Remembering the Forgotten GodRemembering the Forgotten God

““I’m Walkin…Yes Indeed…I’m Walkin…Yes Indeed…

What Ya Gonna Do?What Ya Gonna Do?• Most often asked Most often asked

question of a question of a graduate?graduate?

• What Are You Going What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?to Do with Your Life?

• Easy for SomeEasy for Some• 5 Year Plan5 Year Plan

• Hard for OthersHard for Others• Can’t plan for the Can’t plan for the

weekendweekend

What Ya Gonna Do?What Ya Gonna Do?

• Tendency to focus on the FutureTendency to focus on the Future• Bleeds over into our relationship Bleeds over into our relationship

with Godwith God• ““I want to follow God…I want to follow God…• ““But I just can’t figure out His will for But I just can’t figure out His will for

my life.”my life.”

• Our desire to know the future blinds Our desire to know the future blinds us from seeing the present momentus from seeing the present moment

Seeing the SignsSeeing the Signs• There is nothing wrong There is nothing wrong

with seeking God for with seeking God for the plan for your lifethe plan for your life

• Sometimes we get so Sometimes we get so caught up in missing caught up in missing our calling for the our calling for the future…future…

• We get paralyzed in We get paralyzed in the presentthe present

• God does have a plan God does have a plan for usfor us

• But He never promised But He never promised to reveal it in advanceto reveal it in advance

Question:Question:

Why might it be safer to commit to Why might it be safer to commit to following “God’s Will for your life” following “God’s Will for your life” rather than being open to following rather than being open to following God in what He may lead you to do God in what He may lead you to do today?today?

SubmittedSubmitted

• If you were If you were absolutely, 100% absolutely, 100% submitted to the submitted to the will of God at this will of God at this moment…moment…

• What do you think What do you think He might ask you He might ask you to do?to do?

SubmittedSubmitted

• That might be an easy question for someThat might be an easy question for some• Felt a calling early in lifeFelt a calling early in life• Maybe have written it off…not sure if it’s the Maybe have written it off…not sure if it’s the

voice of Godvoice of God

• Harder question for others Harder question for others • ““No Idea” what God would call me to doNo Idea” what God would call me to do

• The point is…The point is…• The answer is not as important as the The answer is not as important as the

questionquestion

What is Crucial?What is Crucial?

The The DAILYDAILY considering and pursuing considering and pursuing of the Spirit’s leading in our livesof the Spirit’s leading in our lives

Romans 7 Romans 8Romans 7 Romans 8

• Paul talks about the impossibility of Paul talks about the impossibility of obedience in the fleshobedience in the flesh

• ““I have the desire to do what is right, I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” but not the ability to carry it out.” (v.18)(v.18)

• A Hopeless Situation…until Chapter 8A Hopeless Situation…until Chapter 8• ““The Spirit of life has set you free in The Spirit of life has set you free in

Christ Jesus from the law of sin and Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (8:2)death.” (8:2)

Romans 8:5-8Romans 8:5-8

•   Those who live according to the sinful Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. cannot please God.

Flesh vs. SpiritFlesh vs. Spirit

• Controlled by Controlled by Sinful NatureSinful Nature• Seeking what Seeking what

nature desires – nature desires – Treasures on Treasures on earthearth

• Mind is deathMind is death• Hostile to GodHostile to God• Does not submitDoes not submit• Cannot please Cannot please

GodGod

• Controlled by the Controlled by the SpiritSpirit• Seeking what God Seeking what God

desires – Treasures desires – Treasures in heavenin heaven

• Mind is life and Mind is life and peacepeace

• In relationship with In relationship with GodGod

• Submits to His Submits to His commandscommands

• Seeks to please GodSeeks to please God

Romans 8:9-13Romans 8:9-13• You, however, are controlled not by the sinful You, however, are controlled not by the sinful

nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. through his Spirit, who lives in you.

•   Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God…who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God…

The Spirit-Filled PersonThe Spirit-Filled Person

• Controlled not by the flesh but by Controlled not by the flesh but by the Spiritthe Spirit

• Belongs to ChristBelongs to Christ• Dead to sinDead to sin• Alive to righteousnessAlive to righteousness• Mortal body is strengthenedMortal body is strengthened• Obligated to live by the SpiritObligated to live by the Spirit• Is a son or daughter of GodIs a son or daughter of God

Walking by the SpiritWalking by the Spirit

• Roman 8:4Roman 8:4• Galatians 5:16, 25Galatians 5:16, 25• Walking is simpleWalking is simple• No real planningNo real planning• One foot in front One foot in front

of the otherof the other• One step at a One step at a

timetime• Never AloneNever Alone

Walking By the SpiritWalking By the Spirit

• Moving in a Moving in a certain directioncertain direction

• Direction is set by Direction is set by the Spiritthe Spirit

• Destination is GodDestination is God• Every destination Every destination

has as its genesis has as its genesis a single stepa single step

Walking by the SpiritWalking by the Spirit

• Not about ADDING the Spirit into Not about ADDING the Spirit into our already busy lifeour already busy life

• ““The Spirit who raised Christ from The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is not someone we can the dead is not someone we can just call on when we want a little just call on when we want a little extra power in our lives. Jesus Christ extra power in our lives. Jesus Christ did not die in order to follow did not die in order to follow us. us. He He died and rose again so that we died and rose again so that we could forget everything else and could forget everything else and follow Him to the cross, to true Life. follow Him to the cross, to true Life. ((Forgotten GodForgotten God, 122)., 122).

Adding vs. FollowingAdding vs. Following

• Adding the Spirit to your routine does Adding the Spirit to your routine does not change younot change you

• You are merely trying to enhance You are merely trying to enhance what you are already doingwhat you are already doing

• Following Him means you are being Following Him means you are being ledled

• You are changingYou are changing• He may prompt you to remove things He may prompt you to remove things

from your life - both good and badfrom your life - both good and bad

Mark 10:17-22Mark 10:17-22• Now as He was going out on the road, one came Now as He was going out on the road, one came

running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one No one isis good but One, good but One, that is,that is, God. You know the God. You know the commandments: commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your ‘Honor your father and your mother.’mother.’”[”[cc]] And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.possessions.

Question:Question:

Which is more frightening – giving Which is more frightening – giving up everything you own or going up everything you own or going through life without the Holy Spirit?through life without the Holy Spirit?

Being Spirit-FilledBeing Spirit-Filled• Means giving up controlMeans giving up control

• I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16)fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16)

• Requires continued actionRequires continued action• And do not get drunk with wine, for that is And do not get drunk with wine, for that is

debauchery; but debauchery; but ever be filledever be filled and stimulated and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.with the [Holy] Spirit. (Eph. 5:18 –Amplified) (Eph. 5:18 –Amplified)

• A lifelong processA lifelong process• But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in

a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. (2 Cor. 3:18 NKJV)3:18 NKJV)

• Being filled with the Spirit is not an Being filled with the Spirit is not an EVENT EVENT - - it is an ongoing, ever-deepening it is an ongoing, ever-deepening relationship that changes usrelationship that changes us

Take a WalkTake a Walk• DailyDaily Dependence Dependence• Struggle may not Struggle may not

be easy – but be easy – but there is hopethere is hope

• Gain SensitivityGain Sensitivity• His leading will not His leading will not

lead to sinlead to sin• The longer the The longer the

walk – the less you walk – the less you will see sin in your will see sin in your lifelife

During the WalkDuring the Walk

• How is the Spirit leading you:How is the Spirit leading you:• To spend time with your family?To spend time with your family?• To reach out to people you work with?To reach out to people you work with?• To evaluate your finances?To evaluate your finances?• To become more active in church?To become more active in church?

• There are practical everyday paths There are practical everyday paths that the Spirit wants you to walkthat the Spirit wants you to walk

• Are we following Him?Are we following Him?

PressurePressure• We sometimes feel We sometimes feel

pressure to pressure to produce the fruits produce the fruits of the Spirit-filled of the Spirit-filled life (Gal. 5:22-23)life (Gal. 5:22-23)

• May feel May feel overwhelmed or overwhelmed or even deficienteven deficient

• How can I ever How can I ever accomplish what accomplish what God wants in my God wants in my life?life?

Important TruthImportant Truth

• All of the life-change and obedience All of the life-change and obedience comes through the power of the Spiritcomes through the power of the Spirit

• God does not call us to do this walk in God does not call us to do this walk in our own strengthour own strength

• The Spirit not only guides and directs – The Spirit not only guides and directs – He also EMPOWERS usHe also EMPOWERS us• Are you so foolish? After beginning with Are you so foolish? After beginning with

the Spirit, are you now trying to attain the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?your goal by human effort? (Gal. 3:3) (Gal. 3:3)

• When we follow the Spirit’s leading in When we follow the Spirit’s leading in our lives – He provides the strength and our lives – He provides the strength and power to walkpower to walk

If we live in the Spirit, let us also If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)