SUNDAY WORSHIP GUIDE - EMPOWERED: WALK IN THE SPIRIT

1. MADE NEW

2. DON'T FIGHT ALONE

3. KING OF MY HEART

MESSAGE: EMPOWERED -WALK IN THE SPIRIT

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NIV)

1. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT IS A DAILY CHOICE
  “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
 Galatians 5:16 (NIV)

peripateō - an ongoing pattern of life—a way of conducting ourselves day after day.

Ask: “Am I responding according to what I want right now, or am I seeking what God wants?”

2. THE SPIRIT PRODUCES WHAT WILLPOWER CANNOT.
 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.       Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Love: Sacrificial, unconditional, and deliberate choice to seek the well-being of others
 
 Joy: is the Greek word chara, which means a deep-seated gladness, delight, and well-being produced not by human effort or passing events, but by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Peace: spiritual harmony, inner tranquility, and proper relationships with God and others, rather than just the absence of war, conflict, or stress.

Patience: Enduring delays and difficult people without giving in to anger.
 
Kindness: a deep, active virtue produced in a believer's life by the Holy Spirit, translating to moral goodness and practical care for others.

Goodness: moral excellence, uprightness of heart, and active, selfless generosity produced in a believer's life by the Holy Spirit
 
Faithfulness: is translated from the Greek word pistis, which means trustworthiness, reliability, loyalty, and steadfast conviction. 

Gentleness:  the word translated as gentleness (Greek: prautēs, often also rendered as "meekness") means strength under control. It is not weakness, passivity, or timidity, but rather power, conviction, and energy submitted entirely to the guidance of God. 

Self-control: The original Greek word used is egkrateia, which means having mastery, restraint, or power over one's own desires, impulses, and passions. 
Not Mere Willpower: Unlike secular self-control that relies solely on human determination, biblical self-control is a supernatural gift produced and sustained by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Ask, “Which fruit of the Spirit is most needed in my life right now?”

3. Spiritual Disciplines Help Us Stay Attentive to the Spirit. 

•Practice daily Scripture reading.

•Practice prayer throughout the day.

•Practice silence and listening.

•Practice Christian community and accountability.

•Practice immediate obedience.

4. We Fight From Christ’s Victory, Not For Our Own Salvation.

17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. Galatians 5:17 (NIV)
 
 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Galatians 5:24 (NIV)

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

RESPOND

1. Where do I most need the Spirit's help?

Choose one area in which you want God to grow His fruit in you.

☐ Love
☐ Joy
☐ Peace
☐ Patience
☐ Kindness
☐ Goodness
☐ Faithfulness
☐ Gentleness
☐ Self-control

2. What is one struggle I need to surrender to God?

3. What spiritual discipline will I practice this week?

☐ Read Scripture daily.
☐ Spend intentional time in prayer.
☐ Set aside quiet time with God.
☐ Connect with a Christian friend or mentor.
☐ Practice immediate obedience to God's Word.

4. What is one specific step I will take?

TWO MOVING FORWARD DEVOTIONALS THIS WEEK

MOVING FORWARD - Written by Stephanie Hamre

Read:   Galatians 5:16-25; John 16:33

Faith Exercise:

Those first three words leaped off the page to me: “Am I allowing...” Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me toward the life God wants for me? Am I allowing myself to enter a place of humility—to be fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit? Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me through God’s Word? Am I allowing myself to have eyes to see and ears to hear, while also desiring that my heart be changed by the Holy Spirit? Am I allowing God into my heart to heal the broken places? Am I allowing God into every area of my life, or am I keeping some doors closed off from Him?  What am I agreeing with that God would not allow or agree with?  What am I allowing?  

Live:

Re-read Galatians 5:16–25 slowly and deliberately every day this coming week. Let’s choose one quality from the fruit of the Spirit and ask, “What would this look like in my life today?” Decide to allow the Holy Spirit to mold, shape, and weave that quality into our lives each day.  

I was always told never to ask the Holy Spirit to give me patience, because with that comes extreme testing. Because of that, I was always afraid to ask for patience. This is not how God thinks, and that old mindset was actually an agreement with God’s enemy—and my enemy. Once I recognized that lie, I broke my agreement with it. Now, I can freely ask the Holy Spirit to give me patience and to help me in stressful situations or with difficult, demanding people. The fruit of the Spirit is not just for us; it is also for others. If I had not allowed the Holy Spirit to work patience into my life, neither I nor the other people around me would have benefited.  I ask again, “what am I allowing”?

Pray:

Father God, help us to allow the Holy Spirit to do a fruitful work in each of us this week. Holy Spirit, help us as we re-read this passage. Please highlight the specific fruit that You want to grow in us each day, so that we can be instruments in Your hand to bring about God’s purposes in our lives. Help us to walk by your Spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

MOVING FORWARD MID-WEEK - Written by John Hougom

Read: Galatians 5:16-25

Faith Exercise:

Imagine if I told you that walking by the Spirit will prevent you from satisfying the desires of the flesh. The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit. These opposites act as a natural (built-in) checks and balances system, functioning like rails to keep us upright and on the right path. Isn’t that what we all desire? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could simply flip a switch to maintain our uprightness at all times? It is similar to a TCL switch on our passenger car. However, it is also like our GPS and Google Maps. Many of us have become less intelligent because we have become overly reliant on them instead of using our God-given senses and intuition. The good news is that God never intended for us to follow Jesus solely through willpower. Paul was aware of this internal struggle within humanity. Naturally, we are not accustomed to using this system instinctively, so it is crucial to start anew. Today’s faith exercise asks you to honestly assess each of the following questions:

• Name some of the works of walking in the flesh.

• Now, name some fruits of walking in the Spirit.

• Choose wisely.

Pray:

Dear Jesus, please send your Holy Spirit to guide me on the right path and protect me from evil pursuits, much like the paddles on a pinball machine.

Live:

The Christian life is not a one-time decision followed by a lifetime of independence. It is a daily walk of dependence on God. When we master the act of living in obedience to God and learn to live by the Spirit and discern those fruits, we can grow closer to Him and help others in the process. So, let us embark on this journey of walking together. Shall we?