Relationship Over Religion

Say this with me: Relationship > Religion.

Technically, based on the current definition of religion, Christianity is a religion, but in practice, it’s much more than that. Christianity offers us a relationship with the God of the universe.

In religion, God says:

• Religion = You should. You don’t? You’re toast.

But this isn’t how God works. In a relationship, God says:

• Relationship = You can’t. I can. Let’s toast.

Today, we’re talking about being led by the Spirit, and outside of an intimate relationship with God, that’s hard to describe. A relationship with God is powerful, largely because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. He’s not just a power we leverage; He is a person we know. There are a few authors that have been impactful in my life, but their impact is limited. Why? They’re not here. I forget what they wrote or I hear something that contradicts them and doubt them.

The Holy Spirit: Our Guide

When it comes to living the Christian life, the Bible is our map. Have you ever gone to a hotel, and when you check in they give you a map of the city? I love those things. They’ve got the cartoon landmarks on them, but when you’re in a new city, they’re hard to read. So what does the concierge do? They use their pen to point you to things on the map. They’re a guide. For us, the Holy Spirit is our guide.

I like a concierge who tells me the best restaurants and landmarks I need to see, and that’s a small picture of what the Holy Spirit does for us. He guides us to the good life and keeps us from danger. Because we are created in the image of God, we intuitively know what is right and what is wrong. Now, sometimes we convince ourselves of lies, but without the influence of lies, we know right and wrong.

The Battle with Sin

There’s a passage in Romans where Paul is talking about his battle with sin. The great apostle Paul had not removed all the sin from his life, and he says:

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25, NIV)

To which religion says, “Try harder. Be a better person.” It gives a list of rules: “delete your Netflix account, smash your cell phone, stop drinking alcohol, turn control of the bank account over to your wife.” And maybe you need to do something like that, but the answer Paul is looking for isn’t a rule. It’s not a what. It’s a who: Jesus Christ our Lord.

I need someone, not something. How does God deliver me? With a map, through a guide. The Holy Spirit does more than tell me what sin is. There’s something beyond what’s morally right. Most of us don’t usually wrestle with questions about what is sin. We wrestle with “what is best? What is wise?”

Seeking Wisdom

There are a million right things that I can do. God never told me I have to marry Darci or I would be sinning. I could have married another girl without sinning. But I didn’t just want to avoid sin. I wanted to do the best thing. Because He is omniscient, He can show us the wisest thing to do. Jesus said:

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” (John 14:15-17, NLT)

That’s Scripture. That’s the Bible. It’s a map that shows us what is right and what is wrong. When we talk about being a Christian, we don’t talk about obeying Jesus. We talk about following Jesus. Do we obey Him? Yes. Because we follow Him. It’s all about the relationship.

Praying for Guidance

If you could ask God a question about your future or about a decision you’re making, what would you ask Him? When you pray and ask God for guidance, what are you usually thinking about? We’ve all been there. We don’t know which job to take, which person to date, which Chiefs jersey to buy. David prayed that kind of prayer:

“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:5, ESV)

Have you ever asked God to lead you, and it just seems like He’s not responding? So you wait and wait, and it just seems like He’s not there? The Hebrew word that is translated as wait here is the word kawa.

Intertwined with God

Kawa = Wait

Actually, over time, the word wait has changed meanings, and it’s not a strong translation of kawa anymore. A better definition of the word kawa is intertwined.

Kawa = Wait = Intertwined

Imagine doing a three-legged walk. What would happen if one person wants to go alone? But when they’re in sync, that’s kawa. When we kawa with God, when He pauses, we pause. When He runs, we run. If there’s part of you still going your own way, you’re not in tune with the Spirit. That chapter in John concludes like this:

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26, NLT)

Practical Leading of the Spirit

Sometimes we think being led by the Spirit is only about getting quiet and waiting for a good feeling, but for me, the Holy Spirit’s leading is more practical than that. He uses Scripture. He uses wisdom. And often, the Holy Spirit also uses people to lead us:

“Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” (Proverbs 19:20, NLT)

Don’t try to discern the Holy Spirit alone. Ask wise advisors for help. After you completed your PSA, you were assigned a spiritual advisor. Email your advisor and ask for advice. If you don’t have a spiritual advisor yet, go do a PSA.

Steps to Be Led by the Spirit

If you want to be led by the Spirit:

1. Ask for advice.
2. Pray a lot.
3. Read Scripture.

Here’s something that has worked for me. If you still don’t have clear directions, go back and do the last thing you know God told you to do. Darci is different. She’s tempted not to move on, so the advice she needs is “just do the next right thing.”

Obedience to the Spirit

Jesus didn’t feel at peace in the Garden of Gethsemane. He just did the last thing the Father told Him to do. When people talk about what God wants them to do, I often hear people say, “I don’t have a peace about it.” Well, you might not. Don’t rely on a feeling. Our feelings lie to us.

Here’s the truth about being led by the Spirit that people don’t want to hear:

“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, NIV)

Living a life led by the Spirit is living a life of obedience. We don’t do what feels good or what we want to do. We do what God tells us to do. If you want to be led by the Spirit, but you can identify a part of your life that is not aligned to God’s instructions, bring that in alignment with Him.

Overcoming Obstacles

Most of us have settled in one area or another. We’ve allowed there to be a part of our lives that is not obedient to Christ, and we start to allow Satan to lie to us and tell us we can’t bring that area of our lives in alignment with God. But that is a lie. It is a lie that can keep you from fully becoming the person that God created you to be. I’m not judging you. I’m still working on these areas in my life too, but we can’t give up.

Do you have a secret addiction? Are you allowing hate or jealousy to control you? Or are you living a life on mission? Are you serving, giving sacrificially, loving your neighbor?

Conclusion

Being led by the Spirit is about fostering a deep, intimate relationship with God, allowing His presence to guide you in every aspect of your life. It’s about obedience, wisdom, and intertwining your life with His will. Let’s seek His guidance together, through prayer, scripture, and wise counsel, and live the life He has called us to.

Remember, the journey of being led by the Spirit is ongoing. Stay connected with God, seek His wisdom, and let the Holy Spirit guide you every step of the way.

In the midst of our daily routines and distractions, it’s easy to forget that we are engaged in a spiritual battle. Just as wars rage across the globe, a war wages within each of us—a battle between our spirit and our flesh. However, in today’s passage from Galatians, Paul offers us a solution to this internal conflict:

Letting the Holy Spirit Guide Our Lives

Galatians 5:16 presents us with a powerful directive: “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.” This simple yet profound idea lies at the core of my theological beliefs. I firmly believe that when we align ourselves with the Spirit, incredible transformation occurs. God actively works to sanctify us, shaping us into the individuals He intended us to be from the beginning.

Navigating Life’s Decisions

Life is filled with decisions—some small, some significant. Each choice we make presents us with a fork in the road, a moment where we must decide whether to follow the promptings of our spirit or succumb to the desires of our flesh. Yet, as daunting as these decisions may seem, they hold the power to shape our lives in profound ways.

The Concept of Laminar Flow

When we consistently choose to follow the leading of the Spirit, our lives enter a state of “laminar flow.” Like water moving smoothly and effortlessly, we find ourselves in a rhythm of obedience and alignment with God’s will. Galatians 5:16-17 illustrates this concept, highlighting the ongoing battle between our sinful nature and the desires of the Spirit.

Practical Steps Toward Spiritual Alignment

For those seeking practical guidance, the answer lies in daily prioritization of our relationship with God. By intentionally putting God first in our lives, we create space for His transformative work to take place. As Galatians 5:19-21 reveals, the fruits of the Spirit—such as love, joy, and self-control—stand in stark contrast to the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-22

¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

The Tension Between Faith and Works

While faith alone saves us, genuine faith inevitably produces good works. James 2:17 emphasizes the importance of deeds that reflect our faith, while Ephesians 2:9 reminds us that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our own efforts. Thus, while works do not earn our salvation, they serve as evidence of our genuine faith and transformation.

Embracing the Spirit-Led Life

Ultimately, those who belong to Christ have crucified their sinful nature and embraced the guidance of the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-26). Being led by the Spirit is not a burden but a blessing—a pathway to true freedom and empowerment. Romans 8:11 reassures us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead resides within us, offering us new life and vitality.

Surrendering to the Spirit

As we navigate the complexities of life, may we surrender every aspect of our being to the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit. Whether in our finances, relationships, or daily habits, let us choose to follow the Spirit rather than our sinful nature. In doing so, we embrace the abundant life and freedom that Christ offers to all who believe.

In conclusion, let us allow the gospel—the good news of God’s love and redemption through Jesus Christ—to permeate every aspect of our lives. May the transformative power of the Spirit shape us into the individuals we were created to be, empowering us to make a lasting impact on the world around us.

Did you like Galatians – Rescued & Recruited – Week 4? If so, check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

Jesus. Week 15 Do you want to be powerful?

This week we hear pastor Paul talk about the ascension of Jesus and the Holy Spirit descending. He asked this important question:

Who would you rather provide your life agenda?  God or You?

Jesus. Week 15 Teaching Text

Acts 1:6-12

The Ascension of Jesus

⁶ So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

⁷ He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Did you like this message, Jesus. Week 15? Check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

In this teaching, we hear Pastor Mike talk about the Holy Spirit as our guide in reaching our destiny. We do so much to keep God from guiding us and you might be thinking “no, He’s God. You can’t tie up God. Can’t He just make Himself free?” They said the same thing to Jesus. They said,

if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!

Matthew 27:40

Jesus didn’t save himself. Why? Because God has given people an uncomfortable amount of freedom to sin and to reject Him. We’ve got a world of people trying to reach their destiny, but they don’t know where they’re going.

Fresh Start Week 3 Teaching Text

Luke 1:28-35

²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ And he will reign over Israel^[c] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

Did you like this message, Fresh Start Week 3? Check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

In this teaching, we hear from Pastor Mike as he talks about getting guidance from the Holy Spirit. Christians, let’s get really serious real fast. How much confidence does being filled with the Holy Spirit give you?

Acts Week 6 Teaching Text

Acts 13:4-12

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

⁴ So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. ⁵ There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.

⁶ Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ⁷ He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.

⁹ Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. ¹⁰ Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.

¹² When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Did you like this message, Acts Week 6? Check out more of our Sunday teachings here.