Wk 6 - The Holy Spirit Makes Us New

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Youth Group Tonight in Urbana

?Ladies this Wednesday?

Next Saturday: Helping Hands & Cookout over the fire (bring something of substance to share)

*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card

sangamonvalley.net/ConnectCard and paper connect Card

Text keyword “ConnectCard” to 217-583-1112

Giving: box, web, app, mail

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

We are reaching out to our family, friends, and neighbors as the body of Christ.

Prayer for...

Sangamon Valley Church Updates:

Who we are…our distinctives…

Kingdom Partnerships: partners in God’s mission with other churches and organizations in our cities and around the world. *Mission Fund*

Sound Doctrine: the priority of God’s Word

Empowering Leadership: intentionally partner with God to prepare and release men and women to use their gifts

Family Relationships: We believe that relationships are at the heart of God’s Kingdom, we sing HYMNS and NEW

Spirit Empowerment: We are a Spirit-filled AND Spirit-formed community.

Shared Mission: passion for the lost and an understanding of our place in joining God on mission in our world. **Reaching Out**

Who we are…our message…(see logo)

Jesus Christ our Savior, Baptizer w/ H.S., Healer, Coming-King

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

The Holy Spirit Convicts The World of Sin (Jn. 16:8)

Conviction is a divine process that if not resisted can lead to radical transformation.

WHY?…

TODAY: The Holy Spirit Makes Us New

New Birth: Spiritual Resurrection

John 3:1–4 “1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?””

John 3:5–6 “5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

“water and the Spirit” can mean “unless he is born of water-That is, the Spirit” (Palma, p. 70)

Spiritual Resurrection is A Miraculous/powerful work by the Spirit

John 3:8 “8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.””

John 3:14 “14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,”

John 3:15 “15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

We are regenerated (v. 5 single event of birth)… Titus 3:5 “5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

We get spiritual vision (v. 3 cannot see)… 1 Corinthians 2:14 “14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

We get adopted (v. 12 become children of God)… Romans 8:15 “15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””

Were: Ephesians 2:2 “2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience [The Devil]—”

Now: Given the privileges as heirs… Ephesians 1:11 “11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,”

Progressive Experience of New Birth: Renewal

Sanctification means the work of God’s grace by which the believer is separated from sin and becomes dedicated to God’s righteousness (HBH)

Titus 3:5 “5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

made new and becoming (washed and renewing)

Cf. Ezekiel 36:25–27 “25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

Sanctification is not…

Legalism - sanctified by living in complete obedience but salvation does not depend on works (depends on faith - Gal 3:3))

Antinomianism - sanctification has nothing to do with how we live but our freedom in Christ is not to be an opportunity for the flesh (Gal 5:13)

Perfectionism - sanctification is not that we are sinlessly perfect (see John 17:19)

Conclusion/Reflection:

Our sanctification happens as we yield more and more to the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Picture a smartphone that continuously receives software updates to improve its functions. In the same way, as we yield more and more to the Holy Spirit, He continually updates and enhances our spiritual lives, making us more effective in our faith journey.

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

APPLICATION: In moments of stress and anxiety, surrender your thoughts to the Holy Spirit. Practice gratitude and replace negative thoughts with affirmations of God's love and provision.

Talk It Over

What is the significance of being born of water and the Spirit, as discussed in John 3:5-6?

According to 1 Corinthians 2:14, why is it mentioned that the natural person cannot understand the things of the Spirit?

What is the foundation upon which the church family is built, according to Ephesians 2:20-22?

How is the analogy of a young bonsai tree being pruned used to illustrate believers' surrender to the Holy Spirit's transformative work?

Recommended Study: For deeper study, explore the pneumatology of the New Testament in your Logos library. Dive into exegetical analyses of passages like John 3, Romans 8, and Ephesians 1 & 2 to gain insights into the multifaceted work of the Holy Spirit in believers' lives. Reflect on the implications of being led by the Spirit for personal sanctification and the church's mission in a challenging world.