WEEK 6: The Spirit: Fruit to bear October 15, 2015 So be careful how you live. Don t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesian 5:1518 NLT We all probably understand what it means to get drunk with wine. We ve either seen it or experienced it firsthand. But what about being filled with the Spirit? How familiar are you with that experience? When someone is drunk, they exhibit certain characteristics that give evidence of the substance by which they are controlled: Slurred speech, unsteady walk, blood shot eyes, loud voice, lack of common sense, diminished reasoning skills, just to name a few. It s hard not to spot the drunk in a crowd. But Paul says we are to be filled with the Spirit and give evidence of His control over our lives. The fruit of His presence within us and our submission to His power over us should be readily recognizable to all those around us. Sometimes, when referring to a drunk, we say, that s the alcohol talking. But we could say the same thing about a believer who is filled with and exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Filling produces fruitfulness. Take Notes (Teaching): As you listen to today s lesson, write down anything significant that you hear. Be ready to share them with the men at your table during the discussion time. 2015 Ken Miller 27 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Take Part (Discussion): Sometimes God has a way of speaking through others as they provide insights or different applications from the lessons. As you discuss around your table, write down anything you hear that makes an impact on you. Or if you hear another man share a struggle or concern, write it down so that you can pray for him during the week. Take Time (Prayer): Be sure and leave a few minutes for the sharing of prayer requests. Remember, keep your requests short and sweet. Don t let the details bog you down. We don t have to understand all that is going on to pray effectively. 2015 Ken Miller 28 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
HOMEWORK Homework for week 7 The Spirit: Gifts to share Read 1 Corinthians 12:111 As you read this passage, you need to consider the context. Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth. He is addressing the topic of spiritual gifts, but it is not intended to be a teaching on the gifts, but a reprimand to those in the church who were abusing them. In verse one, what does Paul say is his reason for addressing the topic? What do you think he means by uninformed? The Greek word Paul uses is agnoeō and it basically means no understanding. He doesn t want them to be ignorant when it comes to spiritual gifts and how they should be used. Read 1 Corinthians 11:1822 What does Paul accuse the believers in Corinth of doing? What would this have to do with the topic of spiritual gifts that he addresses in the very next chapter? Back in verse 4 of chapter 12, Paul seems to emphasize the variety of gifts, but also the fact that they all come from God? What do you think his point is? Now make a list of all the gifts listed in verses 810: 2015 Ken Miller 29 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Could you see where some of these gifts could be seen as more important or worth having more than others? Which ones do you think the believers in Corinth desired the most? But, according to verse 7, what does Paul say is the purpose behind all of the gifts? According to verse 11, where do each of the gifts come from and who gets to determine who gets which one? Since the Holy Spirit decides who gets what gift, what part do we play in the process? Read 1 Corinthians 13 Remember, context is everything. Keep this wellknown chapter within the surrounding context and think about how it changes the significance of its message. Paul gives a variety of scenarios. What are they and what do they represent? According to Paul, what is more important than all the spiritual gifts combined? It s interesting to note that the spiritual gifts are intended for the common good of the body of Christ, but they can easily become divisive and selffocused. Read Ephesians 4:1516 Once again, what does Paul emphasize in these verses? What is God s ultimate goal behind the giving of Spiritual gifts and how should this influence our approach to them in the church today? 2015 Ken Miller 30 Momentum a ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
WEEK 6: The Spirit: Fruit to Bear The fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5 Paul gives us a list of the fruit of the Spirit (vs 2224) Notice that the word is singular These are not individual fruits given independently and indiscriminately They represent the very character of Christ There are two classes of Christians: Spiritual Abide in Christ Walk in the light Walk by the Spirit Walk in newness of life Have the Spirit in them and controlling them Filled with the Spirit Carnal (Fleshly) Do not abide in Christ Walk in darkness Walk as men Walk after the flesh Have the Spirit in them but not in control of them Not filled with the Spirit We can t produce the fruit of the Spirit But we CAN produce works of the flesh (vs 1921) That s why Paul said: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Vs 16 ESV Peripateō to live, regulate one s life, to walk We must live our life by or according to the Spirit If we do, we won t gratify (accomplish, carry out) the desires of the flesh Our flesh and the Spirit within us are at odds (vs 17) Antikeimai adversarial, contrary to, opposed to The Flesh Versus the Spirit We can easily fall back on the flesh But living according to the flesh produces the wrong kind of fruit Attempting to tame the flesh never ends well The false teachers among them had convinced these believers that they way to pull off the Christian life was by taming the flesh and making it behave with a list of rules. The Christian life does include rules. There are definite dos and don ts. But the power for victorious Christian living is not in the rules. It s in the Spirit. Tony Evans, Theology You Can Count On 2015 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church
Old house, new occupant When you came to Christ, the Spirit took up residence in you He provided you with a new nature in the old house of flesh It s like a brand new engine in an old car It creates a dilemma and sets up a conflict (Romans 7:1821) My flesh overpowers my desires (Romans 7:2225) The Spirit gives us the ability to carry it out But we have to submit to Him We have to live our life (walk) in His strength, not our own Walking by the Spirit Galatians 6:709 How do we pull this off? We CAN T! Paul uses a farming metaphor If you sow to the flesh In other words If you seek to gratify the physical desires of your life If you seek to gratify or satisfy the Spirit s desires for your life You will see His fruit produced Your flesh wants to produce The Spirit wants to produce sexual immorality selfish ambition love impurity dissension joy lustful pleasures division peace idolatry envy patience sorcery drunkenness kindness hostility wild parties goodness quarreling and other sins faithfulness jealousy gentleness outbursts of anger selfcontrol To see spiritual fruit in your life, the spiritual must become a high priority But we are obsessed with the physical We cater to and feed the physical aspect of our lives, while neglecting the spiritual But Jesus told us: Don t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:1921 NLT We must learn to desire what the Spirit desires: Spirituality We should want to hear what the Spirit has to say We must learn to walk by the Spirit, not our flesh (sin nature) That requires: Listening Following Abiding Obedience Trusting Submission Learning Dependence Dying to self The Holy Spirit leads every Christian, but not all choose to walk by the Spirit (i.e. follow His leading). Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Galatians, 2007 Edition 2015 Ken Miller Momentum, A ministry of Christ Chapel Bible Church