and how we continue to be supplied by the Spirit? [11:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the distinction between "flesh-controlled" and "Spirit-indwelt" individuals in Romans 8 help us understand the urgency of walking by the Spirit? What implications does this have for daily Christian living? [06:11]
The pastor mentions that walking by the Spirit involves both divine empowerment and human responsibility. How can believers balance these two aspects in their spiritual journey? [07:46]
In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul talks about working out our salvation with fear and trembling. How does this passage relate to the idea of relying on the Spirit's power while actively participating in our spiritual growth? [08:24]
The sermon emphasizes faith as the foundation for receiving and being supplied by the Spirit. How does this ongoing faith manifest in a believer's life, according to the pastor? [11:07]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are relying more on your own strength rather than the Spirit's power? How can you shift towards greater dependence on the Holy Spirit this week? [01:18]
The pastor describes the flesh as hostile to God. Are there specific thoughts or behaviors in your life that reflect this hostility? What steps can you take to align more with the Spirit's mindset? [05:02]
Consider a situation where you need to actively use your will and resolve. How can you ensure that your actions are in reliance on the Spirit's power rather than self-reliance? [08:07]
The sermon highlights the miraculous love that comes from a Spirit-led life. Identify one person in your life who could benefit from this kind of love. What practical steps can you take to show them self-denying love this week? [12:49]
The pastor talks about the ongoing supply of the Spirit through faith. What daily practices can you incorporate to strengthen your faith and remain open to the Spirit's guidance? [12:28]
Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did you respond, and how might walking by the Spirit have changed your response? What can you learn from this for future situations? [06:31]
The sermon suggests that the greatest miracle is a life transformed by the Spirit. What specific transformation do you desire in your life, and how can you invite the Spirit to work in that area? [12:49]

Sermon Clips

The Christian walk, that is, live, walk around your lives, live your ordinary lives by another. You will use your will by the will of another. You act by the act of another. You see how strange that is. So here's another person and here's us, and we are told to live a certain way. [00:01:25]

There are two kinds of people in the world: flesh-controlled and Spirit-indwelt. They are flesh people and they are Spirit people. They're no other kind. Only those who are in Christ are Spirit indwelt, only Christians. The rest are of the flesh. Look at this: those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. [00:04:04]

The flesh is that old nature that is neglectful of, indifferent to, disbelieving in, hostile against God. But those who are according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. [00:04:48]

Walk by the Spirit, walk in the power of another. Now, how easy it would be to conclude from doing what you do by the power of an omnipotent Spirit. How easy it would be to conclude, well, if God Almighty has moved into my life to triumph over the flesh, then he's so in control that I'm just a robot. [00:07:07]

He would not say you do the walking. You do the walking, be about it, Christian. Use your will, use your resolve to walk in truth, walk in love, walk in service. Only be sure you do it not in self-reliance, but in reliance upon the power of another. [00:07:49]

Work out your salvation, you Christian, do this, do this. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is the one who's at work in you, willing and working for his good pleasure. So you do the work, and you discover that in and through your doing, God is doing and God is willing. [00:08:14]

By the grace of God, I am what I am. That's what a Christian says, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked hard. So that's not robot talk, right? I have a will, you have a will, and we are called upon to use that will to work in the service of love. [00:08:43]

Walk by the Spirit. If you succeed in obeying this command, I am walking, but I am walking by the Spirit. Then you will grasp what Paul means when he says, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God. It was the Spirit with me and within me. [00:09:26]

How do I obey such a mysterious command? How do I will by the will of another? How do I act by the act of another? It is so strange. There's nothing in life that prepares us for this. This is divine, this is Godly, this is spiritual, this is Christianity. [00:10:08]

Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, like circumcision, or by hearing with faith? The answer is no to this, and the answer is yes to this. So the fundamental answer is we received the Spirit by faith. Now, are you so foolish, having begun the Christian life by receiving the Spirit through faith? [00:10:59]

The fundamental answer to the question, how do I appropriate ongoing supplies of the Spirit so that miraculous things are done in me and among us, like love? The greatest miracle in the world is when a fallen, flesh-controlled human being denies himself, takes up his cross, and loves another person at significant cost to himself for the glory of Jesus. [00:12:28]

The Spirit is supplied for that by hearing with faith. Now, what practically in day-to-day life does that look like? Next time. [00:13:08]

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Living by the Spirit: A Journey of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Living by the Spirit's Power

Day 2: The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

Day 3: Active Participation in the Spirit's Work

Day 4: Faith as the Foundation

Day 5: The Miracle of Self-Denying Love

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Living by the Spirit: A Journey of Faith

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