The Holy Spirit - Are You In Step with the Holy Spirit?, Part 2

So I would ask you how the spiritual life works. I mean, what actually causes us to grow spiritual wealth today will study four key concepts that will help you understand this thing we call the spiritual life. You don't want to miss stay with welcome to this Tuesday edition of Living on the Edge with shipping thing on the edge features the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram on this daily discipleship program today.

Chip reveals the keys to living a life of an hour by being in step with the Holy Spirit at the end of the teaching time to join me here in studio to share some tactical next steps to getting this truth in your life. As always, if you have to miss a portion of today's program. You could hear it online anytime@livingontheedge.org now here's Chip with today's message. Faithfulness is a character quality of trustworthiness, dependability, one who keeps his promises follows through on the task was able to Proverbs 26 says many a man proclaims his own faithfulness, but a faithful man who can find people by large all of us included can be flaky right faithfulness is you say you can to be there you're there you say you take care of it. You do it you say it checks in the mail the checks and mail pay what it's a powerful powerful quality is very difficult for all of us supernaturally got does that gentleness is power under control is not weakness businesses.

This is the picture of his using anchor ancient Greek language of a huge powerful stallion. And when the stallion was broke and he would put the bit in its mouth and then you can guide this huge powerful horse. The Greek word for this powerful horse under control was meek, its translation we get this not the Christians are weak this power under control. You have to show off. You don't have to have your way. You have to blow people out.

You don't have to embarrass him even though you may have the position. The power to do that at times there's a there's a gentleness and finally self-control is the mastery of your tongue, your thoughts, your passions in your appetites to delay gratification. It's it's supernatural the spirit of God.

Part of what the Spirit does is he gives us self-control self-control and are eating self-control in her speech, self-control, and I don't about you that took years for me. I don't particularly like in in my earlier life, getting up in the morning and meeting with God, and spend time in reading my Bible and praying specifically in jotting few things down in a journal.

I don't particularly like you in some seasons of my life realizing that you know if I eat that not good things happen.

So I need to eat more. This good stuff for working out two or three times a week.

I mean if if we did a survey of all the Christians in America would we see people who are characterized by self-control and are eating in her speech and her activities or disciplines we see people whose parents are teaching their kids self-control.

It's the fruit of the spirit. When there's not self-control in your life.

That means the flesh is winning, not the spirit that means you're not keeping in step with the spirit. When you're keeping in step with the spirit all Jesus wants you to know is you have the characteristics of Jesus and the characteristics or fruit spiritual fruit of Jesus isn't activities is not just external ministry. The characteristics of Jesus as you become a more loving, joyful, peaceful, gentle, patient, kind, good person who's faithful and under self-control doesn't make sense and by the way, that's the agenda that's different than going to church three times a week. That's different than knowing a thousand Bible verses. I got news, I met people that know 10,000 Bible verses ended the most unloving people I've ever met. I don't think they're very spiritual. Guess what needed is God, you, we don't measure our spiritual progress by spiritual activity. We don't measure my knowledge, we don't measure by gifts.

All those things are parts and pieces of what the spirit of God wants to use, but according to Jesus, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind with all your strength and your neighbor like yourself. This is the first and greatest commandment in the second is like unto it. Love your neighbor when I stand before the judgment seat of Christ. When you stand before the judgment seat of Christ. You note spiritual maturity. Spiritual fruit. Are you ready it's gonna get like really simple. Did you love these people and did you love me right means that biblical or not.

Let me ask you, is that what you're measuring is that what you're measuring with your kids. Is that what you're measuring with the discipleship groups is that the focus of your church life because that's God's that's the Holy Spirit's agenda to make you like his son. Let's look at how a spiritual fruit developed and then we just walk through it begins with the conviction of the spirit. John 16 said when the spirit when it comes, will convict of sin and righteousness and judgment, so he convict you of bitterness.

He convicts me of an attitude here convict someone of self-control over there. It convicts us of our sin because both those close the vents. Sin closes the vents of the influence of the Holy Spirit areas of our life in the very first thing he does is it convicts us of our our need of a Savior. And then there's a spiritual birth and who does that, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the spirit so that the new birth comes from the spirit and then you begin to what you begin to be nurtured as a little baby first to me. First Peter two says like newborn babies long for the pure milk of God's word, thereby it you will grow in through the body.

First Thessalonians. There, Paul describes himself what he says I love you Thessalonians, like a father exhorting, encouraging and imploring and I nurtured you like a mother does children so in order for this to happen, the spirit works in the convicts us. We respond to that were born again. Then we begin to what we need the pure milk of God's word. As we get into God's word we begin to grow and then we need the body 20 people who love God and will love us helming the Holy Spirit doesn't hug you. He's inside of someone little hug you the Holy Spirit doesn't buy lunch for you. The Holy Spirit doesn't listen for two hours when you have a problem, but he does it.

Inside the body of another believer, is he gonna hang with people and talk with them. Do life with them and then you abide in Christ. John 15 so in your journey.

Personally begin to develop time in God's word, and not just a note to chapters a day keeps the devil away its relational why me know that we all fallen into that in okay Nana okay my little program says okay chapters 8, nine minute a really good one. I'm glad to good speed reading course 12 chapters, a nine. Catch you later Lord I mean in some measure, don't we do that a lot versus Lord I'm run little behind this morning and I might have to skip part of my breakfast or but I really like to hear from you and and read the first couple paragraphs will you speak to me and I'm gonna sit here quietly and I want to listen and then I think before I go on there some people that I'm responsible for now own ass very specifically for them today and then you know about that meeting at 9 o'clock and you not enough. The house is gonna close one at that meeting and he told me I needed to call this guy and apologized to him and I am not looking forward to that. You you help me with those things, don't you think that's what the Holy Spirit is what to do and you get into his word and you talk to him and can you cultivate that what I can tell you as you do. And as you cultivated it will become a joy instead of duty. I mean, I literally had to have someone drag me out of bed too long of a story to tell you but I mean literally drag me and I just couldn't get up and meet with God, but I wanted to. Then after three or four years it was you know it was kind of drudgery but you know I did it and I was learning and growing in and then you know what it's like everything else went once there is a rhythm now. I just best part of every day on what God can say to me this morning's priority can actually make it fun for me.

I just make the best coffee I can have a little spot you have got a little game plan and you know if this depending on where I think God speak to me. Sometimes a journal and get my mind clear and other times I'm reading sometimes like like Bob Ben and Jeremiah wanted not I read Jeremiah chapter 1 along with anything. Also been reading is God speaking to me.

I've read it like every day for a month because it's just like a few these verses and I'm not even sure what they mean. It's developmental.

It's in your time with him and is through relationships and and then you walk in the spirit Galatians 516 through 18 there is says you note units set your mind on the things of the spirit in he talks about how you know you you walk in the spirit read some books that are hard study some passages in they don't just fly off the page all the time and unique become a student of God's word and then you become a spiritual doll when your spiritual doll. Those fruit that we talked about in Galatians 522 through 26 begins to characterize your life and I love the test of maturity. At the end there. In Ephesians after resizing of the apostles and prophets and how world to be spiritually mature than he says. As a result, what he says is the real test of spiritual maturity of fruit of Christ likenesses is doctrinal purity and relational connection from the heart. As a result. Therefore one or longer children, tossed here and there by every wave of doctrine, by craftiness, and to seek deceitful speaking but speaking the truth in love, we grow up in all aspects into the head of his who is the head, even Christ, by that which every joint supplies, according the proper working of each individual part.

He says when you're spiritually mature the evidences you not a child tossed around by this that are that fatter this teacher you heard that know the truth and you speak the truth in love, give relationships where you confront issues, but you do it with a kind heart. You deal with things you don't barium you don't blame people that's that's the kind of Christian, God wants us to make and that's the goal of the Holy Spirit. That's what is trying to produce. And that's what he wants to produce, and you and that's what he wants to produce in the I just jotted down. How does a spiritual life working.

What I really wanted to do is just give you an overview and says for key concepts and a right above that once you write Howard Hendricks summary because when you still people's material, word for word you should probably be very specific about how the spirit works and I have to tell you this is been my passion. I do grow up as a Christian, so I never open the Bible and so I started read a lot of books and you know there is this group the kind said this in this group that said that. And I've read all kind of books on the spiritual life in the surrendered life in the second life and you know, old books and new books and it times. Okay, I think holster to life the way you stay in the spirit as you sorta put your tongue like this and then you sorta and then I'd sort. Oh gosh, I felt so filled for about 20 minutes on some happen you know and and so you know I just really been on this journey to know I really want the spirit of God to fill me and transform me and I remember sitting down with prof Hendricks and he said you know the spiritual life has for component parts and he went through these, and I just have to tell you that every good book and anything that I've ever read anywhere actually just fits into this very simple understanding of how the spirit of God takes the word of God in the community of God's people as you respond in faith and obedience and actually will produce the life of Jesus that is loving, joyful, peaceful patient, kind, good, gentle, faithful, and filled with self-control and so let me just walk through it. It's very, very been very helpful to me.

Spirituality is the life of Christ. Ephesians 316 and 17. The apostle Paul says I pray that out of his glorious riches. You may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so the Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Paul prays I want you to be strengthened in your inner being, so that the riches of Christ, that his life could dwell in your hearts and notice your part. By faith for him. Member Philippians 121 Paul thought maybe was gonna die. Wasn't sure for me to live is Christ to die is gain.

C. Spirituality is an activity it's not knowledge it's not going to church is not it's it's the life of Christ. It's his life on L never forget the day someone told me the Christian life is not hard. I remember thinking what he's not living the same Christian life. I am and then he added, it's impossible, and all the sudden I got it is not hard.

The only one that can live the Christian life is Jesus and he lives in you. So your responsibility is to learn how to abide and stay in step with the spirit so that the life of Christ is produced in and through you is not that there isn't not anything you do.

But yet you can't try hard enough to be loving and kind and good so spirituality is the life of Christ concept number two.

Spirituality is the life of Christ reproduced in the believer second printing 517 if any man if any woman is in Christ, you're a new creation process. The old things passed away behold all things are becoming new or the way the apostle Paul would put it is this case the life of Christ reproduced in the life of the believer not think of all the knowledge the apostle Paul had think of all this I mean he was at the top of the game as a Pharisee probably had nearly all the Old Testament memorized.

He was under the best teacher of the day and after all of his great learning, then walking with Jesus, he would.

He describes his life. He says I have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives within me. And in this life that I now live. I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me that's that's his theology.

I died with Christ, I'm connected to him. I was resurrected with him in the life that I now live. I live by faith, trusting his word in the community of God's people keeping in step with the spirit and ends and did you notice who love me. His view of his heavenly father was kind and good when he said Paul you know I want you to go there.

Paul I want you to go there.

Paul you going have to suffer for me.

It was like comes from the hand of a good God. There was a joy coming. He and Silas are in that jail.

What are they doing nursing said that's the spirit. The world desperately needs to see Christians whose lives just they don't make sense unless or something supernatural happening inside of them in the supernatural happening inside of us the spirit of God when he's influencing and controlling and so spirituality is the life of Christ. Spirituality is the life of Christ reproduced in the believer and in spirituality is the life of Christ, reproduced in the life of the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul would say in Galatians 5 verse 16. So I say, walk, or live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Just keep in step with the Spirit in verse 25 for since we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit, what would happen if you saw your life rather than a list of duties to perform an adventure that you're on you instead of okay I'm a Christian. I know you read my Bible. Now I gotta fry in my mind wanders not to dump negative at least 10% units existing stay in the game and I got a get on one of short-term things always harping on me only.

I got them all the ministry going about going out in a small group class what else I gotta do. I don't know I got it all. You read Christian book triggering some Christian bucks you know must posted as much of that she was more doing than I'm spending way too much time on the computer all and I'm on my way to much time on TV. I think I'm supposed to. Does this sound remotely similar to your life.

That's insane. That's insane and can I tell you, stupid and ungodly as well and is not like were burning up the track out there like people will if that's the Christian life. I like to get some of that very busy. I don't have anything to do. I like to get like 10 other activities to feel guilty about any pretty cool. You know that that's like completely different than I've been resurrected with the living God, and I have a purpose and he created all that there is and is a purpose for me and he went to talk to me today. It's a lot different than I can remember.

I will and I'm not sure what he wants me to do. But guess what if I don't read my Bible today. Please lean back, so this doesn't hurt some of you, he doesn't love me any less and he doesn't love me anymore.

I missed out, probably on something wanted to say please my father, he's my he loves me and and if I would learn to practice the presence of God in of course only have time to pray and I have to have some disciplines and accountability in people help me but accountability isn't people haranguing me to become something I don't really want to become what we say get off my back when I feel guilty if I don't ask him to harangue me. Accountability is asking people who love me and that I love will you help me keep my commitments to God because I really want to but I'm just in this body of flesh that's lazy and deceived and I'm in denial and I just need some brothers or some couple to do life with a way to help me because I'm on this adventure and he's can speak to me and it's exciting and it's an adventure. That's just for me and he's can have me do something. 10 is a place where I fit were no one else quite fits, and he'll show me how much to read and he'll show me you know whether to do this or not do that I have to listen to everybody in all the world who tells me all the things I need to do as a Christian I need to keep in step with the Spirit in this adventure, and what I really need to test is becoming more loving to have greater joy is her sense of greater peace to have a higher and more holy view of God, experiencing his love and I find myself reaching out and loving people that I think I would never love them. This must be the Holy Spirit. You know you know what something when people rub up next to people on an adventure with God's leading and speaking and then guess what everyday is like. I ready for this. I don't know what to do, Lord, whisper. I do like to know if show you the sense of expectation what one of every single day you realize he's going to do something supernatural, out-of-the-box, when, where, it is a lot of us go through Christian faith in the noon, after rim above, I will say my prayers with my group.

Remember I was in the prayers in the group. What is it all got some so I don't have time to read the Bible simply we just go through this deal like can you imagine what we like to walk in a dusty road with Jesus, and you get up every day. James Romano floor till you know it until either so what do you get up and walk out they were the following might be feeling a little girl day might be mountaintop Moses and the boys are going to show up, but does less following that's for us. Jesus said, you have more capability and more access to follow him than they did the dusty road. The Christian life.

Spirituality is the life of Christ reproduced in the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit. And finally, in obedience to the word of God. Your spiritual diet will determine your spiritual growth. Jesus said in John 831 of those Jews who believed on him, you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free free free from legalism free for the people's expectations free from sin, free from bad habits free from your lack of self-control, free from a warped view of God and Jesus brother would remind us that when you understand spirituality is a life of Christ, and it's the life of Christ reproduced in the believer and is the life of Christ reproduced in the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit in response by faith to the word of God.

Then Jesus brother James would say when you hear that from the truth of God's word and you walk away, nodding and saying that's true without doing it. He says you become a ineffectual hearer, but the progress of the faith is only in doers of God's word. What does God say to you, what would be the next baby step for you to be in step with the spirit.

This isn't one of those messages were all my lands, my whole life needs to change what it may. But it's the pulse that keep in step that means one step in if you respond to the life that God gives you. Guess what, when you get up tomorrow if you say Lord what step two.

That's just the next step will be back with some additional thoughts about his message today, but if you're just joining us, you're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram the message you just heard is from chip series called the Holy Spirit experiencing his power and presence 24 seven. This four-part series takes the mystery out of who the Holy Spirit is and how he works in our lives. Chip explains that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power within every believer to the life of the Holy Spirit. Chip brings a fresh balanced perspective to the sometimes controversial subject and reminds us of the comforting peace. The Holy Spirit can provide. Regardless of our circumstances, the Holy Spirit, experiencing his power and presence 24 seven is available for a limited time or special on-air discount price for complete details call us at 1-888-333-6003 or check it out online at http://livingontheedge.org now here's chip with a great offer. You don't want to miss.

I'll be right back to talk about today's message but I have to tell you I am really excited about our focus this month of March. It's called you were made for more and right now were talking about the Holy Spirit and he's one of the persons of the Trinity that actually is kind of a mystery. You know that because most of us haven't spent much time knowing about studying about the Holy Spirit and how it actually works. In fact, when I meet Christian. Sometimes I think they think the Holy Spirit is a force instead of being a person.

A person of the Godhead. And if you're a believer, I want you know there's no one closer than the Holy Spirit. He lives inside of you. He baptized you into the body of Christ, he sealed you with the spirit. He's deposited gifts inside of you and are you ready for this. Here's his role. His role is to manifest the very personality and the presence and the power of the Lord Jesus. He's the person in the Godhead that wants to exalt Jesus. He's the one who lives inside of you and he lives inside of you.

You know I because you were made for more. The Christian life isn't about getting better at reading your Bible and praying a few prayers and giving little money going to church. I mean those are some activities under important the Christian life is about being connected to God do the work of Christ by a the power of the Holy Spirit so that he could form Christ in you, and he could use you as a little Christ like person where everything Jesus did when he walked on the planet shall do through you now love people, help people heal people likely not in those amazing supernatural ways, but you never know. So I want to know is that in our time together this month.

We want to help you understand the Holy Spirit.

We want you to understand the spiritual gifts that he's given you, and how to discover them and then we want you to literally understand that there's a plan for your life and he will show you exactly what it is and how to fulfill it.

If you go to the website you'll see about an area that you can't miss called. You were made for more if you're tired of the status quo.

If you're tired of going to the motions and you want to believe and want to experience what you're really made for the LivingontheEdge.org. We would love to help you find strip will not only will you find our current series on the Holy Spirit, but you will find several more resources from chip because we know not everyone's at the same stage of spiritual maturity to see everything that's there and to take advantage of all the discounts. Just head on over to LivingontheEdge.org and click on. You were made for more would help you pick up right where you are and take your next step on your personal faith journey. If you'd like to talk with us about any of the resources there.

Just give us a call at 1-888-333-6003.

We'd be happy to talk with you will now here's chip with some final thoughts from today's talk.

As we wrap up today's program.

Every now and then we we have these times that the fact that we are not sitting across from one another. Right after I get done teaching is just downright frustrating. This is one of the hose where I mean I want to grab a good cup of coffee sit across from you look you in the eye and say okay are you ready what baby step did God speak to you about taking any what what is what is that nudge that you got that you realize he whispered in and he said okay here's the baby step. I want you to take. I want you to apologize to so-and-so or here's the baby step. I want you, you know next week beginning tomorrow mean all week. I want you to get into my word or you know what you've been sort of motivated down deep in your heart to begin to give financially to your local church and you're afraid and you thought about it or mean this order mean that and you know you kinda need to do it. And this next weekend is gonna be a baby step I would just love to sit down with you and look you in the eye and say what's the baby step is then when I would say is do it do it because when you take that step of obedience you can experience God's grace and yes it's fearful and yes you're kind of afraid and there may be consequences.

But I will tell you this.

As you learn to get in step with the spirit, you will experience his power. You will experience his grace and you will not have regrets. It might be hard but you will begin to see God work in you and through you like never before. I mean think of it, the creator of the universe. His personal spirit dwells inside of you and anything you need in this journey and process you are ready. God, he just wants you to trust him so he can give it to you.

Are you ready to take the baby step today.

It will great way to stay engaged and connected to chip and Living on the Edge is with the Chip Ingram map will get free access to all of Chip's recent messages is message notes and much more not only bad, but it couldn't be easier to order resources or call or email us directly from the app download the Chip Ingram map when you go to Google play or the app store will next time she will continue her series the Holy Spirit experiencing his power and presence 24 seven so be sure to make plans to join us that for chip and the entire team.

This is Dave saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge