The Spirit filled life

Intro:

Over the past month I have preached that life is in Jesus. He is the source and sustainer for our lives. The life that is in Jesus is revealed in the word of God, and I pointed to the reality that it is the Holy Spirit who gives both revelation and application of the word.

I want to teach you how Jesus leads you through the Holy Spirit. Remember that Jesus said in John 5:26 “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,”

I am thankful for the revelation that Life is in Jesus, but how do we receive the life and walk in it? I want to present to you one of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus as we begin. Turn with me to John 10:1-11.

John 10:1-5 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.””

John 10:6–10 “Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

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Submit:

There are three key elements of this passage I want to highlight.

1. Jesus is the good shepherd and His desire is to give life and that more abundantly. Psalm 23.

Psalm 23 “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

What do we see here?

The shepherd knows the sheep and what they need, so He guides them to the places that will meet the need. The problem with the American gospel is that the individual leads and asks God to bless their decisions made apart from Him. In the Kingdom, Jesus is the good shepherd who leads and takes care of the sheep.

2. The Sheep hear his voice.

The word hear in this passage is a verb that is characterized by hearing with intention. It is an ear that is positioned to hear. There is careful attention that is given to it. The consistency of hearing brings recognition of the voice and confidence to act upon what is heard.

3. The Sheep know his voice and follow.

The sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. The concept of knowing is the outflow of confidence that is a result of consistent hearing.

It reminds me of Isaiah 30:21 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”

Why do I share all of this with you? Because it is one thing to know that life is in Jesus, its another to possess the life. I believe that God desires for us to have more than head knowledge and good principles. I believe He desires for us to receive revelation knowledge of the kingdom, along with the ability to apply the knowledge we have received.

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Apply:

What then is the key to receiving life, and moving from information to revelation and application?

I believe we must identify the source that life, revelation, and application flow from.

John 6:63 gives us the key, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Over the next several weeks I want to dive into the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Father has life in himself, He has given to Jesus the ability to have life in Himself, but it is the Holy Spirit who gives life to us.

I believe this deserves special attention because the Holy Spirit is the one who will produce life in us.

Many have shied away from the Holy Spirit because there has been a narrative created that inaccurately defines the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an it, nor is He some mystical spiritual force. He is the third person of the trinity, who was there are the beginning hovering over the face of the waters.

His function and role in creation has not changed. When God spoke through the word, it was the Holy Spirit who brought about the direction and intent of God.

Many have developed a negative perspective of the Holy Spirit because they have listened to the definition of culture, or they have given to the idea that if your filled with the Spirit your going to swing from the chandelier, or become weird in some way.

Some encounters with the power of the Holy Spirit are accompanied by intense outward expression, but there is precedence in scripture for the expressions. There will always be acts of the flesh that cast doubt, but we can’t give in to the desire to cancel what God has ordained.

The negative perception of the Holy Spirit has caused many to reject the greatest gift given to man. Jesus said in John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. When we receive Christ, the three make their home in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. He is the one who leads us through the process of sanctification.

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Closing:

If it is the Spirit who give life, then we need to learn how to engage with the Spirit. Jesus told us in John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

The word spoken by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 30:21 reveals the function of the Holy Spirit. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”

Jesus affirms this same function in John 16:13–14 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

A few tips to help recognize the Holy Spirit at work.

The Holy Spirit has come. He was poured out to all who would receive at the Day of Pentecost and He continues to fill and empower people today.

The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

The Holy Spirit speaks and reveals what He hears the shepherd say.

He will also tell you things to come. He can do this because Jesus goes before us to prepare the way for us. The Holy Spirit through the truth and His direction leads us in the ways of life.

My challenge to you this morning is to develop an ear to hear so that you can become tuned to the voice of the Lord, and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and lead you in all things.

Let’s Pray!

Father open our eyes to see the truth.

Salvation.