Yielding to the Holy Spirit's Guidance
Summary
Today, I began by welcoming everyone to our service, both in person and online, and shared a light-hearted moment about my family's recent trip to Italy, highlighting the joy and the simple pleasures of life, such as enjoying favorite foods like tiramisu and gelato.
I then transitioned into the core of my message, focusing on the theme "Resisting Arrest," which is not about defying law enforcement but about understanding and yielding to the Holy Spirit's guidance in our lives. I used a personal anecdote about attending a family graduation to illustrate unexpected life events that can teach us profound spiritual lessons. This led to a deeper exploration of how the Holy Spirit tries to lead us towards righteousness and truth, as emphasized in John 16:8 and 13, where it is stated that the Spirit will guide us into all truth and convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
The sermon delved into the practical aspects of living a life led by the Holy Spirit, highlighting the importance of not resisting His guidance. I discussed the consequences of such resistance, using scriptural references to show how it can lead to spiritual stagnation and loss of blessings that could have been ours had we been obedient and receptive to His corrections and leading.
I emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting us of sin and leading us into all truth, ensuring that we are aligned with God's will. This teaching aimed to encourage everyone to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings, which often come to correct us and set us on the right path.
Towards the end of the sermon, I made a call to action for those who felt distant from God or uncertain about their faith. I invited them to reaffirm their commitment to Christ and to consider making Linked Up Church their spiritual home, stressing our church’s commitment to connecting people to God, family, purpose, and community.
Finally, I concluded with a prayer for those who responded to the altar call, asking God to seal their commitment and to continue to work in their lives, ensuring that they grow in faith and in their relationship with Him.
### Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding the Role of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is not just a comforter but also a guide and convictor of sin. Recognizing His role in our lives allows us to grow in righteousness and avoid the pitfalls of sin. This understanding is crucial for every believer who desires to live a life pleasing to God. [04:05]
2. The Importance of Yielding to Spiritual Correction:
Yielding to the Holy Spirit’s correction is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. When we resist His guidance, we hinder our spiritual progress and miss out on God’s best for our lives. Embracing His corrections with humility leads to a life of peace and righteousness. [24:14]
3. The Consequences of Resisting the Holy Spirit:
Resisting the Holy Spirit can lead to spiritual decay and a lack of fruitfulness in our lives. As believers, we must be attentive to His promptings and open to the changes He wants to make in us, ensuring our growth and effectiveness in the kingdom of God. [26:22]
4. The Call to Spiritual Reawakening:
It is crucial for those who have drifted away from their faith or who are uncertain about their salvation to take steps towards recommitting their lives to Christ. This recommitment is the first step towards a renewed spiritual journey filled with God’s blessings and favor. [48:30]
5. The Importance of Community in Spiritual Growth:
Being part of a church community, like Linked Up Church, provides the support and accountability needed to grow in faith. It connects us not only to God but also to our purpose and to others who can encourage and uplift us in our spiritual journey. [47:21]
### Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:05] - Introduction and Personal Anecdote
- [02:43] - Series Continuation: Resisting Arrest
- [04:05] - Role of the Holy Spirit in Conviction
- [11:21] - Growing Through Spiritual Discipline
- [24:14] - Benefits of Yielding to the Holy Spirit
- [37:42] - The Impact of Kindness and Goodness
- [47:21] - Invitation to Join the Church Community
- [52:52] - Closing Prayer and Altar Call
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 16:8, 13 (NIV)
- "When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment... But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
2. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
- "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
3. 2 Peter 1:5-11 (NIV)
- "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 16:8, what are the three areas the Holy Spirit will convict the world about?
2. What does Hebrews 12:11 say about the immediate and long-term effects of discipline?
3. In 2 Peter 1:5-11, what qualities are believers encouraged to add to their faith, and what is the result of possessing these qualities?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Holy Spirit's role in convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8) impact a believer's daily life? [04:05]
2. What does it mean to yield to the Holy Spirit’s correction, and how can this lead to spiritual growth and maturity? [24:14]
3. How can the process of pruning, as described in John 15:1-2, be seen as a necessary part of a believer's spiritual development? [24:45]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt the Holy Spirit's conviction. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [04:05]
2. Think about a time when you resisted the Holy Spirit’s guidance. What were the consequences, and what did you learn from that experience? [26:22]
3. Identify an area in your life where you need to yield more to the Holy Spirit’s correction. What practical steps can you take to be more receptive? [24:14]
4. How can you cultivate the qualities listed in 2 Peter 1:5-11 in your daily life? Choose one quality to focus on this week and describe a specific action you will take to develop it. [07:34]
5. Consider someone in your life who has drifted away from their faith. How can you encourage them to recommit their life to Christ? [48:30]
6. Reflect on the importance of being part of a church community. How has your involvement in Linked Up Church or another community helped you grow spiritually? [47:21]
7. Think of a person who tests your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person to help you respond with kindness and self-control? [09:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Holy Spirit as Your Guide
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the life of every believer, not only as a comforter but also as a guide and a convictor of sin. Understanding this role is essential for spiritual growth and alignment with God's will. The Holy Spirit's guidance can often be subtle, prompting believers to act righteously and avoid the pitfalls of sin. By recognizing and responding to these promptings, individuals can foster a deeper relationship with God and live a life that is truly pleasing to Him. This understanding is foundational for anyone desiring to lead a life governed by spiritual truth and righteousness. [04:05]
Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Reflection: How can you become more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily decisions and interactions?
Day 2: Yield to Spiritual Correction for Growth
Yielding to the Holy Spirit’s correction is not always easy, but it is vital for personal spiritual growth and maturity. When believers resist this divine guidance, they hinder their spiritual progress and miss out on the fullness of God’s plans for their lives. Embracing the Holy Spirit's corrections with humility leads to a life characterized by peace and righteousness. This process involves recognizing when we are being corrected and actively making changes to align with God's will, thereby ensuring our growth and effectiveness in His kingdom. [24:14]
Hebrews 12:10-11 (ESV): "For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you have felt resistance to the Holy Spirit’s correction, and how can you begin to embrace His guidance?
Day 3: Understand the Consequences of Resisting the Holy Spirit
Resisting the Holy Spirit can lead to spiritual decay and a lack of fruitfulness in a believer's life. It is crucial to be attentive to His promptings and open to the changes He wants to make within us. This openness ensures our growth and effectiveness in God's kingdom. When we ignore or resist these divine promptings, we risk stagnating in our spiritual journey and missing out on the blessings intended for us. Being receptive to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives is key to maintaining a vibrant and fruitful spiritual life. [26:22]
Ephesians 4:30-32 (ESV): "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Reflection: Can you identify a recent instance where you might have resisted the Holy Spirit’s influence? What steps can you take to be more receptive?
Day 4: Reawaken Your Spiritual Commitment
For those feeling distant from God or uncertain about their faith, taking steps towards recommitting their lives to Christ is crucial. This recommitment can be the first step towards a renewed spiritual journey filled with God’s blessings and favor. It involves a conscious decision to reaffirm faith in Christ and to live according to His teachings. This day calls for personal reflection on one's spiritual state and an active move towards reestablishing a strong relationship with God. [48:30]
Lamentations 3:40-42 (ESV): "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven: 'We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven.'"
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to recommit your life to Christ and deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 5: Value Community in Your Spiritual Walk
Being part of a church community, like Linked Up Church, provides the support and accountability needed to grow in faith. It connects us not only to God but also to our purpose and to others who can encourage and uplift us in our spiritual journey. The importance of community in spiritual growth cannot be overstated; it is through these relationships that we find strength, encouragement, and wisdom to continue our walk with Christ. Engaging actively with a community helps to foster a sense of belonging and aids in spiritual accountability. [47:21]
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV): "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
Reflection: How can you more actively engage with your church community to foster both your spiritual growth and that of others?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, you just continue to grow, you won't excel at them. In fact, we never arrive. And this does not mean you will satisfy everybody all the time. You cannot. But in your earnest efforts and intentions he says, for if you grow and possess these qualities and grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." [16:47]
2. "Listen, often times we blame God, but it wasn't that He's doing it to you right now in this instance. There is a program in the earth that responds a certain way to certain things. There's a program within you. Even evil people appreciate kindness. We are programmed. He says against such there is no law." [37:42]
3. "If you are a born-again Christian, he is always trying to direct you in the way of truth. He is always trying to order your steps in the way of victory. And when we resist that, especially in the face of temptation, agitation, frustrations, and disappointments, then we find ourselves in situations that were beyond what we were expecting." [04:05]
4. "As you continue to grow, what should happen is that you develop fruit. And as you are developing this fruit, the branches should start weighing a little bit because life is coming at you. And it's not always easy to produce this fruit. God knows that, but that's why he says to persevere." [40:25]
### Quotes for Members
1. "I often say I'd rather be a wet water walker than a dry boat rider any day. I'd rather step out on the water like Peter to experience His supernatural than to be safe in the boat because I don't trust Him. So I admonish you, I'm encouraging you, be the righteous light that you've been assigned to be." [44:37]
2. "Other people. So that's why Linked Up Church has connect groups. That's why Linked Up Church encourages you to serve on the dream team. Do you know how much community happens in the connect groups and the dream teams? It's interesting to me that when people have need, that when people show up that have need, often times, they're not in a dream team and they're not on a connect group." [35:26]
3. "If we just take a deep breath, you know, everybody right now, just take a deep breath let it all out. That's enough time to just control your tongue. Just don't say anything. Proverbs says even the foolish man when he holds his tongue seems wise. And then adding to self-control, perseverance." [11:21]
4. "So if you're not happy with where you are today, check your faith thermometer and reset. Other people. So that's why Linked Up Church has connect groups. That's why Linked Up Church encourages you to serve on the dream team. Do you know how much community happens in the connect groups and the dream teams?" [21:22]
5. "But don't be discouraged. He tells us to never despise humble beginnings. Just pick yourself up and let's keep moving. Because even when you get to where you're trying to get to, there's somewhere else to get to." [21:55]
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