How To Demonstrate The Work Of The Spirit.
Memory Verse: ' Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. '
Psalm 51:10
Sermon Sentence: One of the most incredible truths about God is that He desires to reveal everything to us and does not long to keep anything from us.
Psalm 51:10
Sermon Sentence: One of the most incredible truths about God is that He desires to reveal everything to us and does not long to keep anything from us.
Day 1
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-31
The people in Corinth had been trained a certain way by the culture they lived in. There is no way to really get around this, there is only hope to minimize it as much as possible. The problems that it creates looks different in each of the places that you see it. For Paul and the church at Corinth, it looked somewhat similar to hero worship. Everyone had a favorite teacher or preacher. Apollos was known for his ability to meticulously and intelligently lay out the lesson in front of a crowd. He shows up for the first time in Acts 18:24 and it mentions his intelligence and gift with the word of God. That is a really fantastic gift to have in a church.
The problem is not the gift, it is what people turned it into. Paul did not see himself in that way or with that gift. He was pretty clear about what he thought his mission in ministry should be. The problem is that Paul is respected as Paul and Apollos is respected as Apollos, until people start to discuss their preferences. For Paul (and we don’t get Apollos’ view on this), the goal was simple, preaching and teaching the gospel. For the people at Corinth, they had turned it into a version of entertainment making it about themselves more than about the gospel. When preferences take the place of goals, there will always be the result of divisions. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is as easy to navigate as that formula lays out. Because there will always be flowery language that will be good at hiding the true intentions. The argument in Corinth was not Paul or Apollos, it was way more complicated than that, but when it was boiled down to its root, that’s all that was at the heart of it.
How do you see other versions of this show up in the church in America? (preferences over goal)
What exactly do you see Paul as thinking his role in the church is?
How can you know specifically what your call in the body of Christ is?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
The people in Corinth had been trained a certain way by the culture they lived in. There is no way to really get around this, there is only hope to minimize it as much as possible. The problems that it creates looks different in each of the places that you see it. For Paul and the church at Corinth, it looked somewhat similar to hero worship. Everyone had a favorite teacher or preacher. Apollos was known for his ability to meticulously and intelligently lay out the lesson in front of a crowd. He shows up for the first time in Acts 18:24 and it mentions his intelligence and gift with the word of God. That is a really fantastic gift to have in a church.
The problem is not the gift, it is what people turned it into. Paul did not see himself in that way or with that gift. He was pretty clear about what he thought his mission in ministry should be. The problem is that Paul is respected as Paul and Apollos is respected as Apollos, until people start to discuss their preferences. For Paul (and we don’t get Apollos’ view on this), the goal was simple, preaching and teaching the gospel. For the people at Corinth, they had turned it into a version of entertainment making it about themselves more than about the gospel. When preferences take the place of goals, there will always be the result of divisions. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is as easy to navigate as that formula lays out. Because there will always be flowery language that will be good at hiding the true intentions. The argument in Corinth was not Paul or Apollos, it was way more complicated than that, but when it was boiled down to its root, that’s all that was at the heart of it.
How do you see other versions of this show up in the church in America? (preferences over goal)
What exactly do you see Paul as thinking his role in the church is?
How can you know specifically what your call in the body of Christ is?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 2
Read Ephesians 1
I know that Paul makes the argument against his ability to wow a crowd with words in 1 Corinthians, but this chapter is pretty amazing when you spend some time thinking about it! Again in this letter, he starts out with declaring his calling and his confidence in that. I appreciate that Paul was a guy that knew who he was. When he arrived at that idea, it was not a generic, cookie-cutter answer that the rest of culture would give, he was very clear about his specific call and purpose. From my perspective, again, I would say that I struggle understanding what Paul is saying as a good way to minister to people, but I certainly do think that he has an overwhelming amount of proof on his side!
Notice how he shifts from his purpose and call to, starting in verse 15, declaring that this is why he wants the church at Corinth to know and understand their purpose and call. Paul is using his assurance and gifts to lead others to seeing their value and place in the body of Christ. Did you notice what the greatest part of that revelation is to Paul? It’s the gift of the Spirit to be able to understand that call and your place in the body of Christ.
How have you seen the gift of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in your life over the last year?
What do you think it looks like to have the “eyes of your heart enlightened?”
What is Paul talking about when he mentions the “riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints?”
How does this become part of your prayer today?
I know that Paul makes the argument against his ability to wow a crowd with words in 1 Corinthians, but this chapter is pretty amazing when you spend some time thinking about it! Again in this letter, he starts out with declaring his calling and his confidence in that. I appreciate that Paul was a guy that knew who he was. When he arrived at that idea, it was not a generic, cookie-cutter answer that the rest of culture would give, he was very clear about his specific call and purpose. From my perspective, again, I would say that I struggle understanding what Paul is saying as a good way to minister to people, but I certainly do think that he has an overwhelming amount of proof on his side!
Notice how he shifts from his purpose and call to, starting in verse 15, declaring that this is why he wants the church at Corinth to know and understand their purpose and call. Paul is using his assurance and gifts to lead others to seeing their value and place in the body of Christ. Did you notice what the greatest part of that revelation is to Paul? It’s the gift of the Spirit to be able to understand that call and your place in the body of Christ.
How have you seen the gift of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in your life over the last year?
What do you think it looks like to have the “eyes of your heart enlightened?”
What is Paul talking about when he mentions the “riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints?”
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 3
Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
I was watching a video on Youtube the other day about something that I was interested in. I have always been interested in this topic and I have spent a bit of time researching and learning the topic. This video featured two people. One was a tour guide that had the job of taking someone through the prepared ideas that were learned in their training. The other person was an engineer that was involved in building the place that was being toured. The tour guide was helpful and had a great presentation, but the engineer knew a lot more and was way more interested, invested, and passionate about what was being presented. Have you ever spent time with an expert and tried to learn from them?
That is what this passage makes me think about. I watched another video of a Universalist Unitarian that “pastored” a church of that certain belief. If you don’t know, they basically believe that everyone gets to a heaven or a place that is like that through all the religions. So they basically take all of the good parts of the different ideas and spend time talking about that in their “worship” service. That sounds dumb. That sounds shallow. There has to be more of an answer than just “Everyone is right!” Paul describes a wisdom that can reveal to us the mind of God! And you and I have access to this understanding. This wisdom has access to God’s thoughts and desires to share those thoughts with us. Paul is describing the work of the Holy Spirit, who reveals to us the mind of God. Can you process that!? God doesn’t want to hide His thoughts, will, and plans from you…but wants them to be known. So much so that He gave us access to His thoughts in the work of the Holy Spirit.
Why do you think that churches do not talk about this work of the Holy Spirit very much?
How have you experienced being shown the mind of God recently?
What does it look like to share this wisdom with other people in your life according to verse 13?
How does this become your prayer today?
I was watching a video on Youtube the other day about something that I was interested in. I have always been interested in this topic and I have spent a bit of time researching and learning the topic. This video featured two people. One was a tour guide that had the job of taking someone through the prepared ideas that were learned in their training. The other person was an engineer that was involved in building the place that was being toured. The tour guide was helpful and had a great presentation, but the engineer knew a lot more and was way more interested, invested, and passionate about what was being presented. Have you ever spent time with an expert and tried to learn from them?
That is what this passage makes me think about. I watched another video of a Universalist Unitarian that “pastored” a church of that certain belief. If you don’t know, they basically believe that everyone gets to a heaven or a place that is like that through all the religions. So they basically take all of the good parts of the different ideas and spend time talking about that in their “worship” service. That sounds dumb. That sounds shallow. There has to be more of an answer than just “Everyone is right!” Paul describes a wisdom that can reveal to us the mind of God! And you and I have access to this understanding. This wisdom has access to God’s thoughts and desires to share those thoughts with us. Paul is describing the work of the Holy Spirit, who reveals to us the mind of God. Can you process that!? God doesn’t want to hide His thoughts, will, and plans from you…but wants them to be known. So much so that He gave us access to His thoughts in the work of the Holy Spirit.
Why do you think that churches do not talk about this work of the Holy Spirit very much?
How have you experienced being shown the mind of God recently?
What does it look like to share this wisdom with other people in your life according to verse 13?
How does this become your prayer today?
Day 4
Read Philippians 2:1-11
This week we are talking about our access to the mind of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. That’s a really incredible thought. I hope you have enjoyed spending time even thinking about that. But when it comes to real life application, that thought needs another step. Most of us are not wrestling with what the Creator of the world is thinking about, but rather how in the world we can deal with the situation right in front of us. It would be really nice if we had some access to how to live out the very thing facing us in this moment.
If we go back to our expert idea for yesterday, I have another example to think through this. Recently, I was doing a side job. This side job had some dangerous aspects to it and I had learned by watching a video and reading a document explaining the job. It was great information and certainly helpful with all of the videos and pictures that were provided to go along with the words. It was even helpful to know that these instructions were written by someone that was considered an expert in the field. But I was still a bit concerned about safety issues when it came to me actually gambling my life on the line. So I called an expert of my own and asked him to meet me at a site and walk me through the dangerous parts, showing me in person what was actually dangerous and what wasn’t. It was way more reassuring and comforting to experience that with someone than just reading something or watching someone.
That’s a great example of what it means to follow Jesus. God does not just write us how to do it, or even tell us a story about someone else that did it, but rather Jesus lived like we did, tempted in all ways as we are, and yet without sin. He is the expert with all of the knowledge, understanding, and best of all, example.
How does it help you to know that Jesus had this mind and lived the example of what it looks like to have this mind?
When you explain this upside down way of approaching life, it doesn’t appear to make since in the world’s logic. How do you argue against that logic to share the real benefit in living like this?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
This week we are talking about our access to the mind of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. That’s a really incredible thought. I hope you have enjoyed spending time even thinking about that. But when it comes to real life application, that thought needs another step. Most of us are not wrestling with what the Creator of the world is thinking about, but rather how in the world we can deal with the situation right in front of us. It would be really nice if we had some access to how to live out the very thing facing us in this moment.
If we go back to our expert idea for yesterday, I have another example to think through this. Recently, I was doing a side job. This side job had some dangerous aspects to it and I had learned by watching a video and reading a document explaining the job. It was great information and certainly helpful with all of the videos and pictures that were provided to go along with the words. It was even helpful to know that these instructions were written by someone that was considered an expert in the field. But I was still a bit concerned about safety issues when it came to me actually gambling my life on the line. So I called an expert of my own and asked him to meet me at a site and walk me through the dangerous parts, showing me in person what was actually dangerous and what wasn’t. It was way more reassuring and comforting to experience that with someone than just reading something or watching someone.
That’s a great example of what it means to follow Jesus. God does not just write us how to do it, or even tell us a story about someone else that did it, but rather Jesus lived like we did, tempted in all ways as we are, and yet without sin. He is the expert with all of the knowledge, understanding, and best of all, example.
How does it help you to know that Jesus had this mind and lived the example of what it looks like to have this mind?
When you explain this upside down way of approaching life, it doesn’t appear to make since in the world’s logic. How do you argue against that logic to share the real benefit in living like this?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 5
Read Psalm 139
One of the points from the sermon on Sunday was “that the Spirit searches everything.” Included in the “everything” idea is the inclusion of everyone. I don’t necessarily need to continue the math formula as if you don’t already get it, but included in everyone is me. One of the works of the Spirit is a searching of the innermost being of my thoughts and intents. That is a scary thought for some people. But I think it does better as a comforting thought.
Have you ever heard an opinion of someone that you didn’t really agree with? What I mean is that someone that doesn’t really know a person shares a thought about that person, but you happen to know them better and you are aware that what is being told to you in that moment is not entirely accurate. That person is misunderstood or the situation is more nuanced than it was just presented. This is the part that I glean from the idea of the Spirit being able to search the very thoughts and intents of my heart. I know that many times those thoughts and intents go astray and get out of focus, but there is a layer in there somewhere that is at least needing to be considered in the context of everything.
This is a helpful truth. God knows you. Not just kind of knows you and not just sometimes gets you, I mean He truly and more fully than anyone else, knows you. He searches the very depths and intricate parts of who you are and understands you. This means He won’t get it wrong, as if anything has surprised Him or changed His understanding of you. God, through the work of the Spirit in you, truly KNOWS you.
Why do you think this idea frightens some people?
How would you tell someone who feared this idea how it could be encouraging?
Look at verse 5 and spend some time meditating/thinking about what this means.
How does this become your prayer today?
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