Spiritual Formation The Role of the Holy Spirit

Spiritual Formation The Role of the Holy Spirit I. Introduction A. Spiritual transformation is not just a matter of doing the disciplines. God the Holy Spirit provides the power to transform you character like Jesus Christ. B. The primary role of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify us. 1. Sanctify = set apart a. Set part for God and His service b. Set apart from evil and the world. c. Holy (same root as sanctify ) = set apart from all that is sinful and morally impure. 2. Sanctification is both a state and a process: a. State: When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit sets us apart for God (1 Cor. 6:11; cf. Rom 15:16; 1 Pet 1:2) b. Process: The Holy Spirit gradually makes us more like Christ throughout the Christian life (2 Cor. 3:18) II. Overcoming the Flesh by walking in the Spirit. A. Spiritual transformation only comes as we live in dependence upon the Holy Spirit. 1. The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Christ (Gal 5:22-23). 2. The Christian life is not a matter of trying harder to please God and do the right things. We can never do it, because of the weakness of our human nature (the Flesh ). B. Two senses of the Flesh : 1. Sinful nature: that part of us that leads us into sin and rebellion against God ( Rom. 7; 8:5-9; Gal. 5:16-20, The works of the flesh ) 2. Natural human abilities: Human nature is simply incapable of consistently doing the things that please God (Rom 8:3; Phil. 3:3-7) 3. We can never become what God wants to make us through out human abilities: Our human nature is inadequate to produce true righteousness and it is the driving force that compels us to sin. C. The Holy Spirit sets us free from the Flesh (Gal. 5:16-23; Phil. 3:8-11). 1. Under the Old Testament Law, people tried to obey God in their natural human abilities and failed, because the Law relied on the Flesh to accomplish its demands. (Rom. 8:3). Copyright 2017 Dr. Harry A. Hahne

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 2 2. Under the New Covenant of grace, God s will is fulfilled through the Holy Spirit who transforms us from within, rather than from external, legalistic obedience to God's commands (Ez. 36:25-27; Rom. 8:2-4). 3. The Holy Spirit overcomes the Flesh in both senses: a. The Spirit replaces our sinfulness with his righteousness. The fruit of the Spirit replaces the works of the Flesh (Gal. 6:16) b. The Spirit replaces our weakness with his supernatural power (Phil. 3:8-10) III. Three kinds of people (1 Cor. 2:14-3:3) A. Natural person (2:14) 1. He is a non-christian: he runs his own life and Christ is outside his life. 2. psuchikos ( natural person ) = literally, soulish ; i.e. = living in the natural plane apart from the spiritual world (cf. NIV has man without the spirit ) 3. Christ is outside his life 4. He is running his own life ( on the throne of his life) 5. Result: a. He is spiritually dead and he cannot understand and accept spiritual things (v. 14). b. All his life is out of balance, since God is not at the center as he was intended to be. B. Spiritual person (2:15-16) 1. This is a Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit (pneumatikos is related to pneuma, spirit ) 2. He is continually relying upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. 3. Christ is the Lord and center of his life (Christ is on the throne ). 4. Result: a. He can understand the deeper teachings of Scripture (v. 15: appraises all [spiritual] things ; 1 Cor. 3:2: he can eat solid food ) b. He has growing wisdom and spiritual discernment (v. 16: we have the mind of Christ = think like Christ) c. He is growing to become more like Christ and developing the fruit of the Spirit -- the character of Christ in his life (Gal. 5:22-23) C. Carnal (Fleshly) Christian (3:1-3) 1. Even though he is a Christian (v. 1: brothers ), he lives like a non-christian (v. 3: like a mere man ) 2. He relies upon human power, not the power of the Holy Spirit. a. Carnal (KJV) or men of flesh (NASB) are better than worldly (NIV) b. sarkinos ( fleshly ) is related to sarx ( flesh ); i.e he relies upon his natural human abilities to live the Christian life. 3. He runs his own life, rather than letting Christ be Lord. He has pushed Christ to the periphery of this

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 3 life and has taken control of the throne again. 4. Results: a. Spiritual immaturity (v. 1: infants ). b. Incapable of accepting the deep teachings of Scripture (v. 2: not able to receive solid food ) c. Frequent sin and defeat in many areas of their lives (v. 3: jealousy and strife and many other problems in Corinth, including sexual immorality, lawsuits, pride, etc.; cf. Gal 5:19-21) d. Inconsistency in the Christian life ( spiritual roller coaster ) D. The key difference between the Carnal Christian and the Spirit-Filled Christian is whether a person is depending on his own human power or God s power to live the Christian life. ( Who is on the throne? ) E. Romans 7 and 8 further show the difference between the carnal Christian and the Spirit Filled Christian 1. In Rom. 7 describes the Christian life lived in the power of the flesh (v. 14: I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin ). 2. In Rom 8, he contrasts the characteristics of the person who is led by the Holy Spirit. 3. In Rom 7:14-8:17, what are the characteristics of the person living in the power of the flesh and the person living in the power of the Spirit? - Carnal Christian (Rom. 7:14-25; 8:5-8) Spirit Filled Christian (Rom. 8:1-17)

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 4 IV. The results of the filling of the Holy Spirit. A. Summary: The Holy Spirit gives us power for witness and to become like Christ 1. The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us as Christians (Eph 3:16; Eph. 1:18-20) 2. The power of the Spirit always has a moral dimension to conform us to Christ's righteousness and to enable us to witness for Christ. 3. The Spirit s power is both crisis power and continuous power. a. Crisis power: Special power for a particular need: e.g. words to say in witness or a miraculous healing b. Continuous power: Daily power for gradual spiritual growth. B. The transforming work of the Spirit in an individual Christian's life. 1. The Spirit produces Christ-like righteousness in our lives. a. The Spirit overcomes our sinful desires and produces the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-23; 6:16). b. The Spirit helps us gradually grow to reflect Christ's character (2 Cor. 3:18) c. The Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:7-11) d. The Spirit enables us to overcome temptation (Lk. 4:1-13). 2. The Spirit helps us in prayer. a. We are to pray in the power of the Spirit (Eph. 6:18) b. Spirit helps us know how to pray (Rom. 8:26-27) c. The filling of the Spirit leads to thanksgiving and praise (Eph. 5:18-20). 3. The Spirit gives us power to witness for Christ a. Power (Acts. 1:8) b. Boldness (Acts 4:8, 14; 7:55) c. Words to say in witness, particularly in times of persecution (Luke 12:11-12) 4. He equips us with spiritual gifts for ministry to others (1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 12:4-8).

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 5 5. He gives us insight into the meaning and application of the Bible. a. The Bible is the primary tool the Spirit uses in our lives the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17) b. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of Truth so we see how it applies to our lives. (1 Cor 2:14-15; 2 Cor 4:4-6) c. The Holy Spirit applies the Sword of the Spirit to our hearts to change us. (Eph 6:17; Heb. 4:12-13) 6. The Holy Spirit gives us greater knowledge of Christ and God the Father. (John 15:26; 16:15; 1 John 2:20-22) 7. The Holy Spirit gives us hope (Rom. 15:13) 8. The Holy Spirit gives us guidance and wisdom (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18; Acts 13:1-3; 10-11; 16:6-10) C. The transforming work of the Spirit in the corporate life of the Church 1. The supreme mark of the Christian Church is supernatural love, produced by the Spirit (1 Jn. 4:11-13; Gal. 5:22; John 13:35; Acts 4:31-35) 2. The Spirit seeks to produce unity in the Church (Eph. 4:3-6) 3. Spiritual gifts equip us to build up one another in Christ (1 Cor. 12-14, esp. 12:7; Rom 12:4-8). 4. He leads seeks to build unified corporate worship, through song, praise and thanksgiving Eph. 5:18-20) 5. He encourages mutual submission, so we seek to meet one another s needs. (Eph 5:21; Phil. 2:1-4) V. What is the filling of the Spirit? A. The filling the Spirit should be a normal and important part of the Christian life. 1. We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18) 2. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and experienced the Spirit s power (Luke 4:1) 3. The book of Acts shows that the filling of the Holy Spirit was a normal part of the Christian life for every Christian. a. Every believer could be filled with the Spirit, not just leaders (Acts 2:4; 4:31; 9:17).

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 6 b. It resulted in believers proclaiming the Gospel boldly (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 7:55). c. The filling of the Spirit produced character, such wisdom (6:3), faith (6:5), integrity (6:3), goodness (11:24), joy in persecution (Acts 13:52). d. It was a requirement for church leaders (Acts 6:3, 5) e. In some cases the filling of the Spirit produced supernatural signs and abilities (Acts 2:4; 7:55; 13:9; cf. Luke 1:67). B. The filling of the Spirit does not mean: 1. Receiving the Holy Spirit: All Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9), even carnal Christians (1 Cor. 6:9) 2. Having a greater amount of the Holy Spirit. 3. It is not the same as the baptism of the Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit refers to the Spirit placing a new believer into the Body of Christ when he is born again (1 Cor 12:13) C. To be filled with the Spirit means to be led and empowered by the God the Holy Spirit. 1. Some verbal analogies: a. Filled with an emotion (Acts 13:52: joy; 6:3: wisdom, 6:5; 11:24: faith). (1) Full suggests that this is the governing characteristic of a person. The emotion changes their behavior. (2) To be full of the Spirit means that the person is habitually governed by the Spirit. b. Drunk with wine (Eph 5:18): As alcohol controls a person and changes their behavior, so Holy Spirit changes a person s behavior when he submits to the Spirit s control. 2. The Holy Spirit controls and leads the person, so he walks in God s will and his character grows to be like Christ. ( led by the Spirit : Luke 4:1; Gal. 5:18; Rom 8:14; cf. John 15:5) 3. A Spirit filled person is consciously trusting Christ and living in dependance upon Christ for power to live the Christian life. D. How can we be filled with the Spirit? 1. We are filled with the Spirit by faith (Eph. 3:16-17) a. Faith is trust and dependance upon God for every area of your life. Living by faith means realizing you cannot live the Christian life in your own power. Cf. abiding in Christ, John 15:5) b. The whole Christian life is a life of faith (Col. 2:6; Hab. 2:4; Heb. 11:6). 2. Practical steps to being filled with the Spirit: a. Desire to be filled with the Spirit (John 7:37-39)

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 7 b. Confess your sins to God. (1) Sin grieves the Spirit (Eph. 4:30) and quenches His power (1 Thess. 5:19). (2) Ask the Spirit to reveal any sins which block the Spirit s power (cf. Jn. 16:8), then confess them (1 Jn. 1:9). c. Yield control of every area of your life to God (1) Invite Christ back on the throne of your life (Rom 12:1). (2) Give Christ every area of your life: career, relationships, finances, plans for the future, fears, dreams, etc. (a) Christ does not want just to be a guest in your home. He wants us to sign over the deed of the home to him. Cf. Robert Munger, My Heart Christ s Home). (b) Any unyielded area of life blocks your fellowship with God and your growth in other areas. d. Ask in faith to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Since God commands us to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), we know He will answer a prayer to be filled (1 Jn. 5:14-15). E. You may not feel any different when you are filled with the Spirit. 1. The Christian life is lived by faith in the fact of God's Word, not our feelings. 2. God may make some immediate changes in your life, but the fruit of the Spirit grows over time. 3. In time you will become more aware of the gentle leading of the Spirit, you will hear his voice more clearly, and you will sense his power enabling you to live victoriously in ways you never could before. VI. How can we continue to walk in the Spirit? A. God desires that every Christian be filled with the Spirit at all times, not just for crisis moments of ministry (Eph. 5:18). 1. To walk (Gal. 5:16), means to live on a moment by moment basis. 2. To walk by the Spirit means to be led by the Spirit and to experience power to overcome the desires of the Flesh (v. 16-21), which results in the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22-23) B. When you sin or take control of an area of your life, breathe spiritually: 1. Exhale: Immediately confess any sin as soon as the Holy Spirit convicts you (1 Jn. 1:9) 2. Inhale: Yield to Christ again and ask Him to fill you with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). 3. Get into the habit of spiritually breathing instantly when the Spirit convicts you of sin. C. Spiritual growth is a process as we walk consistently in the Spirit. 1. As you walk in the Spirit, you will grow more sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and your character will become more like Christ. 2. But if you refuse to confess your sins and yield to the Spirit you begin to move further from God, you become less sensitive to the Spirit and more and more carnal. 3. Every time you sin, you are at a crisis point. Choose to spiritually breathe and continue to walk in the power of the Spirit. VII. Obtaining guidance from the Holy Spirit

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 8 A. God speaks through 2 main avenues: His Word and His Holy Spirit. B. Prerequisites for divine guidance: 1. Be filled with the Spirit a. Walking in the Spirit means to be led by the Spirit and obedient to his leading (Gal 5:18-18) b. As we listen and follow him, we become more sensitive to his voice (John 10:27: My sheep hear my voice... and follow me ) 2. Obey God in every area you know his will. 3. Willingness to do God s will (John 17:7) C. Guidance from the Spirit usually comes from a balance of several factors: 1. Wisdom as our minds are saturated with God's Word (Col. 3:16). 2. Prayer, sometimes accompanied by fasting (Acts 10:9f; Acts 13:2). 3. Listening to the gentile inner voice of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2) a. The filling of the Spirit means that we are led by the Spirit. b. As you walk in the Spirit and obey his leading, you become more sensitive to his voice. 4. Advice of mature, Spirit-filled believers who know you well (Acts 11:18; 13:1-3). a. Others may have insights into you that you cannot see about yourself. They can be a useful sounding board for your decision. b. If you believe God is leading you to do something, but mature Christians consistently advise against it, this should be a red flag. c. Sometimes God moves in an individual ahead of the community, but you must always be open to correction from others. (1) Although Martin Luther listened to God rather than other church leaders, he was always open to correction: When he was urged to recant at his trial, he said: Unless I am convicted by scripture and plain reason I do not accept the authority of popes and councils for the have contradicted each other--my conscience is captive to the Word of God. In other words, he was willing to be shown he was wrong, even in his most famous moment, when he uttered shortly thereafter Here I stand. 5. Carefully weigh options under the guidance of the Spirit (Acts 15:6-21, 28; 10:17-19). a. James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. b. Acts 10:19: Peter reflected on the vision he had about taking the Gospel to the Gentiles. c. Acts 15:6-21, 28: The early church leaders weighed the decision carefully about whether Gentiles should be required to obey the Law as part of being a Christian. They concluded: It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay on you any burden but these essentials (15:28) d. As we walk in the Spirit he gives us wisdom and we learn to see the world as he does. (1) You can weigh the benefits and disadvantages of various choices. (2) One test (Ortberg): would it lower my opinion of Jesus if he did what I am considering? ( what would Jesus not do )

Spiritual Formation: Holy Spirit Page 9 6. Circumstances can confirm the decision (Acts 10:17-23, 44-48). a. God often opens doors that corroborate your decision. b. On the other hand, obstacles may not mean that you have not hear God correctly. (1) Satan will try to block you from doing God s will through harassment and discouraging circumstances (2) 1 Cor. 16:9: A wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (3) Paul experienced many difficulties in his ministry when he was doing God s will (2 Cor 6:4-5; 7:5; Acts 16:9-10) 7. Sometimes God guides through dreams and visions. (Acts 10:10-16; 16:9) a. A dream or vision must never be the only basis for God s leading. These experiences must be tested and confirmed by the other factors D. Recommended reading on divine guidance 1. Dallas Willard, Hearing God. Developing a Conversational Relationship with God. 2. Ortberg ch 9. 3. Issler, 163-181.