Living in the Spirit: Embracing Life and Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit is the Giver of Life

The Holy Spirit is not just a distant force but the very source of life, continually filling and sustaining believers day by day, moment by moment. Just as a ship’s sail must be filled with wind to move forward, so too must our lives be constantly filled with the Spirit to truly live and fulfill our purpose. This ongoing filling is not a one-time event but a dynamic, renewable experience that brings vitality, direction, and intimacy with God. To be attached to the Spirit is to experience the fullness of life He offers, and to be detached is to miss out on the life God intends for us. [29:35]

Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,"

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most sense a need for the Spirit’s fresh filling today, and how can you intentionally open yourself to His presence in that area?

Day 2: The Spirit Convicts, Revives, and Restores

The Holy Spirit’s primary role is to convict us of our sin, reveal God’s righteousness, and remind us of the reality of coming judgment. True revival is not about emotional highs or dramatic experiences, but about being brought back from spiritual death through honest repentance and a renewed relationship with God and others. When the Spirit moves, He exposes the ugliness of our sin, leads us to repentance, and brings restoration in our lives and relationships, knitting us back together with God and those around us. [33:27]

John 16:7-11 (ESV)
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin or area of unbelief the Spirit is convicting you of today? How can you respond with honest repentance and seek restoration?

Day 3: The Spirit Reminds Us of Christ’s Words

The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches and reminds us of everything Jesus has said, ensuring that the story of God and His Word dwell richly within us. Throughout history, God’s people have struggled with forgetfulness, but the Spirit now indwells believers to keep the words and ways of Christ alive in our hearts. To be filled with the Spirit is to have the words of Jesus and the story of Scripture constantly shaping our thoughts, actions, and relationships, drawing us into deeper intimacy with God. [36:59]

John 14:26 (ESV)
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

Reflection: What is one teaching or promise of Jesus that you need the Spirit to remind you of and help you live out today?

Day 4: The Spirit Gives Graces (Gifts) to Build Up the Church

The Holy Spirit pours out graces—spiritual gifts—on every believer, not for personal status but to encourage and build up the church. Each person is given a unique grace to offer, and when we use these gifts, we demonstrate God’s grace to others and strengthen the body of Christ. It is important to recognize and use the gifts God has given, knowing that neglecting them means others miss out on the encouragement and blessing God intends through us. [39:32]

Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."

Reflection: What is one grace or gift the Spirit has given you, and how can you intentionally use it to encourage someone in your church family this week?

Day 5: The Fruit of the Spirit Marks a Healthy Church

The true evidence of the Spirit’s presence is not dramatic gifts or experiences, but the fruit He produces in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A healthy church is made up of people whose lives are marked by these qualities, who encourage and build up one another, and who lay down their pride to let Christ have all of them. To be filled with the Spirit is to allow Him to transform us from the inside out, so that our character and relationships reflect the heart of God. [41:20]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you most desire to grow in right now, and what is one practical step you can take today to cultivate it?

Sermon Summary

Each person’s story and season is no accident; God has crafted each life with intention and love. Reflecting on the diversity of church backgrounds and experiences, it becomes clear that our understanding of the Holy Spirit is often shaped by our histories—sometimes leading to confusion, discomfort, or even division. Yet, the Holy Spirit is not a peripheral or awkward presence to be ignored, but the very Lord and Giver of Life, as affirmed by the ancient creed that unites Christians across traditions.

The Holy Spirit’s work is not a one-time event but a continual, dynamic filling—like wind in a sail, not water in a leaky bucket. Life in the Spirit is meant to be ongoing, renewable, and vital, not static or relegated to a past experience. The Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, and is to be worshiped and glorified together with them, not neglected or overemphasized to the exclusion of the others. To truly know God, we must honor all three persons of the Trinity.

The Spirit’s primary role is to give life and to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. True revival is not about emotional highs or spiritual theatrics, but about being brought back from spiritual death—facing the reality of our sin, repenting, and being restored to God and to one another. Only the Spirit can bring about genuine repentance and transformation; our role is to walk humbly, surrendering ourselves and praying for others to do the same.

The Spirit also speaks through the prophets and continues to remind us of Christ’s words, illuminating Scripture and drawing us into deeper intimacy with God. To be filled with the Spirit is to have the word of Christ dwelling richly within us, shaping our lives and relationships.

Spiritual gifts—better understood as “graces”—are given to each believer not as marks of maturity, but as means to build up and encourage the church. The true evidence of the Spirit’s presence is not the gifts themselves, but the fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A healthy, Spirit-filled church is marked by these qualities, not by spectacle or division.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to lay down our pride and self-sufficiency, allowing God’s life to flow through us for the good of others and the glory of the Trinity.

Key Takeaways

1. The Holy Spirit is not an awkward add-on to the Christian life, but the Lord and Giver of Life, continually filling and animating us. Like wind in a sail, the Spirit’s presence is meant to be ongoing and dynamic, not a one-time event or a static possession. To be attached to the Spirit is to experience true, abundant life, moment by moment. [29:04]
2. True revival is not about emotional experiences or outward displays, but about the Spirit’s work of convicting us of sin, leading us to repentance, and restoring relationships. Revival begins with facing the reality of our brokenness and receiving God’s mercy, which then overflows into gratitude and reconciliation with others. The Spirit’s role is to bring life out of death, not just excitement out of boredom. [32:35]
3. Conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment is the Spirit’s work, not ours. We are not called to be the Holy Spirit for others, but to walk humbly, surrendering ourselves and praying for others to be open to the Spirit’s leading. Lasting change and repentance come only through the Spirit’s gentle but persistent work in the heart. [35:12]
4. Being filled with the Spirit means having the word of Christ dwell richly within us, shaping our thoughts, actions, and relationships. The Spirit continually reminds us of God’s story and Christ’s teachings, keeping our hearts soft and our lives aligned with God’s purposes. Forgetting God’s word leads to spiritual drift, but the Spirit anchors us in truth and love. [36:59]
5. Spiritual gifts—better called “graces”—are given to each believer to build up and encourage the church, but they are not the measure of spiritual maturity. The true evidence of the Spirit’s presence is the fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A healthy church is marked by these qualities, not by the prominence of gifts or personalities. [41:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:24] - God’s Purpose in Our Stories
[15:58] - Meeting Fred: Awkwardness and the Spirit
[18:38] - Avoiding the Holy Spirit
[19:21] - Reactions to the Spirit in Church
[20:22] - Diverse Church Backgrounds
[23:05] - Conflict Over the Spirit
[24:51] - Theological Diversity and Experience
[25:29] - Approaching the Holy Spirit with Maturity
[26:33] - The Creed and the Holy Spirit
[27:38] - The Spirit as Giver of Life
[29:35] - The Spirit Proceeds from Father and Son
[30:36] - Worshiping the Trinity Together
[31:43] - The Spirit’s Role: Conviction and Revival
[34:47] - The Spirit’s Work, Not Ours
[35:52] - The Spirit and the Word
[37:57] - Spiritual Gifts as Graces
[40:43] - Fruit as Evidence of the Spirit
[42:55] - What Makes a Healthy Church
[44:13] - Prayer of Augustine
[46:11] - Benediction and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) — > And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

John 16:7-11 (ESV) — > Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) — > But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Observation Questions

In Ephesians 5:18, what does Paul mean by “be filled with the Spirit”? Is this described as a one-time event or something ongoing? ([28:25])
According to John 16:7-11, what are the three main things the Holy Spirit convicts the world of? ([33:27])
The sermon compared the Holy Spirit’s filling to wind in a sail rather than water in a leaky bucket. What does this analogy suggest about our relationship with the Spirit? ([29:04])
In Galatians 5:22-23, what are the specific qualities listed as the “fruit of the Spirit”? How do these differ from spiritual gifts or “graces”? ([40:43])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul commands believers to be continually filled with the Spirit, rather than relying on a past experience? What does this say about the Christian life? ([28:25])
The sermon said that true revival is not about emotional highs but about being brought back from spiritual death. How does the Spirit’s work of conviction and repentance lead to real change in people and relationships? ([32:35])
The speaker mentioned that spiritual gifts (“graces”) are not marks of maturity, but the fruit of the Spirit is. Why might it be dangerous to measure spiritual health by gifts rather than fruit? ([40:10])
The sermon described the Spirit as the “Lord and Giver of Life” who is to be worshiped with the Father and the Son. How does this understanding of the Trinity shape the way we relate to God and to each other? ([30:36])

Application Questions

The sermon shared how different church backgrounds can shape our comfort or discomfort with the Holy Spirit. How has your own church experience influenced the way you think about or relate to the Holy Spirit? ([24:51])
The Spirit’s role is to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment—not ours. Are there situations where you have tried to be the “Holy Spirit” for someone else? What would it look like to step back and pray for the Spirit to work instead? ([35:12])
The analogy of the sail needing constant wind suggests we need ongoing filling by the Spirit. What are some practical ways you can “raise your sail” this week to be open to the Spirit’s leading? ([29:04])
The sermon said that being filled with the Spirit means having the word of Christ dwell richly in us. What is one step you can take to let Scripture shape your thoughts and actions more deeply this week? ([36:59])
Think about the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5. Which one do you find most challenging right now? What is one specific situation where you can practice that fruit this week? ([41:20])
The speaker said that spiritual gifts are given to build up the church, not to show off. Do you know what your “graces” are? How could you use them to encourage someone in our group or church this month? ([39:12])
The sermon closed with a prayer of surrender, asking the Spirit to purify and lead us. Is there an area of pride or self-sufficiency you need to lay down so that God’s life can flow through you? What would it look like to surrender that area this week? ([42:10])

Sermon Clips

People often use this bucket analogy, like the Holy Spirit fills us in terms of a bucket, and because we're faulty, we leak. But that's a faulty analogy. It's more like a ship with a sail. The sail must be full of wind in order to move, in order to thrive, in order to do what its purpose as a ship is to do. And one filling of wind in the sail is not enough. It must be continually filled in order to move forward. This is what it is meant for believers to be continually filled with the Spirit. [00:29:11] (34 seconds) #SpiritFillsLikeWind

What is revival? It is not feeling goosebumps. It is not getting an ecstatic or emotional high. I can get that from watching the Lord of the Rings. To revive something is to bring it back from the dead. Every true revival throughout history started with the Spirit speaking to individuals and convicting them of how sinful they were, how sinful they had been, how dead they had been. And these people were struck to the core by the ugliness of that sin. And they repented and asked for mercy. And that repentance brought an understanding of the grace of God. And then people were thankful. And then relationships were restored. [00:32:10] (41 seconds) #RevivalBeginsWithRepentance

``The role of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin. It's not my role. I don't have to point out everyone else's sin. It's not my job. How often do we think that One last argument, our last insight, our last comment on social media will change somebody else's mind. The truth is I cannot bring about lasting repentance. Only the Spirit of God can do that. I can only walk humbly with him and model what surrender to the Spirit looks like. [00:34:47] (35 seconds) #PrayForSpiritSurrender

When one is filled, their sails filled with the wind of the Spirit, the Spirit will remind a person of Christ's words of Scripture, of the whole story. The narrative of the Old Testament was that people repeatedly forgot over and over who God was, His story, what His Word was. A generation would pass and they would forget. And they forgot the word of the Lord. Hearts are hard. And God said that he would write his law, his ways, his way of love on their hearts. Messiah does this. Messiah gives his spirit to indwell. And the Spirit reminds us, teaches us not to forget. [00:36:18] (47 seconds) #WordDwellsSpiritFills

To be filled with the Spirit is to have the words of Jesus and the story of Scripture dwelling inside us constantly. This is why Paul said in Colossians 3, Let the word of Christ dwell in you, richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. To have the word of Christ dwelling in us is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, whose role it is to illuminate these words and draw us into greater intimacy with the Godhead. [00:37:05] (35 seconds) #GracePouredThroughGifts

If you neglect the charism God has given you, others miss out. But these are not, this is important. These are not the marks of spiritual maturity. These are not the marks of being filled with the spirit and walking in the Spirit. Just because a person is a gifted leader doesn't mean they're following the Spirit spirit, just means they have a gift. [00:39:54] (24 seconds) #FruitRevealsSpirit

In what way do we determine if we're filled with the Holy Spirit? Well, that brings us to the F word, which is careful fruit. Yes, this is how we see if others are walking in the Spirit and are filled with the Spirit. The evidence, the markers of the Holy Spirit in a person are are you loving? Do you have joy? Do you display peace or agitation? Are you patient or impatient? Are you kind? Are your words gentle? Do you do good? Are you faithful? Do you practice self control? Are these the things we're known by? These are the markers of the Holy Spirit. [00:40:32] (47 seconds) #SpiritExposesSinLife

What is a healthy church? A church. What is a church that treats the Spirit in a balanced and healthy way? Well, the church is people. It's never been a building. The church is healthy people who are expressing the fruits of the Spirit, who are patient, kind and long suffering, who excel in encouraging each other. That's what a healthy church should look like. That's what a church full of the Holy Spirit should look like. [00:42:50] (32 seconds)

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