From some of us its harder than others to listen to direction, and sometimes even harder to obey. This can be a real stumbling block in the life of the believer, as we are continually faced with the decision to either follow God’s leading or go our own way. Much like the children’s game “Simon Says” we must learn to attune our hearts to hearing what the Spirit says, and then the discipline to follow in obedience.
Today we celebrate the Birthday of the Church with the coming of the Holy Spirit long ago at Pentecost. Years after that day, when the Apostle Paul will address the church in Rome, he will call them to continually living in accordance with the Holy Spirit as they learn to walk in the hope of their salvation from sin, with an ever developing transformation of their minds to seek the things of God and not the things of the flesh.
We have a “sinful nature”
1 – it holds you captive
2 – it makes God’s law powerless to produce righteousness in us
3 – it desires to continually control you
4 – it warps your mind
5 – it leads to death
6 – it makes your MIND hostile to God
7 – it does not AND cannot submit to God’s law
8 – it makes you impossible to please God
We also have the “Spirit of Life”
1 – it sets you free
2 – it has supernatural strength not fleshly
3 – it carries the power of Jesus’ righteousness
4 – it gives you a new way to live
5 – it gives you a new mind to follow what God desires
6 – it makes your MIND follow God
7 – it brings life
8 – it brings peace
The sinful nature The Spirit
a slave free
powerless powerful
fleshly controlled divinely controlled
leads to death leads to life
hostile to God brings peace
Individuals
Problem: Why do we have such a hard time following the Spirit?
Solution: We must allow our minds to be transformed
Romans 8:5-8
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
What do you occupy your mind with?
The Church
Encouragement = Fellowship
Growth = Teaching
Reminder of Grace = Holy Communion
Strengthening = Prayer
Problem: We confuse church with a place or event rather than a people
Solution: We must recall our purpose as God’s people to remain active in engaging our world with the gospel and therefore avoid the temptation of seeking our own comfort, preferences, and desires – we must be willing to follow where the Spirit leads
How are you/your church living in accordance with the Spirit?
How are you/your church NOT living in accordance with the Spirit?
How can you/your church BETTER live in accordance with the Spirit?
Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
I cannot be an effective Spirit led pastor if:
- I am constrained by a clock
- Focused on pleasing people
- Afraid to speak the truth of God’s Word
Things that will never change:
- The cross will always remain front and central
- I will always prioritizes the following:
- The Teaching of God’s Word
- Prayer
- Remembering the Lord’s Supper
- Fellowship
- There will always be a continual emphasis on the Mission of God
- I will preach Grace, live Grace, and expect Grace from YOU
- An emphasis upon walking by faith