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Remembering the Forgotten God “ I’m Walkin…Yes Indeed…

What Ya Gonna Do? Most often asked question of a graduate? What Are You Going to Do with Your Life? Easy for Some 5 Year Plan Hard for Others Can’t plan for the weekend

What Ya Gonna Do? Tendency to focus on the Future Bleeds over into our relationship with God “I want to follow God… “But I just can’t figure out His will for my life.” Our desire to know the future blinds us from seeing the present moment

Seeing the Signs There is nothing wrong with seeking God for the plan for your life Sometimes we get so caught up in missing our calling for the future… We get paralyzed in the present God does have a plan for us But He never promised to reveal it in advance

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

Submitted If you were absolutely, 100% submitted to the will of God at this moment… What do you think He might ask you to do?

Submitted That might be an easy question for some Felt a calling early in life Maybe have written it off…not sure if it’s the voice of God Harder question for others “ No Idea” what God would call me to do The point is… The answer is not as important as the question

What is Crucial? The DAILY considering and pursuing of the Spirit’s leading in our lives

Romans 7 Romans 8 Paul talks about the impossibility of obedience in the flesh “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (v.18) A Hopeless Situation…until Chapter 8 “The Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (8:2)

Romans 8:5-8 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

Flesh vs. Spirit Controlled by Sinful Nature Seeking what nature desires – Treasures on earth Mind is death Hostile to God Does not submit Cannot please God Controlled by the Spirit Seeking what God desires – Treasures in heaven Mind is life and peace In relationship with God Submits to His commands Seeks to please God

Romans 8:9-13 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God…

The Spirit-Filled Person Controlled not by the flesh but by the Spirit Belongs to Christ Dead to sin Alive to righteousness Mortal body is strengthened Obligated to live by the Spirit Is a son or daughter of God

Walking by the Spirit Roman 8:4 Galatians 5:16, 25 Walking is simple No real planning One foot in front of the other One step at a time Never Alone

Walking By the Spirit Moving in a certain direction Direction is set by the Spirit Destination is God Every destination has as its genesis a single step

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

Adding vs. Following Adding the Spirit to your routine does not change you You are merely trying to enhance what you are already doing Following Him means you are being led You are changing He may prompt you to remove things from your life - both good and bad

Mark 10:17-22 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”[ c ] And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

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

Being Spirit-Filled Means giving up control I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16) Requires continued action And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. (Eph. 5:18 –Amplified) A lifelong process But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18 NKJV) Being filled with the Spirit is not an EVENT - it is an ongoing, ever-deepening relationship that changes us

Take a Walk Daily Dependence Struggle may not be easy – but there is hope Gain Sensitivity His leading will not lead to sin The longer the walk – the less you will see sin in your life

During the Walk How is the Spirit leading you: To spend time with your family? To reach out to people you work with? To evaluate your finances? To become more active in church? There are practical everyday paths that the Spirit wants you to walk Are we following Him?

Pressure We sometimes feel pressure to produce the fruits of the Spirit-filled life (Gal. 5:22-23) May feel overwhelmed or even deficient How can I ever accomplish what God wants in my life?

Important Truth All of the life-change and obedience comes through the power of the Spirit God does not call us to do this walk in our own strength The Spirit not only guides and directs – He also EMPOWERS us Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? (Gal. 3:3) When we follow the Spirit’s leading in our lives – He provides the strength and power to walk

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

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Remembering the forgotten god

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