In Step With The Spirit

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

We want to learn to be people of the Spirit

• To be a disciple, who:

  • Reads

  • Prays

  • Worships

  • Serves

  • Gives

  • Goes

    • I need the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Here's what Jesus said:

John 16:6–7 (ESV)

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

If I am going to benefit from the leadership of the Spirit, I have to learn how to be led by the Spirit!

3 Lessons I need to learn:

• I learn the pace of the Spirit

  • Israel in the wilderness: Cloud by day and fire by night

    • Exodus 13:21–22 (ESV) 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

      • When the cloud stopped, they set up camp

      • When the cloud moved, they moved

  • Wouldn't it be great if we had a visible sign that we could follow!?

    • We do not have that

    • Jesus said:

      • John 16:12–13 (ESV) 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

• In other words, instead of the Spirit on the outside, leading, he now resides on the inside and leads

• It may not be VISIBLE, but it's every bit as REAL

  • I learn to go when the Spirit says go

  • I learn to stop when the Spirit says to stop

• I'm learning the pace of the Spirit

• I learn the power of the Spirit

  • Israel: Ark of the covenant

    • 2 Samuel 6:12–15 (ESV) 12 And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

• Everywhere it went, the Ark had profound impact

  • The Philistines stole it, tried to put it in their pagan temple and it cursed them

  • Israel goes to get it, Uzzah touched it and fell dead

  • It ended up at Obed-Edom's house and everything he did was blessed

• They had to bring it back home!

  • Here's what they learned:

    • The ark (Spirit) has to be treated with respect

    • There were stipulations about how it was handled

      • Just SAYING you are a Christian doesn't mean that your life reflects how the Spirit should be housed and handled!

        • 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NKJV) 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

• I learn the prompting of the Spirit

  • Paul being led by the Spirit

    • Acts 16:6–10 (NKJV): 6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

As I am led by the Spirit, I learn to follow the smallest of directions - this is why quiet moments with God are important.

• Some people think that everything that God does will be a neon flashing sign to them - sometimes He leads with the slightest whispers

What kind of disciple would I be if I could hear the Spirit speaking and leading over all the noise?

• Over my coworkers

• Over drama

• Over my own emotions

• Over all of the outside influences:

  • Social media

  • TV

  • Culture

As we bring this to a close:

• I want to stay in step with the Spirit

Here's a prayer:

• Holy Spirit - teach me to hear you, understand you, and keep in step with you. Teach me and empower me to take the next step.