Forgotten God CH 4: WHY DO YOU WANT HIM?
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INTRO
INTRO
I. Where We’ve Been
A. Spent 3 weeks describing who the H.S. is & what he does
a. He is a person w/thoughts, will, & emotion
b. He’s God who is 1 w/God the Father & God the Son
1. He is all knowing, pwrfl, & everywhere @once
B. He Works both in us & through us
a. Changing our rel. w/the father in the salvation process
b. & perfecting us us in2 the God’s change agents in the world
C. It’s clear that u want 2 c the H.S. in ur life
a. U wouldn’t have made it this far in the study if u didn’t.
1. This is a good thing.
2. The 1st step in reversing our neglect of the H.S. is desiring 2 c Him work in & through us.
II. Where we’re Headed
A. After Going through who H.S. is & What he does to empower us
a. Who here wants to see the power o God the H.S. in our life??
I’m guessing all o us, since we’re still here in this class answer YES!!
B. But what might b some reasons that we don’t c the H.S. working pwrfly in our life?
a. look at what James says about not receiving from God
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
1. we don’t have because we don’t ask (we like that part causes us 2 ask more!!)
2. But what about vs 3?? what’s James saying there?
i. Wrong motives!!
C. At this point, there is an important question that has to be asked:
a. Why do u want H.S.?
1. We all need to question our motives.
2. We can’t simply move on & assume that our hearts r in the right place
i. what’s at stake is too important.
3. Illust. Francis Chan tells a story
i. A man comes b4 the elders and asks ‘em to pray 4 healing
ii. Pastor Chan asks something he normally doesn’t, “why do u want to b healed”
-Does that question surprise u? - it did me @1st, & it certainly surprised those around him.
iii. He asked because o the scripture we just read: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions”
iv. His point is that often times we ask for God to move in pwr, but we do it for selfish reasons
-I’m not saying its wrong to ask 4 healing, but I do want to highlight the question of motives
-Why do we want to experience God’s awesome power in our life?
*is it for our own benefit & gain or for God’s glory & the benefit of others?
4. Consider Paul’s thoughts on the subject in...
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
i. Paul wanted to die, but for the sake of the Gospel & the folks whom he loved...
-He knew he would continue the work & life o faith in the world
ii. Do u resinate w/Paul’s love 4 & devotion 2 the church?
b. Why does our motives matter so much?
1. If we pursue H.S. out o love 4 God & people, then the pwr of God will b clearly displayed...
i. but if we try 2 use the Spirit 4 our own purposes, we’re only demonstrating our pride.
2. It’s the difference btwn being pwrflly used by God & being aggressively opposed by Him
i. Consider James’ words in:
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
BODY
BODY
I. Initial Questions
A. what r some good motivations 4 desiring the H.S.?
B. what r some bad motivations 4 desiring the H.S.?
a. Can u detect hints o any of these motivations in ur heart?
b. If so, what do u think causes u 2b motivated in that way?
1. Let’s take some time 2 discuss some motives found in scripture
II. Wrong Motives (Lk describes 1 who really wants the H.S. in Acts 8:9-24)
A. I want the glory (a case study: Simon)
9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”
11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.
12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
a. Simon the magician was accustomed 2 incredible displays of pwr.
1. He used his magic arts 2 amaze people & convince 'em that he was some1 great.
i. But when he saw the miracles performed through Philip, he himself was amazed.
2. Clearly Simon knew that something out of the ordinary was happening.
i. When some1 who spends his life conjuring up pwrfl displays is left in awe...
- something special is going on.
ii. He was intrigued by the H.S. drawn by the incredible pwr he was witnessing.
3. Lk goes as far as saying “Simon himself believed”
i. & he was baptized & engaged in discipleship
- Lk says he “continued w/Philip”
- Philip must have thought, “I got a great new disciple in this guy Simon!”
*what an amazing conversion!!
*Simon was operating in the pwr o Satan & now he’s a force 4 good!!
b. In Come the Apostles
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
1. Why did the Apostles send Peter & Jn?
i. Well, where was Philip working?
- Samaria— Why does that matter?
*No1 thought a samaritan could receive the Gospel
*every1 who’d rec. the Gospel so far had been Jewish!
- The Apostles sent Pete & Jn 2 verify This was the work o God!!
*Ronald Regan famously said: “Trust but verify”
ii. (another reason for Pete & Jn): H.S. Baptism & Organization
- Why didn’t Philip lay hands on ‘em 2b baptized in H.S.?
*He was an evangelist:
~He wasn’t worried about that, he was worried about gettin’ em saved!!
~but the church isn’t a mob, it’s God’s kingdom on earth.
^It needs organization & H.S. empowering 2 b God’s change agent in the world
- When Jn & Peter c God’s work through Philip...
*they begin baptizing ‘em in H.S. &
*setting up organization so the church functions
c. Simon’s Response
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
1. How did Simon Respond?
2. Why do you think he wanted the Spirit?
i. What would Simon’s motivation look like if it were played out in the American church today?
ii. Have you seen any examples of this, whether in the church in general, something you’ve experienced in the past, or (most importantly) in your own heart?
- If so, describe those examples.
3. On some level, we might be impressed by Simon’s desire for the Spirit:
i. We might say, “Wow. He really wants the power of the Spirit in his life! He’s even willing to give up his worldly possessions to gain the Holy Spirit!”
- But Peter swiftly addressed Simon’s heart.
d. Peter’s Response 2 Simon’s wrong motives
20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”
24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
1. Why did Pete respond so harshly?
i. Simon wasn’t satisfied w/ seeing the Spirit @work;
- he wanted 2b the 1 who controlled the Spirit’s power.
ii. Peter’s response highlights the importance of calling our motives into question.
-Remember James said in...
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
*God, through Peter, was resisting the proud man Simon
e. Bringing it Hm
1. The fact that we wanna c the Spirit @work is important,
i. but unless our heart is in the right place, Peter’s rebuke should cause us 2 stop in our tracks…stop me in my tracks…stop u in ur tracks
2. Why do you want the H.S.?
i. Your answer really makes a big difference.
3. The Holy Spirit works to glorify God
14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
i. but too often, the people who talk the most about the Spirit r the 1’s who receive all the glory.
- There is no hint of what Jesus describes in
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
ii. When God truly shines through us, the supernatural is clearly manifested in us, but God gets all the glory.
- Have u seen a person accomplish something amazing, yet receive all the glory 4 himself?
*What does that look like?
- Have u seen a person accomplish something amazing, yet all the glory goes 2 God?
* What does that look like?
-another wrong motive then: Give glory 2 me
* Do we ask the Spirit 2 empower so we look good…or don’t look bad?
iii. As we observed b4, when Jesus returned 2 His Father, He left the disciples w/ the task o changing the world.
- He was very clear that they could not do this on their own.
* Instead, they were told to wait until God clothed ‘em w/ pwr through the H.S.
- When the Spirit showed up on the day of Pentecost & empowered the disciples 2 proclaim the gospel in a host of different languages (Acts 2),
* He demonstrated that genuine works of the Spirit leave no doubt about who should get the glory.
“When the Spirit moved at Pentecost, people knew there was a power present that came from God. That’s why they didn’t leave saying, ‘John is amazing! He learned a new language in a matter of seconds!’ They knew it had to be God” (Forgotten God, 87).
iv. Our focus in all of this needs to be on God—not on ourselves, not even on the things we can accomplish with His power.
- Instead of deciding in advance what sort of supernatural display God should provide, we should simply ask God 2 work powerfully in our life situations & allow Him 2 work in the way He wants.
- Sometimes we fixate on the really flashy manifestations of the Spirit,
* but when a proud person exhibits humility, is this any less supernatural?
* When a person patiently loves & prays 4 a grouchy neighbor / coworker 4 yrs w/ no results, does this not show the Spirit’s power?
- what r a few “less glamorous” ways that the Spirit’s power can be manifest in a person’s life.
- Why should these things be seen as powerful manifestations of the Spirit?
B. Another wrong motive: I wanna lead
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 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.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
a. Another trap we could easily fall into is trying to lead the Spirit rather than being led by Him.
1. The distinction is sometimes subtle, because in both cases we’re seeking the Spirit.
2. But when we go down this path, we start w/ our own dreams & desires,
i. we ask for the Spirit 2 work so that we can accomplish our plans.
ii. In this case, we’re really following in the footsteps of Simon the magician
-he earnestly desired the Spirit, but he wasn’t seeking to be led by Him.
3. Practically, what does it look like to be led by the Spirit rather than trying to lead the Spirit for ur purposes?
i. We have to prayerfully seek where the H.S. may be leading.
-I am convinced that the Spirit communicates with us.
*Sometimes He lays a person / place on our hearts and calls us 2 action / prayer.
*Other times He convicts us of our sin and calls us to repent.
ii. He works in many different ways, but the point is, many times we don’t hear because we’re not listening.
-Sometimes we hear, but we write it off as nothing because we don’t agree w/ where He’s leading.
iii. Being completely honest—do u really want 2 follow the Spirit, regardless o where He may lead u?
-Why, or why not?
4. Simply said, Paul says in...
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
i. Now that we’ve addressed a few wrong motivations for desiring the Spirit, we still have to answer an important question:
-What is the right reason for desiring the Spirit?
III. Right Motivation (Paul says in…)
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
A. The Common Good
a. According to Paul, the Spirit works in individual lives “for the common good” (v. 7).
b. The proper function of the church
1. God has placed ea. o’ us in a specific location.
2. Our task is to build up the Christians around us & reach out 2 the rest of the world.
i. It is actually the Spirit who empowers us 2 fulfill this calling by giving us supernatural abilities.
3. The flashiest of these r things like prophecy & speaking in tongues...
i. but we shouldn’t overlook the fact that encouragement & service r also miraculous manifestations of the H.S.
ii. Once again, our tendency can b2 focus on the specific manifestations o the Spirit that Paul mentions.
- But even in the midst of describing how the Spirit works through us in these ways, Paul says,
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
*As Paul describes in chapter 13, that more excellent way is love.
B. Love
a. another right motivation 4 desiring the H.S. is love 4 the people that God has placed in our lives.
1. What is gained by H.S. working w/out love?
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
b. The Spirit works in us because He loves the people around us.
1. Do u love the people in ur life enough 2 pursue the Spirit 4 their benefit?
2. Describe the diff. btwn some1 who pursues the Spirit 4 their own sake & someone who does so out of love 4 other people.
c. On a scale frm 1-10 (10 being most; 1 being eh…not really)
How much do u love GMCC (not the organization, but the people…the church)
i. As u look around during times of fellowship do u think...
-I love these folks so much. God empower me that I could help ‘em, bless em, encourage ‘em, work in their life
2. If God cares so much for GMCC that He would give us his spirit for the common good
i. Shouldn’t we care enough to get involved, help folks out, serve in ministry 2gether?
-& when, because we r, faced w/our own limitations as a human seek God’s Spirit for help in that service…2 b empowered so we could better serve those we love?
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
I. The Spirit works through each of us so that we can build up the people around us in love.
A. It’s not about your Glory, It’s about God’s glory
a. Having the Holy Spirit is not about you being everything you want to be.
B. It’s not about what u want it’s about what H.S. wants
a. It’s about God working through u 2 help the people around u grow.
II. Video
A. Check out this important message from Francis Chan
a. What stuck out to u about the video?
B. If the proper motivation 4 desiring the Spirit is love, how much do u love the people around u?
a. Specifically the folks in this study…the folks in ur home, the folks in this church?
1. Sometimes the most loving thing u can do is speak gently & honestly in2 another person’s life.
b. Do u trust that God can speak 2 u through the people He has placed in ur life?
1. Does ur desire 4 the Spirit include openness 2 the Spirit 2 lead some1 else in honestly speak truth in2 ur life?
2. Are u willing 2 follow the Spirit’s leading in being honest w/ the people around u?
C. This week:
a. Spend some time in prayer
1. Ask God for the humility & love 2 speak honestly into the lives of the people around u.
2. & as other people r honest w/ u, ask the Spirit 2 work in ur heart:
i. removing the sinful thoughts & motivations...
ii. & allowing u 2 grow & follow the Spirit 4 the benefit of those around u.
b. Read 1 Cor 12-14 & Consider these questions:
How does the H.S. empower the Church?
How does the church function together?
How do the gifts function together?
What’s the main motivation to operate in the gifts?
What are the differences between you understanding of love & Paul (inspired by the H.S.’s definition of Love)
c. Look 4 an email from me outlining These ideas for this weeks personal time w/the H.S.