Running Life's Race with the Holy Spirit
Summary
In today's gathering, we delved into the profound journey of running the race of life with the Holy Spirit as our guide, as illustrated in Acts chapters 20 and 21. The essence of our discussion centered on the idea that if the Holy Spirit resides within us, He is actively working, moving, and transforming us and those around us. This transformation is not passive; it requires us to actively engage in the race set before us by God. We explored the metaphor of life as a race, not just any race, but one that is divinely orchestrated, where the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome obstacles and challenges.
Paul's missionary journeys serve as a powerful example of this race. Despite facing immense challenges, including threats to his life, Paul remained steadfast in his mission. His life was a testament to living with purpose, passion, and focus. He was not merely running the rat race of the world but was deeply committed to the race of God, driven by a love for people and a desire to spread the gospel. His encounters, whether in Ephesus or Jerusalem, were marked by a relentless pursuit of God's calling, even when it meant facing persecution or death.
We are reminded that our lives should reflect this same commitment. The distractions of modern life, from entertainment to daily responsibilities, can easily divert our focus from the spiritual race. Yet, we are called to live intentionally, prioritizing our relationship with Jesus above all else. This means evaluating our lives regularly to ensure that we are not just running in circles but are making a meaningful impact for God's kingdom.
As we approach the end of the year, it's crucial to reflect on whether our lives have changed in alignment with God's purpose. Are we running the race with the Holy Spirit, or are we caught in the endless cycle of worldly pursuits? The challenge is to live each day with the awareness that our time is limited and that we will one day stand before Jesus to account for how we ran our race.
Key Takeaways:
- The Active Work of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is always at work within us, prompting us to act, change, and influence those around us. If we don't feel His movement, we must ask ourselves why and seek to align our lives with His purpose. [33:44]
- Running the Right Race: Life can feel like a relentless race, but we must discern whether we are running the race of God or merely the rat race of the world. Our focus should be on the eternal impact of our actions, not just temporary achievements. [34:49]
- Living with Passion and Purpose: Paul's life exemplifies living with a clear purpose and passion for God's work. Despite challenges, he remained focused on his mission, reminding us to live intentionally and prioritize our spiritual race. [52:25]
- The Importance of Focus: In a world full of distractions, maintaining focus on our spiritual journey is crucial. We must consciously choose to prioritize our relationship with Jesus and live with the awareness of our eternal purpose. [01:01:20]
- Choices and Consequences: Our choices have eternal consequences. Paul's willingness to face imprisonment and death for the gospel challenges us to consider the depth of our commitment to Jesus and the race we are running. [01:06:02]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:58] - Introduction and Greetings
- [05:12] - The Weather and Time Change
- [07:05] - Running the Race with the Holy Spirit
- [33:44] - The Work of the Holy Spirit
- [34:49] - Running the Right Race
- [37:08] - Paul's Missionary Journeys
- [38:59] - Facing Persecution
- [39:53] - Transformation and New Life
- [41:46] - Reflecting on Our Lives
- [43:22] - Living with Eternal Perspective
- [45:27] - Paul's Passion and Preaching
- [48:26] - Staying Awake in the Race
- [50:53] - Challenges in the Race
- [52:25] - Living with Passion and Purpose
- [01:01:20] - Maintaining Focus
- [01:06:02] - Choices and Consequences
- [01:12:34] - The Apostles' Commitment
- [01:18:57] - Responding to God's Call
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 20:7-12
- Philippians 3:13-14
- Galatians 2:20
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Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 20:7-12, what event occurred while Paul was preaching, and how did Paul respond to it? [46:54]
2. How does Paul describe his approach to past mistakes and future goals in Philippians 3:13-14? What metaphor does he use to illustrate this? [52:25]
3. According to Galatians 2:20, how does Paul describe his life in relation to Christ? What does this imply about his priorities and identity? [01:03:16]
4. In the sermon, what are some of the challenges and distractions mentioned that can divert our focus from running the spiritual race? [39:53]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Paul's reaction to Eutychus's fall and subsequent revival in Acts 20:7-12 reveal about his commitment to his mission and the people he served? [46:54]
2. How does the metaphor of running a race in Philippians 3:13-14 help us understand the Christian life and the importance of focus and perseverance? [52:25]
3. In Galatians 2:20, Paul speaks of being "crucified with Christ." How does this concept challenge modern believers in terms of their personal ambitions and daily living? [01:03:16]
4. The sermon discusses the importance of living with passion and purpose. How does Paul's life exemplify this, and what can we learn from his example about prioritizing our spiritual journey? [52:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current life. Are there areas where you feel like you're running the "rat race" instead of the race God has set before you? What steps can you take to realign your focus? [34:49]
2. The sermon emphasizes the active work of the Holy Spirit. How can you become more aware of the Holy Spirit's movement in your life, and what changes might you need to make to align with His purpose? [33:44]
3. Consider the distractions in your life that might be hindering your spiritual growth. What practical steps can you take this week to minimize these distractions and prioritize your relationship with Jesus? [01:01:20]
4. Paul's willingness to face persecution for the gospel challenges us to evaluate our own commitment. What sacrifices are you willing to make for your faith, and how can you prepare yourself to stand firm in challenging situations? [01:06:02]
5. The sermon encourages living with passion and purpose. Identify one area in your life where you can intentionally live out your faith with more passion. What specific actions will you take to pursue this? [52:25]
6. Reflect on the concept of choices and consequences as discussed in the sermon. How can you ensure that your daily choices align with your eternal goals and the race God has called you to run? [01:06:02]
7. How can you incorporate the metaphor of running a race into your daily spiritual practices to maintain focus and perseverance in your walk with Christ? [52:25]
Devotional
Day 1: The Holy Spirit's Active Presence
The Holy Spirit is not a passive force but an active presence within believers, constantly working to transform and guide them. This transformation requires active participation, as the Spirit prompts individuals to act, change, and influence those around them. If one does not feel the movement of the Holy Spirit, it is essential to reflect on why and seek alignment with His purpose. The Spirit empowers believers to overcome life's challenges and to live a life that reflects God's calling. [33:44]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel stagnant? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to actively work in those areas today?
Day 2: Discern Your Race
Life often feels like a relentless race, but it is crucial to discern whether one is running the race of God or merely the rat race of the world. The focus should be on the eternal impact of actions rather than temporary achievements. This requires a conscious effort to prioritize spiritual goals over worldly pursuits, ensuring that one's life aligns with God's divine purpose. [34:49]
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV)
Reflection: What are some worldly pursuits that have been distracting you from your spiritual race? How can you refocus on what truly matters?
Day 3: Passionate and Purposeful Living
Paul's life exemplifies living with a clear purpose and passion for God's work. Despite facing numerous challenges, he remained focused on his mission, driven by a love for people and a desire to spread the gospel. This serves as a reminder to live intentionally, prioritizing the spiritual race and maintaining a steadfast commitment to God's calling, even in the face of adversity. [52:25]
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can live more intentionally for God's purpose this week?
Day 4: Maintaining Spiritual Focus
In a world full of distractions, maintaining focus on one's spiritual journey is crucial. It requires a conscious choice to prioritize a relationship with Jesus and live with an awareness of one's eternal purpose. This focus helps believers navigate the challenges of life and ensures that they are not merely running in circles but making a meaningful impact for God's kingdom. [01:01:20]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: What daily habit can you implement to help maintain your focus on your spiritual journey?
Day 5: Choices with Eternal Consequences
The choices one makes have eternal consequences. Paul's willingness to face imprisonment and death for the gospel challenges believers to consider the depth of their commitment to Jesus and the race they are running. It is essential to evaluate one's life regularly to ensure that choices align with God's purpose and contribute to the eternal impact of His kingdom. [01:06:02]
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did it align with your commitment to Jesus and His eternal purpose?
Quotes
1. "I want y 'all to ask yourself, where's the Holy Spirit working? Where's He working in your life? Because if He lives within you, He's doing something. He's moving. He always is. God's always moving, always leading, always working, always guiding, always changing us. And through the Holy Spirit, He changes the people around us. And so we see that in the book of Acts." [00:34:39] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Are you running the race of the Holy Spirit of God in your life today? Right now, this week, are you running the race with the Holy Spirit? Are you running the race of God? Are you just running the rat race? Trying to get, you know, there's, there was a book written years ago. I loved it. It says, who moved my cheese? It was like the rat chasing the cheese and it's always moving." [00:36:29] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you get to November of 25, is anything going to be different in your life because of the way you've lived running the race for Jesus? Or is it just going to be the same -o, same -o, same -o that it's always been? We're all in such a rut chasing the carrots that the world dangles in front of us that we don't realize." [00:42:26] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Do you know what that means? That means one day soon, you're going to stand before Jesus and give an account of your life. And he isn't going to care that you had a new sofa. He isn't going to care that you got a nice newer car. He's going to ask you, what did you do with the life I gave you? The opportunity to run the race for him." [00:43:20] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Run the race of life for Jesus. So that's what you see Paul doing. He's been through all this discouragement. I mean, everywhere he goes, Lystra, they stoned him and left him for dead. Riots broke out in Ephesus. Philippi, they beat him and put him in jail, and he broke out of jail. I mean, over and over, they're chasing him from town to town to town." [00:44:50] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Paul's running the race, guys. He's running the race of life. And stuff, there's always going to be things that are going to try to take you out in the race of life. If you've ever run a real race, you get a cramp, it'll try to take you out. You pull a muscle, it'll try to take you out. You twist your ankle, it'll try to take you out." [00:50:53] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Spiritually, I'm supposed to be dead to my flesh and how I feel about things and make sure that I am following the word of God and following Jesus with all my heart. And so you run the race following Jesus. And you see that here. Paul's, man, he's, he's, he lives his passion, his passion. He lives his passion. He lives his passion." [00:52:33] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Several times Paul will invoke the metaphor of running a race as a picture of living the Christian life. We're running, we're moving, there's hurdles, there's obstacles, but we keep moving and we keep running and going towards it. And that's what he's telling the Philippians. You know, I push, what's behind me is behind me." [00:53:27] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I just, again, remind you. I feel like I need to do this every so often. I feel like I need to do this every so often. Our business as a church is people. It's not chairs. It's not a stage. It's not even music. It's not the building. It's not the grounds. It's not the new sidewalk out there. That's not our business. Our business is people." [00:56:42] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Run the race finish well don't quit don't give up I mean if anybody ought to be throwing in the towel this should be Paul going I'm out all these people are trying to kill me I can go back to Tarsus and make tents and everybody will leave me alone but I gotta keep running the race I've got a calling of God on my life to run the race and to make a difference for Jesus." [01:17:36] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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