Trust the Instrument" - Pastor John Gaunt

Rooted in Romans 8 and Galatians 5, this call centers everything on the gospel: there is no condemnation for those in Christ, and life in the Spirit sets believers free from the law of sin and death. Identity precedes activity—walking with God begins with being born again. Like navigation at sea, feelings and sight are unreliable in fog and storms. The “instruments” of the Christian life must be trusted: Scripture as the unchanging GPS, prayer as radar that discerns beyond our senses, the Holy Spirit as the faithful Guide, and fellowship as the mirror that reveals what we cannot see in ourselves.

The imagery lands with urgency. Beautiful conditions tempt carelessness; so do comfortable seasons. But hidden shoals and sudden storms still exist. Prayer without ceasing becomes a lifestyle, not a flare shot in crisis—a habit of practicing God’s presence so thought life turns into prayer life. Repentance is not mere remorse; it is a decisive turn, running in the opposite direction toward Christ, laying aside sins and even “weights” that slow the race. Neglecting the Spirit’s nudge damages the vessel; obedience preserves strength for the work that happens mostly outside the building, as the church equips saints for everyday mission.

Trials come—sometimes from sin, sometimes from life in a broken world. Yet joy is different from happiness; it rests in hope while the wind howls. Like Peter, faith steps out when Jesus says “Come,” then sinks when eyes shift to waves and feelings. The call is to fix eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. The gospel is the boat; Jesus is the Captain; home is Jesus Himself. Adoption in the Spirit means freedom from fear and the assurance of sonship—heirs with Christ. The narrow way of the Spirit is marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Trust the instruments in fog and in sunshine, and keep in step with the Spirit.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Identity before activity Our doing must flow from our being in Christ. Born-again life precedes Spirit-led living; without new birth we attempt the walk without the life. When identity is secured in the gospel, obedience becomes response, not self-salvation. Keep Jesus at the center, then walk by faith. [51:53]
• 2. Trust the instruments, not feelings Sight and emotions fail in fog, but Scripture, prayer, and the Spirit remain true. The Word is a reliable map; the Spirit knows what lies beyond vision; prayer aligns us with what we cannot see. Trust grows when senses are least trustworthy—and that is when guidance matters most. [56:02]
• 3. Repentance runs the other direction Repentance is not merely sorrow; it is a reorientation of the whole self. Turning from sin requires moving toward Christ, replacing old patterns with new obedience. The distance increases as direction holds steady, and momentum builds as the heart aims at Jesus. [70:19]
• 4. Pray without ceasing, practice presence Prayer becomes the air of the soul when thought life turns into conversation with God. Practicing His presence transforms speech, decisions, and hidden motives. This continual posture guards from temptation and keeps the helm steady through dark waters. [60:50]
• 5. Children and heirs, not slaves The Spirit of adoption displaces fear and grants assurance: Abba, Father. Sonship reframes suffering as participation with Christ en route to glory. This identity gives courage to lay down sin and to walk in the fruit the Spirit produces. [82:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [44:55] - Blessing Pastor Bill; obedience bears fruit
• [49:52] - Gospel foundation: no condemnation
• [51:53] - Identity before activity
• [53:02] - Born again before walking
• [56:02] - Fog and instruments: Word and prayer
• [58:53] - Radar as prayer; pray without ceasing
• [61:46] - Real storms and trials
• [66:50] - Sonar: Scripture, Spirit, fellowship
• [70:05] - Repentance is a change of direction
• [72:27] - Ignoring the Spirit damages the vessel
• [74:37] - Equipped saints; lay aside weights
• [79:27] - Jesus the Captain; gospel is the boat
• [84:51] - Works of flesh vs. fruit of the Spirit
• [89:48] - Home waypoint: Jesus; call to respond

Bible reading

- Bold passages to read together:

- Romans 8:1–17

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

- Galatians 5:16–26

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 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. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Observation questions

1. In Romans 8:1–4, what has God done that the law could not do, and what are believers set free from and set free for?
2. In Galatians 5:16–26, what contrasts does Paul draw between “the desires/works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit”? List several items from each side of the contrast.
3. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, what three continual commands are named, and how are they tied to “the will of God in Christ Jesus”?
4. Match the “instruments” to their spiritual parallels: GPS, radar, sonar, and a mirror. Which one was directly linked to prayer, and why? [58:53]

Interpretation questions

1. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” How should that truth shape the way a believer hears conviction and pursues obedience—more as a response to grace than self-salvation? [49:52]
2. “Pray without ceasing” can sound impossible. What would it mean for someone’s thought life to become their prayer life, and how might that guard them in temptation and decision-making? [01:00:31]
3. Romans 8 says believers have received the Spirit of adoption, crying “Abba, Father.” How does adoption displace fear and change the way someone approaches God, suffering, and daily choices? [01:22:57]
4. Why might trusting the “instruments” (Scripture, prayer, the Spirit, fellowship) be most crucial not only in storms but also on beautiful days when everything looks fine? What hidden dangers are easy to miss when things feel calm? [51:26]

Application questions

1. Identity before activity: Where is your life currently “centered”—what do your thoughts and decisions orbit? What is one concrete practice you will adopt this week to keep Jesus central (for example, beginning each day by reading Romans 8:1 and praying it over your day)? [51:53]
2. Trust the instruments, not feelings: Name a current “fog” or “storm” you’re facing. What specific Scripture will you treat as your unchanging map this week? What prayer step (your “radar”) will you build into your day, and which brother/sister will you invite to be your “mirror”? [56:02]
3. Repentance runs the other direction: Identify one sin—or even a “weight”—that is slowing you down. What opposite-direction action will you take for the next seven days, and who will you tell for accountability? [01:10:19]
4. Pray without ceasing, practice presence: Choose one daily rhythm (commute, dishes, walking the dog, gym) to turn into ongoing conversation with God. What simple words or reminder will you use to re-engage that conversation when your mind wanders? [01:00:31]
5. Children and heirs, not slaves: Where is fear driving a decision right now (finances, relationships, health, calling)? How will you bring “Abba, Father” into that space this week, and what is one courageous, faith-filled step you will take as an adopted son or daughter? [01:22:57]
6. Heed the nudge: Recall a time you sensed the Spirit’s “slow down” but pressed ahead and took damage. What early warning signs will you watch for next time, and what will “slowing down” practically look like in your schedule and choices? [01:12:27]
7. Keep in step with the Spirit: Which fruit of the Spirit is least visible in your life right now? Name one relationship or setting this week where you will intentionally “keep in step” with the Spirit in that specific fruit, and what Scripture will you meditate on before you go? [01:26:43]