Walking in the Spirit! - Gal 5:25

Walking in the Spirit!

July 31, 2011

Galatians 5:25

Introduction

• Last Friday afternoon around 4pm, I felt a desire to visit the evening service at Bethel in Redding
• We got away late, there were traffic holdups, but eventually we arrived
• As we arrived in the foyer, I saw a very close friend of ours walking toward me.
• He said he had just felt the Holy Spirit nudge him to go out of the service and meet someone in the foyer!
• Wow! So we went and sat with them in the service
• There was an invitation for people who wanted to be baptized
• Jon, his wife and two of their boys wanted to be rebaptized, as they were at a crucial juncture in their lives
• We were able to be there with them as they took this awesome step, they were far away from their family and friends in LA!
• What got to me was that God planned this whole thing! This was not a question of asking for direction, God just sovereignly orchestrated this meeting, to make this event as full and joyful as could be!
• It required both Jon and me listening to the Spirit and being obedient, for all the connections to work
• The Bible talks about walking in the Spirit
• This morning we will be talking about what walking in the spirit looks like, personally

Walk in obedience

• Galatians 5:16-25
• Verse17
• There is a battle going on in our mind
• Romans 7:21-25
• So the apostle Paul, great Chrsitain as he was, still had this battle going on in his mind
• So we too have this battle
• The flesh in us wants to do the wrong thing
• But with our mind we want to do the right thing, in obedience to God
• We work to overcome some besetting sin, and at some point we think it is gone
• But when we let down our guard, it is right there, wanting to cause trouble again
• The Christian's life is a constant battle
• But God's intention is that we overcome it!
• Example of Cain and Abel
• Gen 4:1-7
• Unfortunately Cain did not master sin, but killed his brother instead
• God intends for us to be overcomers
• Rev 2-3 - the letters to the various churches usually end with "to him who overcomes ...."
• God does not desire children who just give in to every temptation that comes their way.
• He desires people who take hold of the temptation and turn their backs on it

Overcome temptation

• We are all going to be tempted
• Temptation is a part of this life
• We are tempted by our flesh, by society, and by the devil
• If we want a real, committed walk with Jesus, we will walk in the Spirit and overcome the temptation
• What happens when we are tempted?
• James 1:13-15
• The battle is in our head!
• The sin is not in being tempted, the sin is in allowing the temptation to dwell in our thoughts, until we finally give in to it
• So when we are tempted to do the wrong thing, get rid of that thought, fill your mind with good things, as opposed to the temptation
• Phil 4:8
• God expects us to be overcomers
• Jesus overcame the enemy, so must we!

Live in step with the Spirit

• Did you notice in this section of scripture, Paul does not refer to the old testament law?
• He does not remind them about "Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not lie"
• He tells us that we are not under the law
• The law was a tutor or babysitter, until we came to faith (Gal 3:24)
• It was a legal code we had to live by.
• But when Jesus comes into our life, we are not led by the law, but by the Spirit
• Gal 5:18
• The law and the Spirit walk in step, hand in hand
• So the Spirit will never lead us to disobey the Old Testament law
• But we have a higher call than merely to not kill or steal
• We have been called to live a life of love for God and love for our fellow man
• The Holy Spirit is our guide along this journey
• He speaks to us, nudges us, convicts us, whatever is needed, to help us stay on the straight and narrow
• He convicts us of sin, he reminds us when we are being tempted, and he helps us to overcome and replace that temptation with God's way of doing things
• This is why it is so important that we learn to listen to God's voice
• If we are deaf to what God is saying, we are merely living a legalistic life
• Walk in the spirit means just that, we are walking with our Companion, Comforter, Helper, our personal Paraclete!

Conclusion

• So as we grow up spiritually, we are going to be listening more and more to what the Spirit is saying to us.
• We will be responding in obedience
• We will be discerning that it is not the temptation speaking, but that it is God leading us in the paths of righteousness
• Allow the Holy Spirit to speak in your life, and be obedient to Him

A Decision or a Commitment? - Romans 12:1-2

A Decision or a Commitment?
July 24, 2011
Romans 12:1-2

Introduction

• When I was in my teens and 20's I took up cross country running
• I was the top cross country runner at my high school, I was second in our zone, and I came in 26th in the state cross country championship
• There are a lot of comparisons that can be drawn between running a race and the Christian journey
• Paul uses this analogy a number of times in his writings and letters
• There comes a point in every race where the competitor commits to finishing the race
• Until then, he has made a decision to run the race, but a deeper level of commitment comes along the journey.
• Romans 12:1 Living sacrifices
• Today we are going to talk about our Christian journey - is it a decision we made or have we made a commitment?

Our decision for Christ

• Eph 2:1-5
• There was a time in our lives when we had not made the decision to allow Jesus to be out Lord and Savior
• We lived just as the world around us live, we fitted in with society, and did the things society led us to do
• By God's grace, he led us to accept salvation through Jesus
• Do you remember that day?
• It was a day when we experienced the relief of our sins being forgive, the guilt rolling off our back, and hope entering our lives through God's love
• Wasn't it awesome?
• Remember what it was like in the days before this
• It was probably a time of struggle, a time of wrestling with a decision we knew we had to make
• But when we finally answered that call to cross the line to obedience, it was such a relief!

The journey is not easy

• Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that he came so that we may have life, and have it to the full
• This is awesome, and is a great encouragement to us
• But don't take these words out of context
• He is comparing the Good Shepherd to the thief who kills steals and destroys
• Jesus also tells us that the Christian life is not going to be easy street
• Matt 5:11-12
• The prophets too, were not popular, and some of them died for their faith
• Hebrews 11
• Paul speaks of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and then he lists a large group of servants of God, who experienced pain in the course of their ministry
• Verse 32-40
• These people had accepted their call, in other words, they decided to obey God's mission for their lives
• But they were committed to it as well, and persevered to the end
• It's not the person who starts the race fast, who necessarily wins the race, and receives commendation
• It is he who finishes the race
• These prophets had committed to completing their assignment, their journey
• We too have made a decision to be obedient to God
• But it is in the actions of our daily lives that we make a commitment to finish the job
• God does not want weaklings in his family
• Matt 11:12
• God is looking for forceful people, who have made a commitment and who will never surrender, who will advance his Kingdom

Commitment is a way of life

• Commitment is not something you decide to do one day
• Commitment is a lifestyle
• It affects everything you do
• When we marry, is it a decision or a commitment?
• The percentage of people who divorce, is just as high among Christians as it is in society
• This should not be so!
• When we make our wedding vows, they are for life! God hates divorce
• There are some exceptions given, certain situations when divorce is permissible
• But God never intended us to divorce
• A marriage is a sacred thing. It is worth fighting for. When the flame of love has died down, rekindle it, work at it.
• But this takes commitment
• When a job is not fun any more is it a time to leave and find a new one, or is it a time to grit our teeth and make something of it?
• When we have found the place God wants us to be in the body, do we commit to it, saying "this is where I belong, this is where God wants me to fellowship, and where he wants me to tithe, support, help out, serve, and help the Kingdom grow"?
• Commitment is a lifestyle
• He does not like people who are half-hearted in their obedience to his calling
• Rev 3:16
• It is committed people God looks for

Conclusion

• So let's examine ourselves
• Are we committed Christians, or merely people who made a decision years ago but have not really followed through on that decision?
• God doesn't tell the Laodiceans they are no-hopers
• Instead, he says to them to change their ways
• Verses 17-19
• Examine your life today
• We started talking about a cross country race
• Are you a committed Christian?
• Are you running a race that you will finish?
• Are you committed in your total lifestyle?

Prayer

Recognizing God's Voice - John 10:4-5

Recognizing God's Voice
July 17, 2011
John 10:4-5

Introduction

- During the last two sermons we have looked at Bible teachings and we have seen that God is a God who speaks
- Last week we also looked at ways in which God speaks to us
- Through the Word, in our thoughts, through other people, through circumstances
- TESTIMONIES
- Today we will examine how we can know when it is God speaking, or alternatively it could be our own thoughts, or the enemy

1. Be obedient to what God says

- James 1:22
- God tells us that along with hearing God's voice, there is accountability - we have to be obedient and do what he says
- God will not speak to us unless we are obedient to what he tells us
- When we are disobedient, we grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30)

2. Ways to test what we hear

- 1 John 4:1 - test what you hear - you don't want to believe lies
- a) It must be according to God's word
- Isa 8:20 - the word is the test
- b) It should draw us closer to Christ
- Phil 2:5 - Let this mind be in you which was in Jesus
- What Would Jesus Do? - Charles Sheldon
- c) It will fit our mix of spiritual gifts, personal talents and personality
- Eph 2:10 - God has a plan and purpose for us
- Num 23:19 - God does not lie
- d) Is the word convicting or condemning?
- God may chastise us verbally
- Hebrews 12:10-11
- Romans 8:1 - God does not condemn
- But he may convict us of some area of life in which we need to change
- e) Do other believers confirm it?
- Proverbs 19:20, 24:6 - get advice
- We need help when we are in new territory
- Ask for directions!
- f) We will have a sense of peace
- 1 Cor 14:33
- Confusion is not of God
- If the word is confusing to us, God did not give it to us
- John 14:27 - my peace I give to you

3. Listen for what God will speak to you

- Rev 2:29, 3:6, 13, 22
- "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches"
- We are going to spend some time listening to God
- Free to come forward to altar rail, or stay in seat
- Prayer for forgiveness, and open ears
- Lord speak to your people

Conclusion

- We can listen to God's voice
- He speaks to the global church
- He speaks to Grace Fellowship
- And he speaks to us personally
- Practice this, make it part of the way you live each day

Ways God speaks to us - 1 Kings 19:12

Ways God Speaks to Us

July 10, 2011

1 Kings 19:12

Introduction

• Helen Keller - lived during early 1900's, died 1968 - deaf and blind - not able to communicate - isolated - Ann Sullivan broke through and allowed young Helen to blossom as she learned to communicate
• We grow and develop mentally and emotionally through communication
• In growing up spiritually we also need communication, with God
• God speaks to us in different ways
• These are as varied as He is great!
• Today we are going to look at some of the ways in which God speaks to us

The Bible

• John 17:17 - Thy Word is truth
• Rev 19:13 - His name - the Word of God - spokesman, communicator
• James 1:21 - Logos
• Matt 4:4 - Rhema
• What sometimes blocks our understanding of the Bible
• Need to confront issues, not ignore or run away from them

Still small voice

• 1 Kings 19:12 - still small voice
• Matt 10:20 - the Spirit of your Father speaks
• John 16:13 - the Spirit will guide

Many ways

• Prophetic word
  • 1 Cor 14:1-5 - gift of prophecy
  • Acts 13:2 - Holy Spirit spoke - prophetic word, accepted by the church?
• Circumstances
  • Acts 16:7 - Paul stopped by circumstances
  • Rev 3:8 - open door - an open door to walk into God's destiny - revealed by circumstances
• Dreams and visions
  • Acts 16:9-10 - Macedonian call - a night vision
  • Matt 1:20 - angel of the Lord speaks to Joseph in a dream
  • You know the dream is special, and usually you know the meaning
• Nature
  • Psalm 19:1The heavens declare the glory of God
  • God's answer to prayer re candidating

Conclusion

• We have looked at a few of the ways God speaks to us
• But God is so great, he is not limited by a few ways to speak to us
• It is one thing to be listening for God's voice
• But we also need to know when we hear a voice, is it from God, is it from ourselves, or is it from the enemy
• Come back next week, because that is what we will be talking about in the next sermon