Rebooting Our Spiritual Lives for Victory in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that as believers, we are not ordinary; we are spiritual powerhouses. Church is not a natural institution but a spiritual phenomenon where God inhabits the praises of His people. We are reminded that faith is the way to victory, and through worship, strongholds are broken, and chains are dissolved. The essence of the message is encapsulated in the metaphor of a computer's "waiting cursor" and the need for a "soft reboot" in our lives through the principles of "Control, Alt, Delete."
First, we must control ourselves. Galatians 5:22-23 teaches us that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. We are called to govern our emotions, desires, and actions in alignment with God's will. This means not blaming our heritage or circumstances for our lack of self-control but taking responsibility for our actions. Anger, for instance, should be managed as it often leads to foolish actions and words we regret.
Second, we need to alter our thinking. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Our thoughts shape our reality, and by focusing on positive and godly thoughts, we align ourselves with God's truth. This involves taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and rejecting negative, dishonorable thoughts.
Lastly, we must delete negativity. Romans 12:9-21 encourages us to love genuinely, despise evil, and embrace what is good. A positive mindset leads to positive words and actions, which in turn create a positive life. Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a cheerful heart is good medicine, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a joyful and hopeful outlook.
By applying these principles—controlling ourselves, altering our thinking, and deleting negativity—we can experience a spiritual reboot, leading to a victorious and fulfilling life in Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith Over Intellectualism: Faith is the pathway to victory, and it is through faith that we experience God's power in our lives. Worship is not mere entertainment; it is a spiritual act where God inhabits our praises, breaking strongholds and dissolving chains. [28:37]
2. Self-Control as a Spiritual Fruit: Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, essential for living a godly life. It involves governing our emotions, desires, and actions in alignment with God's will. We must take responsibility for our actions and not blame our heritage or circumstances. [01:11:53]
3. Transforming Our Thoughts: Our thoughts shape our reality. By fixing our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we align ourselves with God's truth. Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is crucial for living a victorious life. [01:26:35]
4. Deleting Negativity: A positive mindset leads to positive words and actions, creating a positive life. Proverbs 17:22 emphasizes that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Maintaining a joyful and hopeful outlook is essential for spiritual health and well-being. [01:39:01]
5. Living a Victorious Life: Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. By keeping our thoughts, words, behavior, habits, and values positive, we align ourselves with God's will and live a victorious life, regardless of external circumstances. [01:44:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:37] - Faith Over Intellectualism
[29:44] - Power of Worship
[36:01] - New Season of Hope
[46:08] - God is Not Done with You
[01:05:56] - Prayer and Introduction
[01:06:46] - The Waiting Cursor
[01:07:37] - Control, Alt, Delete
[01:09:24] - Control Yourself
[01:10:15] - Fruit of the Spirit
[01:11:53] - Self-Control and Anger
[01:16:06] - Paul's Struggle with Self-Control
[01:19:40] - Living as Spiritual Beings
[01:25:44] - Alter Your Thinking
[01:30:21] - Taking Thoughts Captive
[01:38:10] - Delete Negativity
[01:44:04] - Living a Victorious Life
[01:46:40] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
2. Philippians 4:8 (NASB): "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
3. Romans 12:9-21 (NASB): "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Galatians 5:22-23, what are the fruits of the Spirit, and how is self-control described among them? ([01:10:15])
2. In Philippians 4:8, what types of thoughts does Paul encourage believers to focus on? ([01:25:44])
3. How does Romans 12:9-21 describe the behavior and mindset of a believer, especially in relation to love and negativity? ([01:38:10])
4. What metaphor did the pastor use to describe the need for a "soft reboot" in our lives, and what are the three steps involved? ([01:07:37])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is self-control considered a fruit of the Spirit, and how does it impact a believer's life according to the sermon? ([01:11:53])
2. How can altering our thinking, as instructed in Philippians 4:8, lead to a more victorious life in Christ? ([01:26:35])
3. What does it mean to "delete negativity" in the context of Romans 12:9-21, and how does this contribute to spiritual health? ([01:39:01])
4. How does the concept of "faith over intellectualism" play a role in experiencing God's power and victory in our lives? ([28:37])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled with self-control. How can you apply Galatians 5:22-23 to improve your response in similar future situations? ([01:11:53])
2. Identify a negative thought pattern you frequently struggle with. What steps can you take to replace these thoughts with those described in Philippians 4:8? ([01:26:35])
3. Think of a person or situation that often brings out negativity in you. How can you practice the principles in Romans 12:9-21 to respond with love and positivity instead? ([01:39:01])
4. The pastor mentioned the importance of worship in breaking strongholds and dissolving chains. How can you incorporate more worship into your daily routine to experience this power? ([28:37])
5. Consider a time when you felt "stuck" in life, similar to the "waiting cursor" metaphor. How can you use the principles of "Control, Alt, Delete" to reboot and move forward? ([01:07:37])
6. How can you cultivate a cheerful heart as described in Proverbs 17:22, and what practical steps can you take to maintain a joyful outlook even in challenging times? ([01:39:01])
7. Reflect on the statement, "Faith is the victory that overcomes the world." How can you strengthen your faith to remain victorious regardless of external circumstances? ([01:44:04])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as the Pathway to Victory
Faith is the pathway to victory, and it is through faith that we experience God's power in our lives. Worship is not mere entertainment; it is a spiritual act where God inhabits our praises, breaking strongholds and dissolving chains. When we engage in worship with genuine faith, we invite God's presence into our circumstances, allowing Him to work in ways beyond our understanding. This act of faith transcends intellectualism, reminding us that our relationship with God is rooted in trust and belief, not just knowledge. [28:37]
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: Think of a situation in your life where you need a breakthrough. How can you actively express your faith through worship and trust in God's power today?
Day 2: Self-Control as a Spiritual Fruit
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, essential for living a godly life. It involves governing our emotions, desires, and actions in alignment with God's will. We must take responsibility for our actions and not blame our heritage or circumstances. For instance, managing anger is crucial as it often leads to foolish actions and words we regret. By exercising self-control, we reflect God's character and allow His Spirit to guide our behavior. [01:11:53]
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV): "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle with self-control. What practical steps can you take today to align this area with God's will?
Day 3: Transforming Our Thoughts
Our thoughts shape our reality. By fixing our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we align ourselves with God's truth. Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is crucial for living a victorious life. This means actively rejecting negative, dishonorable thoughts and replacing them with God's promises and truths. Our mental focus directly impacts our spiritual health and overall well-being. [01:26:35]
2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV): "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Reflection: What negative thought patterns do you need to take captive today? How can you replace them with thoughts that align with God's truth?
Day 4: Deleting Negativity
A positive mindset leads to positive words and actions, creating a positive life. Proverbs 17:22 emphasizes that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Maintaining a joyful and hopeful outlook is essential for spiritual health and well-being. By choosing to delete negativity from our lives, we open ourselves up to God's goodness and allow His joy to permeate our hearts. This involves being intentional about our attitudes and the words we speak, ensuring they reflect God's love and hope. [01:39:01]
Proverbs 15:13 (ESV): "A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent conversations and thoughts. How can you intentionally cultivate a more positive and joyful outlook today?
Day 5: Living a Victorious Life
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. By keeping our thoughts, words, behavior, habits, and values positive, we align ourselves with God's will and live a victorious life, regardless of external circumstances. This means consistently choosing faith over fear, hope over despair, and love over hate. Living victoriously is about embodying the principles of God's kingdom in our daily lives, trusting that He is with us and for us in every situation. [01:44:04]
1 John 5:4 (ESV): "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience victory? How can you apply faith and God's principles to this area starting today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You're not just being entertained. You're being delivered. Strongholds are dissolving. Chains are being broken. For the Bible says quite plainly that God inhabits the praises of His people. The Lamb that was slain before the foundations of the world is here this morning. His power is not abated. He's not grown apathetic. He's as interested in you right now as He was interested in the blind man back then." [29:44] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Faith is the way to victory. Faith is the victory. And I hope you can feel what we feel up here when we sing those songs. You gotta understand, you're not just being entertained. You're being delivered. Strongholds are dissolving. Chains are being broken." [28:37] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You and I, you've heard me say this before. If you're living out of your emotions, you're not a spiritual being. You're an emotional being. And God has called you to be a spiritual being. So to be a spiritual being means you've got to live out of your spirit, which must override your emotions." [01:18:48] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We can all get a fresh start anytime we need it. Anytime. And we might have to do this multiple times throughout the day. It depends upon how frozen up things are. While we're looking at that waiting cursor and we discover cursing while we wait ain't changing nothing. Remember that the next time you're in traffic on 85. Or we can control, alt, delete. And get a fresh start." [01:46:40] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Faith is the victory. Not it's going to become the victory. Not that it will result in the victory. Not that it makes the victory someday to come. But my faith in him and in his word right now gives me the victory right now. So that in the middle of the storm, I'm still victorious." [01:44:04] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Self-control is this. The ability given by God to govern, to control of one's emotions, desires and actions in alignment with God's will. That's what self-control is. Self-control literally means you're never out of control of self. It doesn't mean things ain't going to happen to you that want to provoke you. The Bible does say be angry, but sin not. You don't have to let that anger evolve into sin." [01:15:15] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you nurture your spirit, you'll have an abundance. But even if you kind of ignore it, you'll still have the fruit. If you're not producing any of this fruit and you're a child of God, that's because you're sabotaging your own spiritual nature. You are deliberately and consciously doing things that kill the fruit. Now, if you want the fruit, stop doing what you're doing to kill it." [01:14:18] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Self-control allows us to be God-like. Self-control allows us to be Christ-like. If we lack self-control, we are not Christ-like. We're animalistic. Proverbs, chapter 14. I want to give you a couple of verses. Proverbs 14, verse 29. He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. That means he who is quick-tempered exalts foolishness, manifests foolishness, does foolish things." [01:22:03] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You cannot live a supernatural life. You cannot live a supernatural lifestyle with a natural mindset. If we want to live supernatural lives where God is active, Isaiah said he will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Fact, let's go there. Isaiah chapter 26, verse 3. I want to read it to you out of the New Living Translation. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you." [01:31:13] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We got to face the reality that our life is not made up of what they have done. Our life flows out of the abundance of our heart. Guard your heart. Guard your thoughts. Because it's what you think about it that proclaims the way it will be. Have you ever met some people? It doesn't matter. It doesn't really seem to matter what kind of storm they're going through. They always happy." [01:36:42] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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