Friday, February 6th

Would like you to read this passage again. Galatians 5:16-18, 25 - 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law....25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Where do you see the “by the Spirit” statements?

Yesterday we picked up on “led by the Spirit” with the perspective of surrender.
The next “by the Spirit” I want us to observe, is that after being led, we need to live by the Spirit. Simply put, obedience. We need to learn the ways of the Spirit, as teacher, and obey what is revealed to us. Tyler Staton puts in plaining, “The power of Jesus must be channeled through the character of Jesus.” If we want to experience more of who Jesus is, we need to obey more of what Jesus says and does.

We see this more completely with the rest of Galatians 5, that we call the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, goodness …. This isn’t a list of behaviors, this is what obeying, living, and doing what Jesus called and did. Living out of obedience, especially the fruit of
the Spirit, is discipleship, it is living by the Spirit. How do I need to be more loving, more joyful, more patient and as you obey the Spirit, that is being formed in you.

Where do you need to “live by the Spirit”, where you need to obey the Spirit and what he is teaching you?

Last “by the Spirit” it is the bookend of our Galatians 5 passage, to “walk by the Spirit” or to “be in step with the Spirit.” Simply put, what do you notice about this phrase? Walking, be in step? It is active, it is not passive. It isn’t sitting and waiting and hoping that the Spirit will change you. You have an active role in experiencing the Holy Spirit. Yes, it is the Spirit’s work in you, but you need to be active in opening yourself up to the Spirit.

There’s a story about the late-great Kobe Bryant, where a well-known basketball trainer, who worked with high school and college players, had an opportunity to meet Kobe and asked about working out with him. Kobe obliged and they set the time to meet at 5AM the next morning. This trainer thought that he would try to get a leg up and showed up for the workout at 4:30AM. As he walked into the gym, Kobe was already there, full sweat, and doing the most mundane, fundamental drills, one after another. The trainer thinking to himself “I coach that to my 5th graders and much of my highschoolers and college students don’t even mess with those mundane drills.” The trainer approaches Kobe and asks, “why are you doing those basic drills?” Kobe responded, “Why do you think I’m the best in the world?”

Kobe didn’t take time off from doing the fundamentals, from being disciplined enough to do the things necessary.

Which means, how are you active in walking with the Spirit? Which means, when we talk about the disciplines, we are talking about reading Scripture, prayer, fasting, journaling, solitude, community, serving, worship, all the ways to allow Christ to be formed in you.

Tyler Staton shares it this way, “If we want to know this King and live in His Kingdom, it can’t happen from a safe distance. It can’t happen by spectating. And it can’t happen without risk and surrender.”

Being led, living by, walking with the Advocate, Counselor, Comforter and Teacher ultimately means that we need to commune, dwell, remain, abide with the Holy Spirit.
Notice 2 Corinthians 13:14 (MSG)- 14 The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

I love the beauty Paul sharing about the Trinity. But notice the “intimate friendship” with the Holy Spirit. That phrase intimate friendship is the Greek word koinania, which means communion, fellowship, companionship, communication, intimacy, sharing together, partnership, close mutual connection.

Paul is saying, “we need to have communion with the Holy Spirit, which is having fellowship with, partnership with, intimacy with.” Jesus would describe it in John 15:1-17 with a different word, abide or remain in the vine. Stay connected, stay in fellowship, communion, intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

Let me put it all together. Communion with the Holy Spirit empowers and enables us to live surrendered, obedient, and active lives in the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit does that as an advocate, counselor, comforter, and teacher. The Holy Spirit isn’t just an add-on part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the life source of God’s presence in our lives. In your coming and your going, your stillness and your busyness, how are we communing with the Holy Spirit?

Take time again with this song, Abide.