Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal // Guided & Lead
Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal //
Guided & Lead
Pastor Charlie Weir
Spiritual refreshment feels like:
A fresh intimacy (closeness/trust) with God the Father
A settledness (peace/belonging) into a family of faith
A fresh clarity of purpose (motivation/path) for everyday life
Week 3 Fire & Wind: Greater Things RECAP
The more we understand and embrace the Holy Spirit’s role and activity in our life the more transformed and transformational we become.
I will discover more life when I step into opportunities with faith for greater, a bold witness and confidence to continue regardless the opposition!
Week #4 Big Idea
The Holy Spirit is an active guiding and leading presence for fruitful living. A fruitful life is a spiritually healthy and maturing life that impacts and influences the lives of the people around me.
Justification by Faith Alone
Galatians 5:1-6 (AMP)
It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed]. 2 Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation]. 3 Once more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], that he is under obligation and required to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. 5 For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. 6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.
Jesus’ didn’t die because we hit a target and He doesn’t stay in relationship with us because every action and attitude hits His standard. His love is self-sourced, self- contained and freely given. AMEN!
Galatians 5:7-12 (AMP)
7 You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ]. 9 A little leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church]. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view [contrary to mine on the matter]; but the one who is disturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. 11 But as for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you [by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation] would even [go all the way and] castrate themselves!
* We are free in Christ because Christ has set us free.
* Christ didn’t free us from one set of laws that we couldn’t keep on our own to give us another set to keep on our own.
* Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection were enough to free us. We receive this relationship by faith!
Galatians 5:13-15 (AMP) 13 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another. 14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” 15 But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.
We have to resist the tug and tease of sin in our own lives in order to stay away from the bondage sin brings.
Galatians 5:16-18 (AMP)
16 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. 17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
Walking habitually (on a consistent habit-forming basis) in the Holy Spirit looks like...
* Seeking an active, ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit.
* Asking for guidance in prayer and in the search of scripture.
* Being responsive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Our response to the Holy Spirit’s guidance is movement.
Galatians 5:19- 21 (AMP)
19 Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and who practice other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin. His death did not remove the penalty sin carries. Living according to the flesh is to be subject to the bondages created by that living. Jesus has a better way forward and His way bears better fruit.
Galatians 5:22-24 (AMP)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.
The Fruit of a Holy Spirit Guided and Led Life Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self-Control.
Galatians 5:25-25 (AMP)
25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. 26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.
General Maintenance Practices of Walking in the Spirit
1. Be aware. There are two natures/voices active in your life. This explains the tug and tease.
2. Check your inputs. Where are you habitually walking? Who are you habitually listening to. These are inputs. Inputs always influence Outputs.
3. Live for later. Our flesh is primarily focused on now – what feels good now. Whether that is an angry outburst, or quitting something hard, or giving in to a sexual temptation. The Holy Spirit is primarily focused on later. What will this action produce later? Don’t think now, think later.
Active Practices of Walking in the Spirit
1. Persistently pursue the Holy Spirit’s presence in prayer. The more you listen for Him the easier He becomes to identify and hear.
2. Yearningly yield to the Holy Spirit’s leadership. Train your spirit to long for His leadership over your own. I am not smart enough to lead this church. You aren’t smart enough to lead your family. You are insightful to choose your future. But I know someone who sits ready to lead!
3. Faithfully follow His guidance. You can trust the path because you can trust the source.