Sermon Title: A Walk in the Spirit

Reno Campus
Pastor Tom Chism

Carson Campus
Pastor Dusty Braun

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Reno Campus

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• Kids Baptism Class
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Carson Campus

• Adult Baptism Class
• Kids Baptism Class
• Baptism

Sermon Title: A Walk in the Spirit
Passage:
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Luke 4:18-21

1. The Holy Spirit secures our salvation
   1. John 16:7
   2. Romans 8:16  
2. The Holy Spirit fills us: 
   1. Ephesians 5:18 
3. The Holy Spirit transforms us
   1. Ephesians 4:22 
   2. “A Christian is somebody who can see the worst in himself or herself because the gospel has framed your conscience, because you know you’re accepted in him, and you can face the worst about yourself because it’s not the basis on which God talks to you and deals with you.” Timothy J. Keller
4. The Holy Spirit teaches us
   1. John 14:26 
5. The Holy Spirit empowers us
   1. Acts 1:8 
   2. “The key to gifting begins with an intentional commitment to our role as Christians – practically endeavoring to practice the words and the works of Jesus.  When we step towards expressing the heart and will of God in this way, we soon encounter situations that require more than our own abilities.”  Gary Best, Naturally Supernatural
6. The Holy Spirit Leads us
   1. Romans 8:14 
   2. “…Healing will happen around you when you learn to recognize what God wants to do in a sovereign moment and then have the nerve to let it happen.”  Rick Evans, Willing

 

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Read John 16:7 How does the Holy Spirit secure our salvation, and what assurance does this bring to your daily life?
  
• How can you tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and your conscience?
  
• In what ways does the Spirit testify with your spirit that you are a child of God, and how does this influence your identity?
  • Romans 8:16
• Read Ephesians 5:18-19 What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
  
• This same passage encourages us to be filled with the Spirit. What practices or habits help you stay filled and aware of the Spirit’s presence?
  
• How does the Holy Spirit transform us, and what areas of your life are you seeking transformation in?
  • Ephesians 4:22
• Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, how do you experience the freedom that comes from the Spirit in your daily life? Can you share a moment when you felt transformed by this freedom? 
• The Spirit helps us to become more like Jesus. In what areas does your life consistently look different from what you see in Jesus’ life and lifestyle? In what ways can you ask God to grow you to become more like Christ by His Spirit? 
• Read Ephesians 4:22 How have you seen the Holy Spirit transform areas of your life that needed renewal?
  
• How has the Holy Spirit taught you in your spiritual journey, and what lessons have been most impactful?
  • John 14:26
• In what ways have you experienced the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in your life, and how does this enable you to serve others?
  • Acts 1:8
• How do you discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life, and what steps can you take to follow His guidance more closely?
  • Romans 8:14
• How have you seen the Holy Spirit empower you to do something that seemed like it was beyond your capabilities?
• Read the Quote by Rick Evans, Willing …Healing will happen around you when you learn to recognize what God wants to do in a sovereign moment and then have the nerve to let it happen.” Can you share a time when you recognized a sovereign moment from God and allowed the Holy Spirit to work through you? What was the outcome?

 

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• The first step to walking in the Spirit is admitting our need for the Spirit. How does your personal sin/struggle/weakness show you your need for God’s Spirit to fill you, guide you, and empower you? Confess these areas of weakness to God and receive His unconditional love and forgiveness.
  
• How does understanding that the Holy Spirit secures our salvation (John 16:7, Romans 8:16) impact your daily life and sense of identity as a child of God? Can you think of a specific situation where this assurance has provided you with peace or confidence?
• Reflecting on Ephesians 4:22 and Timothy Keller’s quote, what is one area of your life where you feel the Holy Spirit is prompting you to change or grow? How can you practically work on this transformation while relying on the Spirit’s power?
  
• Ephesians 5:18-19 compares being under the influence of the Holy Spirit with being under the influence of alcohol. The Spirit that is currently influencing us changes what we say, do, think, where we go, etc. In what areas of your life do you most need to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit as opposed to other influences?
  
• Considering Acts 1:8 and Gary Best’s perspective on gifting, identify a recent situation where you felt called to act beyond your natural abilities. How did you respond, and what role did the Holy Spirit play in empowering you during that moment?
  
• What is the difference between the fruit of the spirit and the gifts of the spirit? What could take place in our lives If we focus too much on one or the other?
  
• In light of Romans 8:14 and Rick Evans’ insight on healing, how can you become more attuned to the Holy Spirit’s leading in your daily interactions? Share an example of a time when you felt led by the Spirit to take a specific action, and what the outcome was.
  
• Reflect on Timothy Keller’s quote about facing the worst in ourselves. How does the gospel help you confront and accept these parts of yourself?
  
• John 14:26 mentions the Holy Spirit as our teacher. What is something new the Spirit has taught you recently, and how has it changed your perspective or actions?
  
• Can you recall a time when you felt the Spirit leading you in a specific direction? What was the outcome, and how did it affect your faith journey?

 

SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:

• John 14:26
• Ephesians 5:18-19
• 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

 

RESOURCES:

• ARTICLE | DESIRING GOD | WE ARE BLIND WITHOUT THE SPIRIT 
• ARTICLE | DESIRING GOD | HOW TO PRAY IN THE SPIRIT
• ARTICLE | BILL BRIGHT | WALK IN THE SPIRIT
• BOOK | FRANCIS CHAN | FORGOTTEN GOD
• PODCAST | EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY DISCIPLESHIP | SIGNS,WONDERS, AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
• PODCAST | JOHN PIPER | HOW DO I KNOW IF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN ME

 

Quotes:

• Timothy J. Keller – “A Christian is somebody who can see the worst in himself or herself because the gospel has framed your conscience, because you know you’re accepted in him, and you can face the worst about yourself because it’s not the basis on which God talks to you and deals with you.” 
• Gary Best – “The key to gifting begins with an intentional commitment to our role as Christians – practically endeavoring to practice the words and the works of Jesus.  When we step towards expressing the heart and will of God in this way, we soon encounter situations that require more than our own abilities.”  
• Rick Evans, Willing …Healing will happen around you when you learn to recognize what God wants to do in a sovereign moment and then have the nerve to let it happen.”

 

MONTHLY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE TO TRY: Meditation

True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace. —THOMAS MERTON

Taking time to develop the discipline of meditation allows us as Christ’s followers to experience focused time with God. It is a good Grace that he provides in the inner sanctuary of our soul when we slow down and connect with Him this way. This discipline is more of an ancient practice. The authors of scripture were aware of and practiced Holy Meditation which is mentioned over 55 times throughout the scriptures. If they knew the value of it, so too should we.

One of the great benefits of meditation allows us to become familiar with the voice of the Lord. It is in these quiet still moments that we can hear his voice and recognize it for what it is, His invitation to step closer to the original Eden relationship with him.
(1 Kings 19:9-18; Isa 6:1-8)  God spoke to these people, not because they were overly special, but because they had developed the discipline of listening to God’s voice. Not only do we create time and space to learn to hear God’s voice, but meditation creates emotional and spiritual peace. It is in this peace that our soul often feels dis-integrated, and experiences re-integration or union with God himself. Meditation helps us create an inner sanctuary for our thoughts and emotions to rest from the chaos of our world and daily experiences. The more one can develop this discipline and incorporate it into their lives the more we can have our inner personality and soul transformed.

Always remember that we are not, as Christ followers, passive participants in the Kingdom, we are active members. Meditation is a key silent discipline that allows us to recenter our day and enter the Holy presence of God.

Weekly Practice: Taken from Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook

Prepare yourself to meditate on Scripture by choosing a comfortable and quiet place. Do not rush. Stretch, arrange your chair, and take off your shoes. Sit in a position that you can maintain without effort or attention. Place yourself in the presence of God. Release your anxieties and to-do list to the Lord. Ask him to open your heart to his Word. Read Psalm 139, Psalm 86, Psalm 42, or another short passage from Scripture.

Take your time, and when a word “lights up” for you stop and attend. Let the word or phrase roam around in your mind and heart. What do you hear? What feelings do you notice in yourself ? Write down any questions that surface. You can attend to these at another time. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back and continue your meditation. Do not feel you have to finish anything. Take your word with you. • Begin again tomorrow with the same passage.

 

WEEKLY THOUGHT:

The Holy Spirit historically in the Church has received an undeserved notorious reputation. You may have experienced someone acting a little out of control, crying hysterically, making odd sounds, or even laughing uncontrollably at inappropriate times, all claiming ‘it was The Holy Spirit, I couldn’t help it’. This can be challenging when there is a lack of understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and how He moves, His role in our lives, His relationship to The Holy Trinity, and why Jesus said it is ‘better that He go away’ in order for The Holy Spirit to come. 

Scripture says in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” These are the expression of the Holy Spirit at work in and through us. Our lives will be marked by the “fruit” of His labor in us. We may not exude all of these at once, and some of these come easier to us than others. For example, when we are walking with the Holy Spirit, and His power is at work within us, we have self-control. You may be overcome with emotion during prayer, or a worship song, or even when you have a revelation or break through. The weeping may feel uncontrollable, or the anger or grief may feel unbearable, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can have self-control. 

I have seen many people and even congregations shy away from letting The Holy Spirit move, talking about Him, or even studying who He is because of the fear of ‘letting things get out of control’ i.e. people acting out under the mask of the Holy Spirit. Just like with any other area, no church or human is perfect. What we do know that the Holy Spirit is active and real and inside each of us that call Jesus our Lord and Savior. There is a time and a place that He moves, bringing peace and clarity and bringing order, not confusion or distraction. 

Jesus said it was good that He go away, so that our Helper, the Holy Spirit, could come. The disciple’s time with Jesus was limited by their proximity to Him. They only could learn from Him and talk to Him when He was near, when they walked with Him and ministered with Him. We live in a time where Jesus himself as the Holy Spirit lives within us. We have 24/7 365 access to Him. What a blessing and an honor to host the spirit of God within our earthly bodies, hearing from Him and talking to Him daily if we so choose. Let us not forget so easily the gift we have been given as children of God. Let us not fear the unknown of who the Holy Spirit is, but instead begin to get curious about who He is within you, how to hear from Him, and how He helps us.

 

Something To Think About:

The Holy Spirit historically in the Church has received an undeserved notorious reputation. You may have experienced someone acting a little out of control, crying hysterically, making odd sounds, or even laughing uncontrollably at inappropriate times, all claiming ‘it was The Holy Spirit, I couldn’t help it’. This can be challenging when there is a lack of understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and how He moves, His role in our lives, His relationship to The Holy Trinity, and why Jesus said it is ‘better that He go away’ for The Holy Spirit to come.

Scripture says in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.” These are the expressions of the Holy Spirit at work in and through us. Our lives will be marked by the “fruit” of His labor in us. We may not exude all of these at once, and some of these come easier to us than others. For example, when we are walking with the Holy Spirit, and His power is at work within us, we have self-control. You may be overcome with emotion during prayer, a worship song, or even when you have a revelation or breakthrough. The weeping may feel uncontrollable, or the anger or grief may feel unbearable, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can have self-control.

I have seen many people and even congregations shy away from letting The Holy Spirit move, talking about Him, or even studying who He is because of the fear of ‘letting things get out of control’ i.e. people acting out under the mask of the Holy Spirit. Just like with any other area, no church or human is perfect. What we do know is that the Holy Spirit is active and real and inside each of us we call Jesus our Lord and Savior. There is a time and a place that He moves, bringing peace and clarity and bringing order, not confusion or distraction.

Jesus said it was good that He go away, so that our Helper, the Holy Spirit, could come. The disciple’s time with Jesus was limited by their proximity to Him. They only could learn from Him and talk to Him when He was near when they walked with Him and ministered with Him. We live in a time where Jesus himself as the Holy Spirit lives within us. We have 24/7 365 access to Him. What a blessing and an honor to host the spirit of God within our earthly bodies, hearing from Him and talking to Him daily if we so choose. Let us not forget so easily the gift we have been given as children of God. Let us not fear the unknown of who the Holy Spirit is, but instead begin to get curious about who He is within us, how to hear from Him, and how He helps us.

Rob Hans | Spiritual Formation and Connections Pastor