led by the Spirit
Walking with God • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 28 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Which way do I go?
Which way do I go?
an article written by Thomas A. Tarrants III, D.Min.
Vice President for Ministry & Director
Washington Area Fellows Program, C.S. Lewis Institute
stated this about being led by the Spirit
The phrase led by the Spirit occurs only twice in the New Testament, and both instances are frequently misused today. The first is in , “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”1 The immediate context is the believer’s battle with the flesh through the empowerment of the Spirit. The second usage occurs in , “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Again, the immediate context is the believer’s battle with sin. In both instances, the larger concern is to show us how to live joyful, obedient lives that produce the beauty of holiness and glorify God.
looking at this idea of being led by the Holy Spirit, it helps to look at the other side to get a good frame of reference. So what does scripture say about the opposite of being led by the Spirit?
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
works of the flesh.
works of the flesh are complete opposites from being led by the Spirit. knowing this helps understand where the dividing line is.
Scripture is very clear what our flesh looks like and acts like in Galatians. ultimately, it is selfish, it is unloving, it is not at all like Christ.
and Galatians is also very clear on being led by the Spirit.
It would appear that we have two paths to choose..... but, do we? when we read verses like
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
this is that hatred of sin, our own sin and placing it on the cross with Christ so it experiences the death that our Jesus went through. this is part of our sanctification as we mature and are led by the Spirit even more.
our life changes. our actions change. from fleshly actions, to Spirit filled actions. actions that look more Christ like.
we can see how it works in different people as well.
let’s see how it works.
Here we have fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children and scripture teaches on all of these...... let’s take a look at what the bible is teaching these groups of people on being led by the Spirit.
Fathers or husbands......
the ultimate picture of Father or Husband would be our Father God, towards Israel in the Old Test. and now towards the Gentiles that have been grafted in.
this picture of Fatherhood really needs to be our first picture to understand the leading of the Spirit..... because God is the perfect picture of a Father and Leader. He steps up. He does what He needs to do because He loves His children. He takes the initiative. He moves in the right direction first. that, husbands, is a spiritual leader.
and if I am honest with myself, I would grade myself very low on this. I know God holds me accountable for my family as a husband and father so I need to step up and do what I need to because I love my family. No one said it would be easy, but it is worth it.
in Ephesians it teaches a headship...
23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
this is actually a spiritual thing..... where the husband is in a position to give from the Spirit the love and forgiveness the wife needs to be filled and restored in their relationship. in verse 25 Paul hits on it.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Paul here is connecting the Husband to Christ and the church to the wife. as Christ loves the church, so the husband should love his wife.
so how does Christ love the church?? He leads in love. He leads in forgiveness. He leads in restoration.
Men that are husbands, that is your place. Do you want to be led by the Spirit..... well, this is where the Spirit is leading you. the only question that remains is, are you following yet?
now wives and moms. are you ready?
there are plenty of verses that speak on how the Spirit leads a wife and mom.....
one of the biggest for wives in regards to their husbands...
33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
a wife respecting her husband is easy when the husband is leading like the Lord leads the church, when he is loving the wife and taking good care of her, it seems the wife truly enjoys respecting her husband. Now, this might not always be the case, but either way God still call
there are plenty more scriptures that teach and guide the wife and mother.... comes to mind, but we will keep moving.
God has really spoken to all believers on being led by the Spirit and we see it in His Prayer as He taught the disciples.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
it should be obvious to kids that they are to treat their parents with respect but some parents haven’t earned it. they treat their children horrible. does that mean a child has the right to disrespect their parent? well, not if the child is a believer. the Spirit is leading the child and in turn it displays to the parent the love of God. what a witness!
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hollowed be thy Name,
i have just touched on a few different people groups that the scriptures explain the Spirit leading. For you and I, we must ask God which way the Spirit is leading us...... and it always correlates with the bible. God would never lead us in a direction that scripture speaks against.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
on earth as it is in heaven.....well, what does heaven look like? how does it function?
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
we can safely say, it is orderly. God is the one in control and in charge. the people their listen and obey. we see the angels taking orders from God and setting out to follow His word.
also in heaven....God is leading with love. with His power. scripture says we do not see that happening fully here on earth yet, but it will......
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
So, we know God is allowing people of the earth to choose..... they can hear the gospel and still choose their flesh, their sin life over the love and forgiveness of God.
and we, Christians.....can still choose sin over being led by the Spirit.
What a God that can allow this...... all of the sin in the world has to hit at the heart of God.
listen to this....
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
Jesus came to be judged.......judged a sinner, for us to not be judged but to have the freedom to walk with the Spirit!!!! Oh what a God we have!
John 9:3
let’s remember the truth about our walk....
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
we see two paths here but one of the choices doesn’t seem to appealing....so there is one way to go for us and that is being led by the Spirit.
Jerry Bridges, a Christian author sums it up like this.....
Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in us whereby our inner being is progressively changed, freeing us more and more from sinful traits and developing within us over time the virtues of Christlike character.
is He changing you? Do you notice it? is the Spirit guiding you in ways that you see your life has changed from the past? if so, keep pressing on Christian.... if not, seek. seek what the Lord is saying to you.
Is He leading you? Has He led you to the cross?