Holy Spirit – Pt 8

Galatians 1:6-7 (NLT)

6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Galatians 1:11-12 (NLT)

11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:15-16a (NLT)

15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.

1. Jesus is the redemption plan.

– Faith over works.

– Grace over the law.

– Liberty over legalism.

– Freedom over bondage.

– Godly wisdom over human reasoning.

– The fruit of the spirit over the desires of the flesh.

The Holy Spirit continues to manifest himself in power as we walk with Jesus in our daily lives.

Galatians 5:13-15 (NLT)

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

Galatians 15:16-17 (NLT)

6 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Galatians 15:18-21 (NLT)

18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

2. As our flesh urges indulgence, the Holy Spirit urges and reveals Jesus.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

– Christlikeness – the action of living like Jesus.

3. This is our call. This is our purpose. This is our destiny.

– Christlikeness is only found in an active, growing relationship with Jesus.

Galatians 5:24-26 (NLT)

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is the source of power and transformation in our lives, and the Spirit’s work produces Christlikeness.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read Galatians 5:13-15. What are we now free to do?

▶ Read Galatians 5:22-23. Pick one of these fruits and share a time when you have seen it in someone around you.

▶ Read Acts 1:8. How does it change our approach when we consider the difference between witnessing and being a witness?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.

Read Galatians 5:16-21. Ask the Spirit to highlight one area where you may need to have heightened awareness.

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Read Galatians 5:24-26 and pray this over our church and the Church.

Want More:

“The Sensitivity of the Holy Spirit” by R.T. Kendall expounds on how to listen well to the Holy Spirit.