Understanding God: Spirit, Identity, and Expectation

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound nature of God as spirit and the implications of this understanding for our lives. We began by examining the Ten Commandments, particularly the first three, which emphasize the nature of God as a living, acting spirit. God is not confined to the visible world, and idolatry, which attempts to reduce God to a physical form, is a fundamental misunderstanding of His nature. The commandments remind us that God is a God who acts, and our relationship with Him should be based on this understanding.

We delved into the concept of spirit, both in God and in ourselves. Spirit is the essence of our will and intention, the source of our actions. It is crucial to recognize that our spirit, like God's, is not bound by physical limitations. Our primary function is to trust God, and through this trust, we find our true identity and power. This spiritual identity is not something we derive from external affiliations or labels but from our relationship with God.

The sermon also touched on the nature of the Trinity, emphasizing that God is a community of love. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in perfect unity, serving and loving one another without subordination. This divine community is a model for our relationships, where love and trust should prevail. The Trinity's nature as a community of love is foundational to understanding God's essence and our call to live in unity with one another.

Finally, we discussed the importance of expectation in our spiritual lives. Expectation of God's presence and action is the key to spiritual growth and transformation. By aligning our will with God's and living in constant expectation of His presence, we can experience the fullness of life that He offers.

Key Takeaways:

1. God as Spirit and Action: God is a living, acting spirit, not confined to the visible world. Our understanding of God should be rooted in His nature as a spirit who acts, which is emphasized in the first three commandments. This understanding guards us against idolatry and helps us recognize God's active presence in our lives. [02:12]

2. The Nature of Spirit: Our spirit is the essence of our will and intention, the source of our actions. It is not bound by physical limitations, and its primary function is to trust God. Through this trust, we find our true identity and power, which are not derived from external affiliations but from our relationship with God. [09:13]

3. The Trinity as a Community of Love: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in perfect unity, serving and loving one another without subordination. This divine community is a model for our relationships, where love and trust should prevail. Understanding the Trinity helps us grasp the essence of God's nature and our call to live in unity. [25:09]

4. Expectation in Spiritual Life: Expectation of God's presence and action is the key to spiritual growth and transformation. By aligning our will with God's and living in constant expectation of His presence, we can experience the fullness of life that He offers. This expectation is the essence of submission to God. [16:19]

5. Identity and Power in Christ: True identity and power come from our relationship with Christ, not from external labels or affiliations. Jesus invites us to step into the kingdom of God by grace, offering us a new identity and power through an interactive relationship with Him. This relationship is the source of our spiritual strength and purpose. [20:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to Spirit
- [01:08] - Understanding God as Spirit
- [02:12] - God as a Living, Acting Spirit
- [03:16] - The Danger of Idolatry
- [04:24] - Spirit and Intention
- [05:54] - The Second Commandment
- [07:13] - Hallowed Be Thy Name
- [08:39] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
- [09:13] - Spirit as Independent Reality
- [12:28] - Expectation of God's Presence
- [14:45] - Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life
- [16:19] - Submission and Expectation
- [18:05] - Identity and Power in Spirituality
- [20:00] - Identity and Power in Christ
- [25:09] - The Trinity as a Community of Love

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 4:24 - "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
2. Exodus 3:14 - "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.'"
3. Philippians 2:5-7 - "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the first commandment reveal about God's nature as described in the sermon? ([01:55])
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between spirit and action? ([04:24])
3. What is the significance of Jesus' statement, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," in the context of the sermon? ([14:28])
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of the Trinity as a community of love? ([25:09])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God as spirit challenge common perceptions of God in today's world? ([02:44])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our spiritual identity is independent of physical limitations? ([09:13])
3. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of expectation in our spiritual lives? ([16:19])
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of love and trust within the Trinity and how it serves as a model for human relationships? ([30:12])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current understanding of God as spirit. How does this understanding influence your daily life and decisions? ([02:12])
2. Consider your own spirit and intentions. How can you align your will more closely with God's will this week? ([09:26])
3. Think about a relationship in your life that could benefit from the model of love and trust found in the Trinity. What practical steps can you take to improve that relationship? ([30:12])
4. How can you cultivate a greater expectation of God's presence and action in your life? What specific practices can help you maintain this expectation? ([16:19])
5. Identify an area in your life where you might be relying on external labels or affiliations for identity. How can you shift your focus to find your true identity in Christ? ([20:00])
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt spiritually stagnant. How can the concept of God as a living, acting spirit inspire you to seek spiritual growth? ([02:44])
7. How can you incorporate the practice of acknowledging "God is here" into your daily routine to enhance your spiritual awareness? ([15:13])

Devotional

Day 1: God as a Living, Acting Spirit
Understanding God as a spirit who acts is crucial to our relationship with Him. The first three commandments emphasize that God is not confined to the visible world, and idolatry is a fundamental misunderstanding of His nature. God is a living, acting spirit, and our understanding of Him should be rooted in this truth. Recognizing God's active presence in our lives helps us avoid idolatry and deepens our relationship with Him. By acknowledging God as a spirit who acts, we open ourselves to His transformative power and guidance. [02:12]

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." (John 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you confined God to the visible world in your life? How can you begin to recognize and embrace His active presence today?


Day 2: Spirit as the Essence of Will and Intention
Our spirit, like God's, is the essence of our will and intention, the source of our actions. It is not bound by physical limitations, and its primary function is to trust God. Through this trust, we find our true identity and power, which are not derived from external affiliations but from our relationship with God. By aligning our spirit with God's, we can live a life of purpose and fulfillment, rooted in His love and guidance. This understanding empowers us to act with intention and integrity, reflecting God's spirit in our daily lives. [09:13]

"For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:11, ESV)

Reflection: What intentions and actions in your life are not aligned with God's spirit? How can you begin to trust God more deeply and align your will with His today?


Day 3: The Trinity as a Model of Love and Unity
The Trinity, consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, exists in perfect unity, serving and loving one another without subordination. This divine community is a model for our relationships, where love and trust should prevail. Understanding the Trinity helps us grasp the essence of God's nature and our call to live in unity with one another. By emulating the love and unity of the Trinity, we can build stronger, more meaningful relationships that reflect God's love in the world. [25:09]

"So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you foster love and unity in your relationships today, following the model of the Trinity? What specific actions can you take to serve and love others without seeking anything in return?


Day 4: Expectation of God's Presence and Action
Expectation of God's presence and action is the key to spiritual growth and transformation. By aligning our will with God's and living in constant expectation of His presence, we can experience the fullness of life that He offers. This expectation is the essence of submission to God, allowing us to be open to His guidance and transformation. By cultivating a heart of expectation, we invite God's presence into our lives and open ourselves to His transformative power. [16:19]

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: What expectations do you have of God's presence and action in your life? How can you cultivate a heart of expectation and openness to His transformative power today?


Day 5: Identity and Power in Christ
True identity and power come from our relationship with Christ, not from external labels or affiliations. Jesus invites us to step into the kingdom of God by grace, offering us a new identity and power through an interactive relationship with Him. This relationship is the source of our spiritual strength and purpose, empowering us to live a life of meaning and impact. By embracing our identity in Christ, we can find true fulfillment and purpose, rooted in His love and grace. [20:00]

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3, ESV)

Reflection: What external labels or affiliations have you relied on for your identity and power? How can you begin to embrace your true identity and power in Christ today?

Quotes

God is a God who acts, and the action of God is in the visible world. That's the first teaching that comes in the Ten Commandments is on the nature of God. Now, of course, that is a centuries-long battle, millennia-long battle to get that point, and we're still dealing with that today. [00:02:12]

The danger is that we will take something in the domain of the visible and try to treat that as if it were God, and if we do that, then we are going to elevate the vessel over the treasure because idolatry always attempts to use God for the idolater's purposes. [00:03:16]

Spirit is independent reality, and it is not under the bondage of anything, and that's important in understanding your spirit, which is, as I will say, your will, and your will is something that God has created in you to allow you to have some degree of self-determination. [00:09:13]

The primary function of the will or spirit in man is to trust God. That's its primary function. Now, under that, it has many other functions, but when you take that away, then you have the loss of the power of determination for good in the human being. [00:09:37]

What that comes down to is the constant expectation of God's presence and action with us. That's how we induct the glory of God into the vessel and possess the treasure. Now, He reaches out to us in the form of Jesus Christ, and that's hard to get. [00:12:28]

Spiritual growth generally for the one who has come to a knowledge of God in Christ is a matter of progressively taking our whole personality now under the direction of a regenerate will, as we might say, and bringing every part of our life into submission to God. [00:16:19]

Submission to God means expectation of God. That's what submission to God means. It doesn't mean you got handed all this stuff in a book or something or someone gave you a bunch of rules, and submission to God now is you say, "Okay, I'll do it. I'll try." [00:16:54]

Spirit is basically made up of thoughts, desires, feelings, valuation, character as far as we know it in ourselves and in God, and so we can use this formula, I hope: spirit is unbodily personal power. Unbodily personal power. [00:17:39]

All the spiritualities promise you two things: identity and power. Those two things. You listen to Oprah or read the devil's Bible or whatever you look at in terms of spirituality, there's two things: identity and power. Who are you? Who are you? [00:18:05]

Jesus offers identity and power. He invites us to come and put our confidence in Him, and in so doing, step into the kingdom of God by grace. Grace meets us, and now we're in an interactive relationship with something that gives us identity and power. [00:20:00]

God is a community. He's too one to be many and too many to be one, and so at the foundation of all physical and all reality is this great community in God. It is a community of love. Do you ever think about that? The very nature of God is love. [00:25:09]

The members of the Trinity admire one another, they delight in one another, and what was going on forever is this delightful loving community in which each person is so united with what the other is doing that they really are one. [00:26:37]

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Transcript
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