West Park Baptist Church

Holy Spirit

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Counsel for the Heart: Tools for Restoration (Gal. 6:1-5)

It’s been very instructive for me to focus on the fruit of the Spirit. In the average daily struggle, calling to mind my Comforter and Counselor and Agent of true change has been such a help!

How has it been for you to study the spiritual fruit? We have one more time together today to dig into the practical method of walking by the Spirit, evidencing His fruit and applying it in the restoration of fellow believers.

Galatians 6:1–5

[1] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. [2] Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. [3] For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. [4] But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. [5] For each will have to bear his own load. (ESV)

Getting to the Heart:

We learned yesterday that the Lord Jesus is in the process of restoring each of us to His image. He is the absolute best at the work of restoration. He sees the finished product, and just as one house is different from another, so the Lord knows the uniqueness of every believer. As a Master carpenter, Jesus knows all about using tools, and his main tools in the people restoration projects are you and me! And He further counsels us about the tools we need to follow His plans for restoring one another. Yesterday we learned about Gentleness and Watchfulness. Today let’s dig in further to learn about the other two tools we need in our restoration kits.

  1. Gentleness.
  2. Watchfulness. (For these first two see the previous article in this series).
  3. Love – Paul says that restoration requires burden-bearing, and this fulfills the law of Christ. What law? Aren’t we free from the law now? Well, yes, but also no. The law of God is no threat to our security and freedom, but by the Spirit we are free to work out our salvation, and in this case it is the law of love for neighbor. Remember how Jesus bore the burden of our sin, all the way to the cross (see 1 Pet. 2:24)? This was love in action! We are called to enter the messiness of sin, not to partake in it but to rescue and restore someone. Even when we would cringe at entering a messy situation with someone, we can rejoice to identify with our Burden-bearer.
  4. Your backpack – Ok, this tool doesn’t seem to match the others, but it’s legitimately in these verses! Galatians 6:5 says “Each will have to bear his own load.” “Load” is not the same word as “burden” (6:2). It actually refers to a small pack that a traveler would wear, and the pack is essential and as personal as each individual. Another skill that Jesus wants His followers to have is the skill of honest self-assessment, and that’s what the text means by “each will have to bear his own load.” Each of us has unique skills, setbacks, strengths and weaknesses. We do no good by comparing ourselves with others, but there’s a humility that comes when we remember who we are and the growth God has worked out in us over time. Each of us has limitations in carrying out our spiritual responsibility, but that shouldn’t stop us from seeking to restore others! If anything an honest self-assessment provides us with two things (at least): 1) a healthy “boasting” in what God has done in our lives: a cause for rejoicing; 2) patience with others in their sin, especially not taking personally what they say or do. When someone may respond in anger we can rightly think, I don’t know what that brother may be facing today or what is in his backpack. Perhaps he’s farther along with the Lord than he was a year ago. Regardless, the Lord is at work! 

The bottom line: if we would apply gentleness, humility, love and a proper self-awareness to our ministry of restoration, we will do well, and others will come to know the love and support of our loving Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s talk it over: 

  • What strengths has God equipped you with to help you minister to others?
  • What difficulties have you faced in your life that could help you to bear the burdens of others with gentleness and love?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You have loved us and sought us each time we’ve gone astray. You sacrificed Yourself for us so that we would see Your worth and have hope to return to You. Lord, please help us to grow in the ministry of restoring others. Help us to recall when you have restored us and help us grow in humility to be of use to You. Amen.

Worship in Song: 

His Forever

Memory Passage: Galatians 5:22–24

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV)

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Counsel for the Heart: the Spirit’s Fruit (Gal. 5:22-23)

There’s something truly refreshing about a fresh fruit!

After the focus Wednesday on the works of the flesh (and a pause in writing yesterday as I attended to some other work), I need the refreshing view of the Spirit’s work in producing in us the fruit of Christlikeness.

I know you need that same focus today, so let’s get to the text.

Galatians 5:22–23

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)

Getting to the Heart:

One of the first things to notice about the fruit of the Spirit is that the fruit is ethical, not about gifts or works. Why is that an important distinction?

Most of the time when we want to end a bad habit we figure out what to do to replace that habit with something good. If that’s all it took to stop doing the works of the flesh, then we wouldn’t need the Holy Spirit at all. Likewise we can’t expect to defeat the works of the flesh in our bodies by doing Christian service or engaging in more and more Christian activity. Don’t get me wrong: Christian service and activity (preaching, praying, Bible reading, serving others) is all good. The problem comes in thinking that engaging more in those activities will automatically equal growth. You may recall that King Saul, Balaam the prophet and Judas Iscariot all did miraculous things and spiritual works, but they were all equally void of the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.

What else can we know about the Spirit’s fruit?

  • It concerns the development of heart character, and the Lord Jesus is the One who is represented as this character develops in us. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are all seen perfectly in the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit wants our hearts to be transformed to process life as Jesus did on earth: with all those qualities developing in us.
  • The fruit is singular in this passage, and that means all these qualities are growing in the Christian all the time. We can’t claim to be kind but also lack self-control, for example. The Spirit is battling the works of the flesh offensively by producing this fruit in all of its beautiful Christ-honoring qualities.
  • Fruit takes time to grow. I enjoy the challenge of gardening. I’m not so good at it, but I love to plant seeds and finally see them break through the ground. I’m also impatient. More than once I’ve had to remind myself not to dig up the seed to see if it had taken root! The seed produces the plant, and the plant produces the fruit. The Holy Spirit is doing that in our lives surely, over our entire lifetimes.
  • This fruit is from the Holy Spirit and not a result of natural human tendencies. For example, someone may be very diplomatic and know how to be a peacemaker and help others out of trouble, but that doesn’t mean the Spirit’s fruit of gentleness is there. You may be very quiet and can listen well, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate the Spirit’s fruit of patience is present. We can and must grow to discern when and where the Spirit is at work producing this fruit, both in our own lives an in others.

Next week I will continue to explore this passage with you by digging further into the meaning of each character quality of the fruit and talk about how to see those qualities develop in us. That’s what’s ahead. But for now…

Let’s talk it over:

  • Can you see how the fruit of the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit are not the same? The New Testament speaks more of the fruit than the Spirit’s gifts. Why do you suppose that is? Can you find places in the New Testament that speak of the fruit?
  • How are you currently seeing the Spirit’s fruit developed in your own life?

Prayer: 

Dear Holy Spirit, You are so faithful to us, and we don’t deserve that! We know the works of the flesh still war within us, and You are inside us with closeup access to our sins. Reveal to us those areas where the works of the flesh need to be crucified, and keep producing the fruit of Christlikeness in us! We depend on You for this work and are grateful that You are in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Worship in Song:

Turn Your Eyes

“Jesus, to You we lift our eyes
Jesus, our glory and our prize
We adore You, behold You, our Savior ever true
Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to You”

© 2019 Sovereign Grace Worship/ASCAP, Sovereign Grace Praise/BMI, Sovereign Grace Songs

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Counsel for the Heart: Works of the Flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)

One reason we fall into various sins is because we just don’t think sin is a big deal.

Now, most of us wouldn’t say that! We know what the Bible says, and we believe that Jesus died because of our sins. Nevertheless, I still think that we lose fights against the flesh because in the practical day to day we don’t think sin is that big of a deal.

Until it becomes a big deal.

Paul continues in Galatians 5 to talk about the “works of the flesh,” and as dark as the picture is, it is necessary for us to look at these biblical descriptions so we can battle the flesh with humble reliance on God’s Spirit.

Galatians 5:19–21

[19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Getting to the Heart:

Paul says the “works of the flesh are evident” (19). Two things here: the flesh doesn’t produce “fruit” like the Spirit does. The outworking of the desires of our flesh (seeking to gratify and exalt self) are works that go out of those desires to hurt others, not help them or nourish them like fruit. Second, Paul says these works are evident, meaning they are plain to see and are everywhere. He lists 16 of those works, but by writing “and things like these” he’s telling us that there seems to be no end to the creative ways our indwelling flesh can find to promote and gratify self.

While this list helps us name the sins, it must not cause us to think that some of these works of the flesh are more deadly or serious than others (for example drunkenness vs. envy). All of us wrestle against these works, and without Christ we’d have no hope to win. As a matter of fact, if we continually exhibit any of these works in an unrepented-of pattern, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. That’s a big deal.

How must we respond? By confessing our particular works of the flesh to God and others, ask for forgiveness, and walk by the Spirit.

Here’s how it happened in my experience just this morning.

I got up this morning and fixed breakfast for the kids. I also made coffee for me and my wife and went the extra step of steaming the milk and making it frothy, with a touch of vanilla. It was French-pressed, steamed milk perfection! I had determined that I needed to get to work, so I wasn’t planning to eat right then, but I carefully prepared my coffee just how I liked it and was eager to enjoy that steaming foamy cafe latte!

But one of my kids was bouncing a bouncy ball around the living room. Perhaps you know what happens next.

I left my coffee on the counter for just a minute as I turned to get something I needed for my work-at-home day, when all of a sudden the bouncy ball sailed through the air, bounced once on the kitchen floor then landed with a plop… in my steaming foamy cup of coffee.

A primal yell emerged from deep within me, “Ahhh!” “Why?!” I’d used up all the milk, and I didn’t want to brew more coffee just to drink it black, so I poured the coffee and bouncy ball out in the drain, and walked away with anger brewing in my heart.

A couple of minutes later I was convicted. That was a fit of anger that bubbled up out of my heart. Why? Because my motive was to enjoy the hot coffee as the fruit of my labor, and it was taken away from me. In that moment I wanted the pleasure of the coffee more than I wanted to love and show forbearance to the bouncer of the ball. I responded in that moment with an outburst of anger, “Ahhh!”

The Holy Spirit gave me insight into my motive and the work of the flesh that was evident. I went and confessed that sin of anger to the child who had bounced the ball, and I asked for forgiveness. The Spirit was kind and faithful to help us be reconciled.

My friends, be specific about the works of the flesh that are in your lives. Confess them specifically to God and others, ask for forgiveness, then continue to walk by the Spirit.

Let’s talk it over:

  • How have you seen the works of the flesh evident in your own life?
  • Are you seeing consistent growth by your ability to identify these works of flesh and put them to death by confession, repentance and walk by the Spirit?

Prayer:

Oh Holy Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, we are humbled by the weight of this list, especially since we have evidenced some of these very works of the flesh. The seriousness of sins is heavy upon us when we see the evident works of the flesh at work in us and in those around us. Especially during this Covid19 quarantine we see these works come out more. But we know You don’t mean us ill by revealing these works, and You never condemn us. We stand holy and cleansed by Your blood, Jesus, and we thank You and love You all the more when we experience Your cleansing and ongoing sanctifying now by Your Spirit. Help us, Lord, and make us continually like You. Amen.

Worship in Song:

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

Memory Passage Reminder: Galatians 5:22-24

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Counsel for the Heart: Walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16)

Here’s our memory passage for this week: Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

Will you work on that with me this week? I will be writing up a devotional each day from Galatians 5, so you’ll get the background as you memorize the text.

Today I want to explore with you what it means to “walk by the Spirit,” and why that is far superior to the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16–18

[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (ESV)

 Getting to the Heart

Yesterday I wrote that every Christian is in a daily battle: the fight between the Spirit and the flesh. The more I study out that fight the more I see it is a battle of motivations – motivations to exalt the desires of our old fallen nature that seeks to exalt self and the motivations of the Holy Spirit within us Who desires Jesus Christ to be exalted and for us to know, love and be like Him in all we do.

The focus today is in the command “walk by the Spirit” (16) and the related condition “led by the Spirit” (18). How can we really change in daily life to bring honor and glory to Jesus and show love to those around us? We must walk by the Spirit and be led by the Spirit.

“Walk” implies direction and progress, and it’s the command that we are given. Christians are to put themselves in the direction that the Holy Spirit is going. We may do that by reading God’s Word, meditating on it, memorizing it, singing it, praying it, along with fellowshipping with other believers. The Holy Spirit then takes what we are internalizing about the life and message of Jesus Christ, the very things He has given to us, and leads us along in the circumstances of life where we have a choice: to obey the commands of our flesh or to obey the commands of the Holy Spirit.

We walk as the Spirit leads.

Let me share a personal perspective on this process. I continue to be confronted with the reality that I am not a very patient person. At times I can actually get irritated (read: mad) when someone is taking too long or wasting my time (and isn’t that what is most important: me and my time?!) to get to what they are trying to say. My flesh has on occasion responded with “What’s your point?” which is not a kind thing to respond with when you know the tone in my head that accompanies it! I’ve noticed that when I submit my heart to the Lord Jesus through Bible reading and prayer, humble recognition of Him or of how God has worked in the events of the Old Testament, I enter those occasions of listening in a different way entirely.

As I listen, the Spirit brings to mind: “Why are you tempted to be impatient? Do you recall how the Lord Jesus received all who came to Him, how He journeyed 3 years with hard-headed disciples? How He rebuked those who forbad children to come Him? Listen with His power, and put on His patience.” There’s a change that happens, and I’m being led by the Spirit. My heart is softened again, and I’m blown away by the Lord Jesus and His patience with me! That He would listen to me. That He, the most important One in the whole universe makes time for me and treats me as valuable. How can I not treat others with that same patience and love, for Jesus counts them valuable too! I repent of my impatient anger, seek to listen and love.

My friends, that’s just one recent example of how the Spirit is leading me in the day to day. His ministry as I meditate on Jesus my Lord is changing me in my home and in the way I love my family. Where sometimes things seem like they won’t change, simply turning to Jesus and trusting Him for continued change and grace makes all the difference in the world.

Let’s talk it over: 

  • Can you describe in your own words how to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit?
  • How have you experienced the lead of the Holy Spirit as you’ve sought to walk in the Spirit?

Prayer:

Lord, the Holy Spirit, thank You for Your presence in our lives. We are no longer lost thanks to You and how You have applied the finished salvation of Jesus to our lives. We are also no longer lost in the day to day battle with sin thanks to You. It’s a mystery to us how You choose to live in us, seeing still all the desires of the flesh that afflict us and that we sometimes give in to. Oh, forgive us, Lord! But we remain confident that in You we are no longer slaves to sin. Help us in the fight today to honor Jesus and love one another. Amen.

Worship in Song: 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

I love this song and its focus on our Lord Jesus. I also really appreciate the life and ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada. I hope you benefit from both in the video above.

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Counsel for the Heart: In the Fight (Gal. 5:22-24)

How would you describe the state of your relationships right now?

I’m thinking particularly of the many who have had more time than they ever planned on to be at home. Stuck. With the same people. Day after day….

I’m of course writing with a bit too much drama, but I have noticed that more time together can mean more fights breaking out, more hurt feelings, more complaining, silent treatments, or angry outbursts. And with seasonal allergies afflicting many, it’s hard to even get outside to get a reprieve!

Amidst these many relational challenges all of us face, even as we near the end of the stay-at-home directions, the Lord is at work. He wants us to understand why we have difficulties in our relationships, and He wants us to learn how to experience through living out the Fruit of the Spirit.

This week on Counsel for the Heart I want to look at Galatians 5:16-26 and share some counsel about how the Holy Spirit works to transform us in the everyday circumstances we are in and for the good of all He has placed in our lives.

Galatians 5:16–26

[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

[25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (ESV)

Getting to the Heart

Let’s get the main idea from verses 16-17. Christian, you are in a war! “Yes!” you may answer, “You must have been in my home last night overhearing the conversation between me and my kids (or spouse or brother or sister)!” No, my friend, I wasn’t in your house. I take it on the authority of God’s Word in Galatians 5 that we are all in a war. It’s the war of the Spirit vs. the flesh.

Before a person gets saved, he or she was ruled completely by the flesh, that ruling force within that seeks out all things for the maximum pleasure and exaltation of self. After the Holy Spirit saves and redeems that person the true battle begins. Prior to salvation there was no fight! Whatever the flesh wanted, it got. It didn’t matter who was in the way or who got hurt. All that mattered was self.

After Jesus comes in, the flesh is crucified. That means the power of the flesh to rule you and produce all kinds of wicked works in and through you has gotten the death blow by Jesus on the cross. Something still remains of those evil desires within us, though. By God’s plan He will completely eradicate all those wicked desires in us, and He has given us His Holy Spirit right now to live within us to fight. It’s a battle of desires: the flesh desires (actually in the Greek language it over desires) the exaltation of self, and the Spirit within our renewed hearts desires the exaltation of Jesus Christ.

What can we learn from these two verses?

  • If you are fighting wrong desires right now, as hard as that seems, it’s a blessing! Why? Because it reveals that God the Holy Spirit is at work in you. Non-Christians don’t experience the war within to love and honor Jesus vs loving and honoring self. Don’t give up!
  • The battle is inside your heart, not with other people. This is crucial to remember when we are with those closest to us at home. Look at those believers with you (your spouse, kids, brothers and sisters, housemates) as your teammates, your Christian brothers and sisters who are also in the war with you. Help them and seek through prayer their good and spiritual progress. Look at non-believers with you as people made in God’s image that currently need prayer and encouragement to submit to Jesus. Be their encouragers and allow them to see the work of the Spirit in you.
  • Ultimately, even though we are in this battle, the Spirit of God will win! At times when things may seem hopeless, or when the power of your crucified flesh seems stronger, please remember that Jesus has crucified the flesh of the believer, with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24).

Let’s talk it over:

  • Where are you experiencing the fight right now? Be encouraged as you share with others, knowing that every believer is in this fight right now.
  • How have you seen the Holy Spirit help you in the fight against your remaining flesh and its desires? Remember, the Spirit longs for Jesus and His glory. How has the Spirit shown you the superiority of Jesus in the fight?

Prayer:

Lord the Holy Spirit, You have saved and redeemed us. Thank You for applying in our lives the finished work of Jesus our Lord so that we are no longer ruled by the flesh and its desires. Nevertheless we are still in the war, and we thank You that You are present in us, desiring the exaltation of Jesus Christ. He is the only worthy King and Ruler of our hearts. Please continue to war the flesh in us, and help us to grow this week by looking at Your work in us. In Jesus name, Amen.

Worship in Song:

Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.

https://store.gettymusic.com/us/song/holy-spirit-living-breath-of-god-with-gabriels-oboe/

Memory Passage: 

Galatians 5:22–24

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV)