Sermon: Walk, Led, Live
Scripture: Galatians 5:1-25
ICE BREAKER: If you could see one of your favorite childhood musicians on a reunion tour who would it be?
REVIEW:
This week we looked at one of the key understandings to living out our faith - Walking in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one of the most misunderstood parts of the Christian faith today. Pastor Francis Chan calls the Holy Spirit, "The forgotten God."
Normally, people default to one of two extremes. On one hand, the Holy Spirit is rarely ever mentioned, prayed to, preached on, or sung about. This leaves the "Holy Ghost" a mystery that feels more like a mystery than an actual part of our life. The other side tends to over-spiritualize and treat the Holy Spirit like a personal Genie who should grant our every wish.
To begin the message, we did a quick crash-course on what the Holy Spirit is and is not:
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
IS OUR GUARANTEE
IS OUR GUIDE
IS NOT OUR GENIE
What was your understanding of the Holy Spirit growing up?
In Galatians chapter 5, the Apostle Paul is fighting back against people trying to add the Jewish Law as requirements for relationship with Jesus. He has seen the devastating effect this has and how the law actually focuses people on sin and moves them towards it.
Jesus came offering a relationship that is by FAITH ALONE! Paul calls us to "Stand Firm" and starting in Verse 16 lays out exactly how to do that. He says to:
"Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desires of the flesh."
We desire to follow Jesus, but we often fall and give in to our sinful desires. The answer to this is not to institute more LAW, the answer is to become more dependent on the Holy Spirit!
The way that we STAND firm
is to WALK by the Spirit.
So how do we do that? Over the next few verses, Paul lays out a process for growth in our dependence and awareness of a Spirit-led life.
IF WE WALK BY THE SPIRIT (v16)
WE WILL BE LED BY THE SPIRIT (V18)
IF WE ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT
WE WILL LIVE BY THE SPIRIT (V25)
APPLY:
The Biblical word for Spirit is "Pneuma" which literally translates to "WIND."
The Wind is always there, we just are not always aware of it. Walking by the Spirit is cultivating an intentional awareness of the Spirit inside of you. This comes from spending time in the written Word of God (The Scriptures), praying throughout your day, and LISTENING for promptings God may be giving you.
The Holy Spirit rarely operates like a hurricane, FORCING you into action. Usually, a prompting is like a breeze - if you are consumed and distracted with the world around you, you may never feel it. However, if you are seeking spiritual awareness you will feel that prompting!
Walking by the Spirit is finding the courage to MOVE when you feel God prompting you to action. It could be as simple as checking in on a coworker or going out of your way to be a friend to someone who you know is lonely.
When we WALK by the Spirit, we see the effects of a Spirit-Led life and learn to trust, and become more dependent on those promptings. This is why Paul says when we WALK BY the Spirit, we will then be LED BY the Spirit. This will become a regular occurrence in our life. Ultimately, if we are LED BY the Spirit, we will LIVE BY the Spirit. And in this total dependence on God, we will experience life to its fullest!
HERE IS THIS WEEK'S APPLICATION QUESTION:
What is ONE THING you need to do this week to begin paying more attention to the Holy Spirit?
PRAY:
Spend time praying directly to the Holy Spirit. Practice acknowledging the Spirit's presence in your life. Begin cultivating you awareness and exercising your spiritual attention!
