Go With The Flow

Have you ever had a challenge that you seemingly had no answer for?

Then out of nowhere the solution hits you?

That’s what we’re talking about today in this message I am calling, “Go with the flow”

Before get too far, I want to recap what we’ve discussed so far.

Stillness. We must quiet ourselves, quiet our hearts. - remember the story of Elijah? How God retuned him so he could hear.

Vision. We must look to Jesus. When we see Jesus and remain focused on Him, we can do anything. Remember Peter walking on water too!

Today we’ll learn the next one…

Spontaneity. Learning to tune to the flow of the Holy Spirit. He lives in us and He’s here to guide us!

Sermon in a sentence:

In order to go with the flow of the Holy Spirit, we must recognize and say no to the other things guiding us.

Key Verses:

1 Corinthians 2:9–16 NLT

9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

John 7:38–39 TPT

38 Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!” 39 Jesus was prophesying about the Holy Spirit that believers were being prepared to receive. But the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out upon them, because Jesus had not yet been unveiled in his full splendor.

Psalm 46:4 NIV

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Who He Is

Now, before we get too far into our study, I want to be clear on something.

The Holy Spirit is not a thing or a tool or a nice idea. You don’t just use Him for your what you want and then ignore Him until you need something again. He’s not a genie.

He is a person. The third part of the trinity in fact. His purpose on earth is to guide, equip and empower us to do the will of God. He wants relationship and intimacy. He knows us better than we know ourselves and He’s the one who is transforming us into the likeness of Christ. So that, on the last day, we will be complete, lacking nothing.

2 Corinthians 3:18 TPT

18 We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

> Holy Spirit, forgive me for putting You into a box. Forgive me for not acknowledging You and partnering with You in the plan of God.

Now, in regards to His voice, we’re using the language “flow” or “spontaneity” to describe the way it seems to bubble up. You might be tempted to think that it’s you, but when you analyze it against scripture you’ll find immense joy and peace and wisdom in it. This is also the way that you’ll distinguish it against the voice of our adversary, the devil.

He cares about every detail

> Example Kris Valloton Video - Car repair

Example of mine - words of knowledge as well as insight for prayer and for the year.

Acts 9:10–11 NKJV

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

Acts 10:19–20 NKJV

19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

Have you ever tried searching for something online. It’s supposed to have all the information, available to you at an instant.

Then as you get started, You might know what you want to find, but can’t explain it? For Him, He knows the very heart of God and reveals it to us. He knows everything about us too! That’s the knowledge He draws from as He guides us.

> Holy Spirit, forgive me for believing that You didn’t care about every detail. Help me to focus on all the insight that You are pouring into me. Help me to remain humble and to be bold enough to share what You’re saying.

He guides us in truth

Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

John 16:13–14 NKJV

13 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. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

It’s so easy for us to want to go our own way. We live under our parents roof and protection for ~18 years and then we desire to leave and start over.

We even do this to the Lord. We know the way is narrow, but we see the large path and our flesh is attracted to it.

We have to make a conscious effort to die to the flesh, to silence the noise, and say Yes to the Holy Spirits leading. He’s not going to steer you wrong, honestly the hard part for many of us is giving up CONTROL. We simply like it too much. We want everything to be safe and to go our way. That is one promise Jesus didn’t make.

> Holy Spirit, I relinquish control to You. Please take charge. Lead me and guide me into Your truth and help me to be sensitive to your voice.

He equips and empowers us for God’s will

Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 NLT

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

He ignites our passion - share the gospel

He opens doors - you minister to people you don’t know

He helps us conquer our fears - you might think you’re not qualified, check the next one

He provides the skills we need - you recognize that He’s speaking through you

He brings us together with people who can help - you forge kingdom relationships that help in the mission

> Holy Spirit, would you equip me in new ways today. Would you empower me to step out into the mission field that you’ve called me to. Help me to trust the Word you’re speaking through me.

Closing

The ask is - are you wanting to hear the Holy Spirit speaking today?

So, how can we hear him?

Be still and Invite Him, Look to Him and Listen, Obey and Trust the flow of spontaneity, He then equips you for Impact!

How can we get it? One way is -> Impartation!

Acts 3:6 NKJV

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”