Character: Life in the Spirit

Introduction

I agree with Mark Sayer from last week when he says we are, “born for struggle, created for a cause, formed for a great battle.” at least in this fallen world.

Most exhilerating for me has been close games in sports

Probably also why Paul often talks in sports language ie athlete, race

In Greek culture this was reality - Olympics

The battle - Satan, world, flesh

Kingdom of God in friction with current kingdoms -sometime political, other times personal

We can’t control or change the world system or the Devil but we can learn to “put to death” our flesh (sin nature)

Romans 8:12–14 ESV

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Live by the Spirit

Paul in Romans says this is to be a mark of a child of God so what does that look like and how do we do it?

Read Gal 5:16-26

I. The Holy Spirit

A. Who

i. Third person of the Trinity

1 God

3 Persons

each a personal being with a mind, will and emotions and different roles

we see each person a different times throughout Scripture

ii. Work from the beginning

Creation - Gen 1 - Spirit if hovering above the water

OT - empowering people for God’s task

Jesus - baptism, led into the desert by the Spirit

iii. Sent following Jesus’ ascension

B. What

I. Indwelling

John 14:15–17 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

ii. Seal

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

iii. Helper/Teacher

John 16:13 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

C. How

i. Remind

John 14:25–26 ESV

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

ii. Teach

Illumination -

iii. Empowers

Romans 8:11 ESV

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

II. How Do We Know If We are Walking with the Spirit?

A. Fruit - 5:22

Fruit = Character = character of Christ

Which of the two descriptions best describe your life?

Have you changed since you first believed?

Forward Trajectory, not position

B. Worship & Fellowship -

Ephesians 5:18–21 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Do you have a growing love and desire for the Lord?

Do you seek connection with other believers?

If no, we are not walking in the Spirit

The Spirit will always lead us to Jesus and His people

C. Servanthood

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Jesus’ life and teaching displayed and called His followers to serve others

Does your life consist of more taking or giving?

Are you looking to serve Christ in all your life?

III. How Do We Walk with the Spirit?

A. Know

two extremes - Bible or Spirit only

But it is actually both

Woman at the well John 4 - Worship in Spirit and truth

Romans 12 - renew our mind - over being conformed to this world

John 14 & 16 - teach, lead and remind of truth

Gal 5:16 - walk by the Spirit

Ultimate outcome of God’s revelation/knowledge is to believe and repent

When this is the outcome we know that the Spirit is using God’s word to change us

B. Commune - Abiding

John 15 - again Jesus’ disciples are commaded to remain connected to Him

Prayer is one of the main ways we do this

Set apart times but also through the day

This comes about by and builds our time with and trust in Christ

C. Listen

vs 25

If we live - keep in step

How do we know where the Spirit is going and what He is doing?

Word/Prayer - The Spirit illuminates God’s word to us and intercedes for us that we might know who God is and what He desires for us.

The Spirit will not work outside of these things as He is God

Promptings (God Speaking, voice of God)

Remind/teach - John 14 & 16 - indicate that this was the Spirit will communicate with Jesus’ followers

Direction:

Acts 16:6–10 ESV

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Here’s my understanding/experience as of this point in my walk:

We need to make sure we are in the word and prayer as John in I John calls us to use discernment to know the true from false spirits (the battle)

God has given us great freedom to make decisions guided by His wisdom/truth and moral will however there are times the Spirit of God breaks in to stop, change or give direction.

It also strikes me that while God does speak in times of communion and solitude, it seems to me that God speaks to His people in all sorts of times and circumstances.

And so the point is to begin to learn and choose to be obedient to follow what the Spirit reminds, reveals and leads us to do.

As we begin to do this, we are transformed and begin to win the battle against our flesh and here’s what’s especially significant, to build God’s kingdom in this world.

Conclusion

Outcome:

Better person, better spouse, parent, employee/employer, we begin to live life better (more godly)(fruit)

2 Peter 1:8 ESV

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Also we are not to get consumed or overwhelmed by the battle but rather strive for a life in and by the Spirit

and there by Ultimately being used by God to live out and build His Kingdom here and now in our lives, families and the world around us.