A Step by Step Guide to Walking in the Spirit
June 3, 2024 · Walking in the Spirit
Scripture referenced
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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Matthew 18:20 opening prayer, wherever two or more are gathered he is there
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
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Keep this verse
Philippians 4:6-8
worry about nothing, pray about everything, peace of God guards heart and mind
6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
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Ephesians 2:8
it is by faith you have been saved through grace, key principle of the kingdom
8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
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2 Corinthians 13:14
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, love of God, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
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Amos 3:3
how can two walk together unless they be in agreement
3 Do two walk together, unless they have agreed?
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Romans 8:5
those dominated by sinful nature think sinful things, those controlled by Spirit think on things that please the Spirit
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
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Galatians 5:16
let the Holy Spirit guide your lives and you won't do what your sinful nature craves
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
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1 John 1:9
those who confess their sin, God is faithful and just to purify and forgive
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Psalm 119:11-16
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you
11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways.
16 I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word.
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Psalm 116
read aloud in full, parallel tracks of hard circumstance and trust in the Lord
1 I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice, and my cries for mercy.
2 Because he has turned his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death surrounded me, the pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on Yahweh’s name: “Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul.”
5 Yahweh is Gracious and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful.
6 Yahweh preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before Yahweh in the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.”
11 I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”
12 What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call on Yahweh’s name.
14 I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints.
16 Yahweh, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant. You have freed me from my chains.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on Yahweh’s name.
18 I will pay my vows to Yahweh, yes, in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of Yahweh’s house, in the middle of you, Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
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Isaiah 30:21
your ears will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way you should go
21 and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.”
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Matthew 6:16
Jesus says when you fast, not if, fasting as normal practice
16 “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
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James 3:3-5
small bit controls a horse, small rudder steers a ship, tongue makes grand speeches
3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
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Ephesians 6:18
pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion
18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
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1 Corinthians 14:2
speaking in tongues you speak only to God, speaking mysteries by the Spirit, person is strengthened personally
2 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
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Romans 8:26
Holy Spirit helps in weakness, prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words
26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.
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Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
This message was the fourth week in Tribe's series on walking in the spirit, and Brian focused on four practical steps for doing that in everyday life. He opened with an extended picture about the fishing pond at a church carnival, using it to frame how prayer and faith actually work together. The whole service had a conversational feel, with several people contributing from the floor.
What was said
Brian started with the carnival fishing pond image that came to him during worship. The idea was simple: you have a need, your measure of faith is the fishing rod, and God is on the other side of the curtain, ready and waiting. The point was that many Christians throw their line over and then walk away without reeling in, or never throw the line at all, and end up disillusioned. That kind of disappointment is not a sign that prayer failed or that faith was too small. It is usually a sign that the person did not understand how the whole thing works.
From there he read the benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14, pulling out the phrase "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit" as a short definition of what walking in the spirit actually is. He used the image of two people dancing: the Holy Spirit leads, and walking with him means letting him lead, not trying to steer yourself. He was clear that this is not a gift some Christians have and others do not. The word "all" in that verse means everyone.
Step one was embedding Scripture deep in your heart. Brian's argument was that the Holy Spirit needs something to work with, and that something is the word you have already stored inside you. He read from Psalm 119 and then had someone read all of Psalm 116 aloud, pointing to how the psalm holds real suffering and real peace in the same breath, the way a believer can hold both when the word is already inside them.
Step two was obeying the Holy Spirit in the small things. Brian's argument here was that the big moments of hearing God's voice clearly are built on a long practice of listening and responding in moments that seem trivial. A member of the congregation added that this is itself an expression of God's grace, that he lets you practice before anything is at stake, so that when something important comes, the voice is already familiar. The Isaiah 30:21 verse about a voice behind you saying "this is the way" tied back to the fishing pond: God is behind the curtain, unseen, and faith is what makes the exchange possible.
Step three was disciplining the flesh, and Brian named three specific practices: fasting, guarding your words, and prayer. He used James 3 on the tongue and the bit in a horse's mouth to make the point that small physical disciplines have outsized effects. The Philippians 4 passage about praying instead of worrying came back here too, connecting the "do not worry" instruction directly to the fishing pond image: prayer is the act of throwing the line over.
Step four was praying in the spirit, and Brian spent the most time here. He worked through 1 Corinthians 14:2 and Romans 8:26, making three observations: praying in the spirit is communication only God can hear, it strengthens the person praying, and it bypasses the limitations of the mind to pray in harmony with God's own will. He was direct that this is not reserved for a certain type of believer, and he pushed back on the mysticism around it by using the image of jumping. If you asked for the ability to jump twelve feet and then never tried to jump, nothing would happen. He closed that section by giving the room a moment of quiet to try it, and invited anyone who had never done it before to simply ask, start in their own language, and let themselves try.
Touch points
Things you could actually do this week.
- Pick one verse this week, write it on a card, carry it in your pocket, and read it every time you reach for your phone.
- When the Holy Spirit prompts you to do something small and ordinary this week, do it without reasoning your way out of it.
- Replace one worry that keeps coming back with a spoken prayer about it, out loud, every time it surfaces.
- Try a fast from one thing your flesh reaches for habitually, even for a single day, and notice what your spirit does with the space.
- Find a quiet moment this week, ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you, open your mouth, and just try it.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- Brian described grace as God's 'supernatural enabling empowerment on your life to do what he's called you to do,' not just something given at salvation. How does that change the way you think about asking God for grace in everyday situations?
- The fishing pond picture was used to show that faith is the line that connects our need to God's provision, and that we have to keep reeling even when nothing seems to be happening. Has there been a time when you nearly gave up reeling before the answer came, and what kept you going?
and 3 more questions in the guide
Resumen en español
El mensaje resumido, en español.
Brian compartió una imagen sencilla para abrir el mensaje: la de un niño pescando en una feria, donde alguien invisible del otro lado de la cortina le engancha un dulce al anzuelo. Esa imagen ilustra cómo funciona la fe. Tenemos una necesidad, lanzamos la línea de la fe, y Dios, que conoce todo, está del otro lado listo para responder. El problema no es que Dios no escuche, sino que muchos creyentes lanzan la línea, esperan un momento, y se van sin recogerla. La fe requiere que sigamos jalando, a veces por mucho tiempo, confiando en que Dios nunca da un tirón falso.
La serie sobre caminar en el Espíritu llegó a su cuarta semana, y Brian presentó cuatro pasos prácticos. Primero, guardar la Palabra de Dios profundamente en el corazón, porque eso es lo que el Espíritu usa cuando necesitamos dirección. Segundo, obedecer al Espíritu Santo en las cosas pequeñas y aparentemente sin importancia, porque así se afina el oído para reconocer su voz cuando llegan las decisiones grandes. Tercero, disciplinar la carne, ya sea por medio del ayuno, cuidando las palabras que salen de la boca, o por medio de la oración constante. Cuarto, orar en el Espíritu, es decir, usar el lenguaje de oración que el Espíritu Santo da a cada creyente, lo cual fortalece al creyente personalmente y es una comunicación directa con Dios que el enemigo no puede entender.
Hubo espacio para que la congregación hiciera preguntas y compartiera, y una persona habló sobre la diferencia entre condenación y convicción, y sobre cómo la gracia no es solo para la salvación sino para toda la vida cristiana. Brian cerró invitando a quienes nunca han practicado orar en el Espíritu a intentarlo, recordando que es como cualquier otra habilidad: se practica, poco a poco.
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Pasajes bíblicos mencionados
- Filipenses 4:6-8
- Romanos 8:5
- Gálatas 5:16
- 2 Corintios 13:14
- Amós 3:3
- Salmos 119:11-15
- Salmos 116
- Isaías 30:21
- Santiago 3:3-5
- Efesios 6:18
- 1 Corintios 14:2
- Romanos 8:26
- 1 Juan 1:9
Read the full transcript 11,931 words
0:06
We're live.
2:00
Come on in, find your seat. Let's stand and worship together. Come awake. Let's awaken our spirits today. Be aware of his presence.
5:11
To overflow. What's your expectation today? What do you come in here expecting to meet with the Lord today? Just invite his presence. His word says that wherever two or more are gathered, he's there in the midst.
5:27
So holy spirit, come in this place today. Touch our hearts, speak to us as we sing and worship you corporately today. Spirit, come Just with your eyes closed right where you are, just let the Lord come and search your heart this morning, each and every one of us. As we open our mouth and we sing praises to him, is there anything unrepented? Is there sin that we need to bring before him and lay on the foot of his cross this morning?
14:46
The praise of our lips would be pleasing in his sight today. Lord, if there's worry, if there's anxiousness, if there's doubt, maybe regarding the fate of our country, maybe regarding our family, our health, our finances, whatever it is, Lord. If we've closed our fist and we're holding on to something that needs to be laid at the foot of your cross today, We just take a minute and we just remind ourselves the God that we serve. Nobody moves your hand, Lord. You are almighty and all powerful.
15:27
We remind ourselves of that again this morning. We take those cares and worries and we trade them for your sacrifice on the cross today. We say we trust you. Lord, we remind ourselves that this life is but a vapor and that if we've been trying to cling on to it, Lord, forgive us. All that is not eternal is eternally worthless.
16:00
So we fix our eyes on you and on heaven above and your coming kingdom. Find us ready for that day that we see you face to face. Find us ready. Refine us. Sing us like a bride on her wedding day.
16:20
Like a bride on her wedding day, longing
16:25
for her groom. Oh, Jesus, we're longing, we're longing
19:03
Let's be our prayer
19:04
this morning. Waiting for you
21:35
will confident in this. I will renew our strength today, Lord, in you. Rebuild our trust today, Lord, in you. Cat, do you have the microphone lead us in? Or we like for tribe, if you're a visitor today, to be a conversation.
23:11
He's with me. So we use a handheld mic if you feel like the Lord has put something on your heart that's to share for this group. You know that the Lord doesn't just speak to the person on the stage up here, but he can speak to each and every one of us. And Lee is one of our trusted pastors counsel. Of course, we always love hearing from him.
23:35
This is what came to my mind early on when listen was worshiping. And I feel like the Lord is speaking Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. Tell god. Thank him. Speak to him.
24:01
Praise him for everything. And if we do this, we will experience. He says that the lord is saying, my peace that I give to you, Let it rule in your heart. Let it rule in your heart. Don't pass it by.
24:26
Don't ignore it. May also says that the words of Amen.
25:11
It's a good word. Lord Jesus, we just ask that you would seal in our hearts to not be anxious, to not worry, but to pray about everything, to bring everything to you. And I love your promise in that scripture in Philippians But if we do that, there's a promise attached. We will experience your peace. That transcends all understanding.
25:38
So Lord, as we move from this type of worship to the next type of worship, we just say, come and speak to us, convict us, search us. We just tell you that you're everything and you are worthy of this time and you're worthy of our lives. You're worthy of every breath that we could ever sing. Have your way in this service today. Thank you for your presence.
26:08
You don't have to come, but you always do. We thank you. Thank you that you are a God with us. In Jesus' name, and everybody said, amen. Great worshipers today.
26:24
Fill up your coffee, grab a donut, get your bible out, and get ready for the Lord to speak to you through his word today.
28:03
Can I share with you a picture that I saw in my mind's eye during worship and during the word that Lee shared? How many of you have ever been a part of, I don't know, church bizarre some sort of something where where where they have that fishing pond where you have, like, the little kids reel, and on the end of the fishing line is like a a clothespin. Right? And when it's your turn to go up to that booth, you throw the fishing reel over and there's, you know, it's kind of like behind a curtain. And then you get a little tug on your rod and you like, yank it back and then you get like a a little treat or a prize.
28:57
How many of you remember being that fisherman? Alright. Alright. Okay. Well, I don't wanna burst anybody's bubble, but you don't just, like like, grab something.
29:15
Like, there's somebody behind that little partition, and they sit there in a little stool. I'm sorry. This is the only thing I'm gonna burst your bubble on today for now. But they sit on the little stool and they've got the little, like, bucket of candy and they clip a piece of candy on there and then they tug on the string and then you pull it back and you're like, well, I got a piece of candy. Right?
29:38
You're all there in that moment with me, aren't you? Okay. So, during worship this morning, I felt like the lord just show me that same picture. We are the fishermen and perhaps there is a need that we have. Peace or joy though from the word that Lee gave, it was worry about nothing.
30:05
Philippians four six through eight, worry about nothing, pray about everything, and then the peace of god will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. And when he quoted that verse, that picture just popped into my mind, and this I hope this is for more than one of you. We'll connect a dot or a light bulb will go on. I'm just believing that it will. But there's a need in your life.
30:33
And you have the fishing pole, and that fishing pole in the line is the measure of faith that you have been given. The Bible is super clear that every single believer has been given a measure of faith. Don't compare your faith to somebody else because your journey is not their journey, part part of
31:03
to be
31:08
the we throw our line over the curtain, who is sitting on the stool? It's god. He's back there. And he's waiting for your line of faith to come over. And then knowing all of your thoughts, knowing everything that you need, he goes, oh, here's what my baby girl needs.
31:36
Clips this on there, and he goes, Now our job's not done because what do we have to do? Yeah. Pull it up. Now a very simplistic picture, but here's how many peep many Christians operate. They come up to the booth and they go, lord, I'm in desperate need of.
32:03
And they wait. Maybe they wait a short time. Maybe they wait a long time. And they go, they sigh and they walk away. Nothing clipped to the end of their clothespin.
32:17
Is it because their prayer wasn't strong enough? Help me out. Is it because their prayer wasn't strong enough? No. Is it because they didn't need it desperately enough?
32:28
No. Was it because of their lack of faith? You didn't have enough faith. No. You just don't know how it works.
32:41
How many Christians have come to the booth with a need? Not knowing how it works. And then walk away disillusioned, angry, mad, need unmet, something. A a a less than desirable outcome. The Bible says, for it is by faith that you have been saved through grace.
33:13
And not only just for salvation, but that's the entire key principle of the kingdom is by grace through faith. So you have faith, the fishing rod, and you need to flip it over, and that's what enables god to do his part, which he is always faithful to do. Now, how how well does it work if you're standing on this side of the curtain and you say, I want sweethearts. Like, we we don't kinda really get to say that. Or, like, in really if you're really fishing, I'm not much of a fisherman, so I'm gonna expose my ignorance really quick, You can kind of tweak the bait and where you fish and things like that, but you don't throw the line in saying like, I want me a marlin.
34:07
Like, I mean, you can want a marlin all day long and fish every day at Jackson Lake. And right, you get what you get and you Don't
34:18
throw a fish.
34:22
Did your mom raise y'all too? Sounds like my mom and our mom of our kids. So the lord knows exactly what you need, and he longs and is faithful. You've never you've never thrown your line over the curtain, and he's, like, like, out in the bathroom or or or distracted with something something else. There can be a million bazillion lines coming over, and he's like, clip clip clip clip clip tug tug.
35:04
Now there are some folks that that step out in faith, they throw the line over, and then they wait for the fish or the answer to just be thrown over the curtain and land in their lap. That's not how fishing works either. Once you get that tug, you have to reel it in. How many people have prayed, thrown their line over, and reeled and reeled and reeled, reeled five times, reeled 50 times, and be like, well, guess guess it's not not meant to be. God never gives you a pump fake by going tank tank with nothing on the end of it.
35:48
That's not how he works. Now you may have to keep reeling and reeling and reeling and reeling. You may have to reel. Reel? Is that a yeah.
36:02
You may have to reel for decades. They didn't like that one. I'm sorry. Say dates. It could be decades.
36:20
For how many people that simple, silly, little analogy was poignant for today and helpful for you? Especially fishermen. Imagine having a need and you throw your line over the curtain to the universe Just putting good vibes out philosophy that when you have a need, you throw your fishing line over to the universe. Just putting it out there to the universe, and you do this. Now I may actually be stepping on a few toes here.
37:23
The universe, as Lisa said from over here, does not have the capacity to to meet your needs because the universe does not have personality, does not have intelligence, is not omniscient, and can't know what you need.
37:42
And it was created by god.
37:43
And the universe was created by god. That's like throwing your your paper your keep saying paper clip. Your clothespin over and being like, clothespin, clothespin, please clip onto something good. Oh, lord. I'm so thankful that you are intelligent, that you're omniscient, that you're omnipotent in the way that you've chosen to operate according to your values and principles is by grace through faith.
38:22
You've explained this to us many times to the Old Testament and the New Testament. And when we play by your rules, you delight in meeting us where we are. And that you're capable of it and it's in your character, in your nature like good shepherd or a good father to take care of your sheep, to take care of your children. Forgive us when we've tried to intimidate you or manipulate you or sweet talking or trying to sweet talk you into operating outside of your way and your character. We repent.
39:33
He says, I forgive you. Now pick up the fishing pole that I've given you, the little Barbie fishing pole, the little Spider Man fishing pole that you have. Leave the deep sea fishing and all that other fancy gear. Leave that to somebody else. Here's your little Spider Man fishing pole, which is about all I feel like I'm capable of.
40:02
We love you, Jesus. Amen. Okay. That wasn't in my notes. My name is Brian.
40:13
Happened to be the lead my current assignment is as the founding and lead pastor of Tribe. You found us church in a bar. Last week, I was away and out of town, but Amanda sat here. Didn't she do good? We have such a we have such a deep bench of talent and and men like like Justin and Jay and women like Amanda and Joy when she's preached.
40:45
Such a deep bench of being able to handle with with authority the word of god and so thank you for preaching last week. Thank you for bringing a tough message. Glad you did, not me. About, like, walking in the flesh and the the consequences of walking in our flesh. And I love the positive spin that is true to your personality of of the way that God actually is, which is the righteous man falls down seven times.
41:19
We're gonna mess up. We're gonna blow it. But God is right there to dust us off, put some little Bactene spray on our skin, knees, and say, get back up. The righteous man falls down seven times, but the difference is he gets back up. So thank you for that word.
41:38
This week, we have we have just two more weeks, this week and next, that we're going to continue our conversation of walking in the spirit. And depending on the church culture and church background that you have come from, that phrase walking in the spirit, it may be very familiar and and comfortable for you. Perhaps the church background that you've come from, or if you're visiting tribe and you're traveling, the your your home your home church, maybe you don't talk about this too much. Well, you're here today, and just like Olive Garden, if you're here, you're family. And so welcome into our conversation of talking about walking in the spirit.
42:25
And if you're new or visiting, we would love it to have a record of your visit here with us today. Your biscuits are warming a little card, and there's a pin, in your seat as well. If you're new or visiting, would you take a moment just to fill out that card? You can let us know that you're visiting. If you are a part of our Tribe Fam and you would like to be connected with us, we do text blasts.
42:51
We send out information about different events and things that are going on. You can fill that card out as well. There's also opportunity for if there's a prayer request that you have, just fill that card out and leave it in your seat when you're done. Or backed by Justin, who is pointing directly at a place that you can leave that Connect card. Let's give Justin a round of applause for doing such a great job.
43:20
Incredible. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Let's do a quick review to catch you up where we've been, and then we'll get into today's conversation. So the first week that we started this, you can go back to YouTube, iTunes or Spotify to listen to these podcasts and conversations.
43:48
The first week, we talked about what does that phrase even mean, walking in the spirit. What are you talking about, Willis? We answered that question and and unpacked that phrase. The second week, we talked about why is it important. I've been kind of bouncing along in my Christian walk without knowing what that phrase means, and I think I've been doing just fine, like, up until now.
44:14
So, like, why is this flashing with that red neon light? Why is it important to be able to to know what it is and and even how to walk in the spirit? Last week, Amanda talked about the flesh versus the spirit, and we've got two more weeks. There's this week and next week. This week, which is the title of this morning's conversation that you can put at the top of your notes, we're gonna be talking about a step by step guide to walking in the spirit.
44:49
So this is not exhaustive. This is not, 32 steps. It's just four. It's just four points, four pointers that I'm going to share with you. Okay?
45:07
And there is one slide with two verses on it, Romans and Galatians. This is kind of been our our stepping stones or our launching pad for the series that we've been talking about. You can write down that address. Romans eight five. I finally corrected it in the keynote.
45:25
The devil was trying to trip me up with my lisdexia and put it the wrong way, but I got it fixed now. Romans eight five, those who are dominated by the sinful nature, think about sinful things. But those who are controlled, who have relinquished control of their life unto the person of the holy spirit, think about, meditate, chew on about things that please the spirit. You know, you talked about this a moment ago when you said let, I believe it was the peace of Christ rule in your heart, Lee, in that word, rule in your heart. English, it says rule, but that word in the Greek sounds, if we were to read the definition in Greek and assign it a new English word, a good English word to substitute for rule would be to be an umpire, like at a at a baseball game.
46:24
Let the peace of Christ be the umpire. Now what's significant about the umpire? He calls and there you go. He calls balls and strikes, and I don't know what else he does. Fouls.
46:41
Yeah. Fouls. Alright. So so what would happen if the batter was the umpire? How well would the game of baseball work?
46:50
Like, uh-uh. Because any pitch that he swung at and missed, he'd be like, wow. That was a ball. Right? I don't know.
47:00
May maybe I'm the only dishonest baseball player in here. But if I couldn't if I couldn't crack at it, I'd be like, I think that was a ball. Send me another one. Right? But but the umpire is there to arbitrate and to call what's right and what's wrong.
47:16
So the things that come out our life, if we let the peace of Christ be the umpire, that's part of what it means to walk in the spirit, to be controlled by the holy spirit, and think about those things that please him. A thought pops up and the umpire of the holy spirit goes, nip, foul ball, just get that out of here. Oh, okay. Delete. Galatians five sixteen.
47:39
So I say, let the holy spirit guide. I'm gonna throw in the word empire there as well, your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. So that's we've been we've been chewing on those verses. Verses.
47:55
Today, we're going to start in one verse, and we're gonna we're gonna travel to several different verses. So if you have your Bible, will you click on second Corinthians for me? One verse. Second Corinthians chapter 13 verse 14. Paul is speaking.
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This is his second letter to the church at Corinth in modern day Turkey. And he says this, may the grace of the lord Jesus Christ, the love of god, and the fellowship of the holy spirit be with you all. Oh, there's so much to unpack there. Many people think that grace is only unto salvation. Meaning, god gives grace to the sinner in order to repent, and they may even define grace as the unmerited favor of god.
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The answer is yes and his grace continues so much further and beyond just getting you saved. Why else would Paul say? May god's grace and he often either begins or ends many of his letters with may grace abound to you. He's writing to Christians. If grace is only to get you saved, why in the world is Paul saying, grace, grace, grace.
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Dumping it out all over the church. If we only need it for salvation. His grace is unto salvation and so much more. It is it is his supernatural enabling empower empowerment on your life to do what he's called you to do. It's his super on your natural.
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May the grace of the lord, Jesus, and the love of god. Imagine what kind of a dad you would be if you told your child when they were eight years old, hey. I love you, and if something changes, I'll let you know. And that was the last he said it. He is not getting stars on his dad chart.
50:56
So we need god's love all the time, every day. And then it says this, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. I would say the the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a great way to describe walking in the spirit. The bible says in the book of Amos chapter three verse three, how can two walk together unless they be in agreement? Selah, help me.
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Little Selah. I can grab a hold of the Holy Spirit's hand and say, let's walk together. And he's like, great. I'll lead. Okay.
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And then try to go a different direction. How many of you don't worry. You're not gonna get, like, heathen points. But how many of you love scooting a boot at the cowboy bar or silver dollar or something like that? Yes.
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Okay. For the rest of you that didn't admit it, how well does it work if two people try to lead? Yeah. Yeah. That's a big old mess, isn't it?
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To walk with the Holy Spirit means he is the leader of the dance partner. May the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Not some of you, not just the good Christians, the ones that don't go to the cowboy or the I wrote your names down. With you all. It's not that some people have a gift for walking in the spirit.
53:39
Well, they got it, and I don't. Nope. If you look up that word all in the Greek, you will find that it means everyone. And let me just say this about walking in the spirit. Walking in the spirit, if you are a Christian, if you're not a Christian and you haven't invited Jesus into your heart, that's really step one.
54:08
Right? Like like, two can't walk together unless you're in agreement, and you come under his submissive authority, and you lay down your life and invite him to be the leader of your life. Right? That's step number one. If you are not saved, your heart is being pricked right now, but your mind is dull.
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And you will not be able to understand the words that I'm saying beyond just a superficial intellectual level. Sorry. Just get saved and then start walking the Holy Spirit. Amen? Amen.
54:47
Okay. Let me just say this about walking in the spirit. Walking in the spirit is not like trying to learn a new language. Walking in the spirit, if you're a Christian, is your natural first language. So if any of you are feeling, like, performance anxiety of like, I walk in the spirit, how do I walk in the spirit, and you love Jesus, and Jesus is the leader of your life, chill.
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It's your first language, and you probably already walk in the spirit way more than you realize. So go ahead, shake your hands out. Relax. Walking in the spirit is a lot like breathing. You've kind of been doing it your whole life.
55:51
Okay. Here's what I wanna do. I want to share with you four really practical steps to walking in the spirit. And before I get into number one, this is a good opportunity to check-in with you. And you heard me say earlier that I want this to be a conversation.
56:14
So that means I welcome your questions, comments, connections questions, comments, and connections. So with all that I've said so far, is there anything that jumps into your mind about maybe a question or something that I could clarify for you. Kat has the mic. And if you just raise your hand, Kat will get you the mic. And the reason why we have the mic in the room, not only so that people can hear you, but also so our livestream families can can stay plugged in and engaged.
56:52
So questions about the massive amount of ground we've already just covered. Did you have your hand, or are just itching? Just itching. Please, Gretchen, tell us.
57:20
This isn't a question, but I'm just glad you clarified on that grace is for even after you're saved. Well, back home at church in Tennessee, our just the atmosphere was like, oh, if you mess up, like, go to the lord about it, tell your leaders, and then you'd kinda be put in this aisle of shame. And like, it kind of just got spread around, hung over your head for a while. You had to do things to, you know, I don't know, appease the people. And I it's taken me a long time to just not feel condemned, like, after I mess up because, like and in the Bible, it says, like, he is faithful even when we are not.
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Like God knows that and he took that into account before he chose to send Jesus. And so like he's like oh I know you're gonna mess up but that's why I'm here. Like that's why you need me. And so not looking at it as sending you into a place of shame and condemnation, but just realizing, oh, I fell again. This is all the more reason why I need him.
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So
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I would love we haven't had too many opportunities. Perhaps that's probably because of of of my leadership. But I've seen lots of church cultures where there is a lot of condemnation. And and there's there's a difference between condemnation and conviction. Condemnation is from the enemy.
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Conviction is from the holy spirit where he says, I don't want that in your life. That's not the best that I have for you. You've messed up. You've blown it. The wages of sin are death.
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But according to first John one nine, those who confess their sin, god is faithful and just to purify you from all sin and forgive you. And and instead of a culture of condemnation, I would love for tribe to be known as a culture and a community of people where we celebrate restoration. Like like, okay. You messed up. You got you got yourself.
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You got the devil, maybe even worldly consequences that are hammering you. You got you got all that you need. But what about celebration with restoration? You've you've repented. You've come clean.
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You've you've maybe there are steps of restitution that need to be taken. You've completed those. Woo hoo. Do you have some?
1:00:09
Yeah I love that. That's so powerful. It's a hospital for sinners not a museum for saints right? That Like and that's kind of the church culture that I was brought up in. I don't wanna, like, say that entirely but just this general idea that, like, oh, you have to do x y z or you're not holy enough.
1:00:27
You know? Like, we're gonna judge you. And so that's so important that constantly live in grace and walk in grace and walk in the spirit and realize, hey. It's okay. God loves us enough to to surpass any any fall fallings short of our own.
1:00:43
But the thought I wanted to bring up is how in almost all of the letters that Paul writes to the churches, he prefaces it by grace and peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ. And I think it's interesting how that is done, first, not peace and grace, but rather grace and peace.
1:01:02
Because
1:01:03
because of the grace, that is what gives us peace through our lord Jesus Christ. Don't know if that checks out.
1:01:11
Everybody go, it's good. Grace and peace. His supernatural enabling ability for us to have a peace that surpasses all understanding. And likewise, Paul says in the book of Romans, well, therefore, should we keep on sinning so that grace can all abound more? And he's like, no, are you crazy?
1:01:33
God's grace is not intended to be a hammock where we can be like, oh, god will forgive me. God will forgive me. But where it's intended to be more like a trampoline to get us back up on our feet and get us going running hard after god. I forget those things that are in the past, and I press on towards the high calling of god that Jesus has has fought and won for me, and that's now my job to grab a hold of. Four really practical steps to walking in the spirit.
1:02:10
Number one, you need to embed his word deep in your heart. Four practical steps to walking in the spirit. Number one, embed his word deep in your heart. Whatever it takes to get it in there. If you need to write it on a note card and put it in your pocket and walk around it with it for a week or so, if you need to listen to it on audiobook, if you need to spend lots of time reading it daily, if you need to be have a friend that can hold you accountable, I'm trying to memorize this verse.
1:02:55
Will you ask set an alarm on your calendar and ask me in five days? Or ask me every day for five whatever it takes. Embed his word in your heart. That's what gives him something to work with. That when you encounter a circumstance in a situation, his word can come bubbling up to the surface of your recollection.
1:03:29
Oh, how much more of god's word could I recall if they weren't filled with useless Beastie Boys lyrics from the nineties? Lord, help me. Psalms one nineteen verse 11 through 15. I have hidden your word in my heart. One of Amanda's favorite verses, that I might not sin against you.
1:03:50
I praise you, oh lord. Teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoice in your laws as much as in riches and I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. Oh, so good.
1:04:13
I think I have one more verse. Let's read, let's read all of this. Psalms 16 we'll read the whole thing. Whoever has a mic near Kat, would you just read Psalm, oh, is it Psalms 116 or Psalm 16? One sixteen, thank you.
1:04:38
Whoever has that, Rita, it's it's a few verses.
1:04:43
One sixteen? Yes.
1:04:44
I'll just start. I love the lord because he hears my voice and my prayers for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath. Death wrapped its ropes around me. The terrors of the grave overtook me.
1:04:58
I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord. Please, Lord, save me. How kind the Lord is. How good he is.
1:05:06
So merciful, this God of ours. The Lord protects those of of childlike faith. I was facing death, and he saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, and I so walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth.
1:05:27
So notice that within Psalms one sixteen, you can see almost two parallel tracks running. There's the reality of a situation. There's there's feelings and emotions that perhaps are contrary to god's word but because he's meditated and he places his faith and hope in the lord, there's something that supersedes the reality of his experiences and his feelings in the moment. In the same way that airplanes don't turn off gravity, they have a law that is higher than the law of gravity. What's that law?
1:06:11
The law of aerodynamics supersedes the law of gravity when the law of aerodynamics is followed properly. That's your second opportunity to go, Okay. Number two, everybody can do number one. You all have a Bible. You all have access to it.
1:06:36
You all have a brain even if it's a little Spider Man kiddie pole, you have a brain to be able to memorize god's word. Bury it, embed it deep in your heart. Number two, here's something else everybody can do. Obey the holy spirit in the small things. How many of you have fallen for the idea that in my everyday day to day life in the small and mundane things, god doesn't really care too much about those things.
1:07:11
I just try to like do the best I can but if something big were to come up, well, then, I would consult the lord. Then, I would pray about it. If it were really big, if there was a suitcase of a million dollars that I just randomly found on the sidewalk. I mean, that I would turn in. But something little and small like, yeah, it's it.
1:07:35
The kingdom works the opposite way than the world does. The way that the kingdom works Mike, over here, please. The way that the kingdom works is that when we are faithful in the little things, god's like, hey, great job. Let's do a little more.
1:07:59
Yes. Speaking of grace, I think being obedient in the little things is an act of God's grace because he lets you practice before it's the Super Bowl. You know, the day in the day out, the practice of, like, hearing his voice, missing it. He knows you're gonna miss it, so he lets you practice again. And it's sometimes on stuff that actually is insignificant to to the world or to your life you know like, I had a friend who you've heard me say this like man she just felt like deeply I'm supposed to give this guy in front of me money at the grocery store and she reasoned with it she's like he doesn't need money and the Lord was like give him money and she did and he was like oh no thank you.
1:08:37
He was like like who cares you know but then she just heard like when she was reflecting about that with the Lord he was like no he didn't need that I just wanted you to practice obedience. And she walks with the lord closely and hears his voice. And so I just think it's god's grace to let us practice in little things again and again and again and again and again because then that voice when it has to do with your kids or your family or your life or something that you would deem very important, that voice is so familiar, it's unmistakable. And it takes and it does create peace, supernatural peace, because you are confident. Yeah.
1:09:11
That's god's voice. I hear that. I've heard it again and again and again in these little things.
1:09:18
So good. Everybody wants to hear the voice of god when it comes to the big things. But who would be willing to put in the hard work and effort of hearing and obeying the lord on little, small, seemingly trivial, and mundane things. One more verse. Isaiah chapter 30 verse 21.
1:09:49
It takes practice to tune your ear to hearing the voice of the lord, And it will always be in concert or in symphony with his written word which is why we started with the word, embedding his word in your heart so that when you encounter a situation and you need god's specific will, not his general will which can be found in the word, you start with his general will found in his word and you're like, there's this Bible verse that seems to be bubbling up and then, the Holy Spirit speaks to you As it says here in Isaiah, your own ears, whether they be one of these five senses connected to your earth suit, maybe the audible voice of the lord but that still small voice that speaks deep down into your heart will hear him. Right behind you, a voice will say, this is the way that you should go, whether to the right or to the left. Oh, okay. This is really good. Somebody, please make a connection for me between the geographical location of where god speaks, keyword being behind, and what we started with with the what is that little booth called?
1:11:09
The fishing pond? And the fishing pond analogy. I just made the connection. Can somebody else make the connection? Yes.
1:11:21
Yes. Yes. You're onto it. But say more. Why?
1:11:26
Why? Why is the voice behind? Why is the clipper of the candy on the other side of the curtain?
1:11:39
I know you're fishing, Brian.
1:11:43
I am. I am. I made the connection. I want to see if anybody else can.
1:11:49
Well, he's unseen, so it's it's by faith.
1:11:53
Okay. Yes. I I think that's beautifully it. How much she says, because the the key component is faith. How much faith does it require Or here, say look quick.
1:12:10
Come here. You just look so cute today. Okay. Come stand right here behind me, and we're and you're gonna follow me. Okay?
1:12:21
Okay. Now how difficult would it be for Selah to follow me?
1:12:28
Not very.
1:12:28
Not very because she's got her peepers, and she can just wherever I go, she goes. Okay. Now come around this way. Okay. Now how is it easier or harder for her to follow me?
1:12:43
Harder. Harder. She has to listen for the sound of my voice. Thank you. In the same way, imagine if there were no, like you know, with the little craft paper waves, But the guy was just sitting there with a bucket, and you just, like, whipped your clothes pin at him, like, give me some candy.
1:13:09
Like, god's so creative. Number one, embed his word deep in your heart. Number two, obey the voice of the holy spirit in the small things. Number three, put that up there. Go back one.
1:13:33
Oh, it's just that? Okay. There we go. Number three, discipline your flesh, and everybody said Right. Let's get really practical about disciplining our flesh.
1:13:51
Is there a slide that has fasting on it? Disciplining your flesh with fasting. Matthew chapter six verse 16, Jesus is speaking and he says, when you fast, not if, the early church had a firm grasp on the discipline of fasting as a normal, regular part of their relationship with Jesus. There's a lot that fasting can accomplish, But one of the things that fasting does when we fast from food or deny ourself other things that our flesh wants, we are instead of our appetites ruling us and our flesh ruling us, when we deny ourself food for a healthy amount of time, we put our spirit man back in the position of authority, and we boss ourselves around. Body, I know that you're hungry, but shut up.
1:15:12
Appetite for Instagram, I know that you gotta be scrolling reels, but no. A spirit man is in charge. We one of the ways that we discipline our flesh is with fasting. Another way that we can discipline our flesh is by guarding our mouth, Brian, being very careful about the words that come out of your mouth. Look what James chapter three verse three to five says, we can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth, and a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go even though the winds are strong, even though that tourist with the little barcode in the bottom of their back window sticker Cut you off in traffic when you're just trying to get through town.
1:16:11
What's the barcode? The rental car.
1:16:13
There. It's a rental car. Even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. The Bible says, let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth.
1:16:41
So, one of the ways that we can discipline our flesh is by carding our tongue. One more way to discipline our flesh through prayer. Don't worry about anything. We read this already. Instead, pray about everything.
1:17:04
Tell god what you need. Thank him for all that he has done, then you will experience. How will you ever pull up that little package of tasty smarties if you don't ever throw your line over in the fishing pond. He says, don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything.
1:17:27
Throw the line over, and then you will experience god's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand, and his peace will guard your hearts and mind as you live in Christ Jesus. How can we discipline our flesh? Through fasting, through guarding our mouth, through prayer. Now, let's talk about the last one. This one is really important and perhaps the most unfamiliar.
1:17:59
How can we walk in the spirit? By praying in the spirit. Now this one probably is if you don't come from see, I just guarded my mouth. I thought of several zingers to say, but I will say this, perhaps you've come from a church background and culture where this was never talked about or emphasized in any way whatsoever. The truth is, the reality is, it is it is very, it is normative, and it is very it it was very normal and commonplace in Jesus' ministry and in the early church.
1:18:47
Philippians chapter six verse 18. Hopefully, you're writing each one of these or taking pictures. Pray in the spirit at all times. Thank you, Ephesians. And on every occasion, stay alert and be persistent in your prayers and then he gives us something a suggestion of what we can be praying for.
1:19:15
Praying for all believers everywhere. Pray in the spirit at all times. Another verse, first Corinthians 14 verse two, the second part of it, says this, for you have the ability for if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God since people won't be able to understand you. You'll be speaking by the power of the spirit, but it will be it will all be mysterious. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.
1:19:56
Now let's let's place this verse in its proper context in which Paul originally said these words. If you look in first Corinthians twelve, first Corinthians 13 is that the the classic chapter on love, then he jumps back into what he's been talking about in first Corinthians chapter 14. And numerous times, he says this phrase, when you gather. Those three words, when you gather. So Paul is laying out some prescriptive norms for for what a church gathering should look like and include.
1:20:32
And he says, in regards to speaking in tongues, in done in a corporate setting, that it should always be accompanied by interpretation, not translation, but interpretation. But then he goes on to talk a little bit more about speaking in tongues, or I'll say praying in tongues, or I'll soften it even more without diluting any of the potencies using your prayer language. You will be talking only to God. Who is excluded from that statement? There's one key individual excluded from when it says you will be talking only to God.
1:21:16
The enemy. When you pray and when you practice practice your prayer language, the devil's like, what are they saying? In a minute. You will be speaking by the power of the spirit but will be mysterious. And then in the next part, it says, a person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.
1:21:54
Now some would read that verse as being selfish and and not of the lord. The lord wants you to be strengthened for the for where we live and the battles that we face and the this this walk that we're in in this life. We need to be strengthened. Think of this portion of the verse, a person who speaks in tongues is strict and personally like recharging your batteries. So, number one, when we pray in this just from this one verse alone, when we pray in the spirit, we're talking only to god.
1:22:32
It is encrypted end to end communication that the devil cannot decipher, and it frustrates him to no end. Anybody ever been frustrated by the devil? Anybody wanna turn that back on him? Give him a taste of his own medicine? Pray in the spirit.
1:22:51
Number two, it says that you will be strengthened personally. And then here's the third thing it says, that you'll be speaking mysteries. It's a mystery to what part of you. Remember, if we're made of three parts, your mind. If you if you pray in the spirit and all of you have the ability to, if you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, If you pray in the spirit, you're strengthened personally, you are praying to God.
1:23:23
The enemy is cut out of the loop. But guess who also else doesn't understand? Your mind. Your brain will always think, you crazy. But is your brain in charge?
1:23:43
No. Your spirit is in charge. So when you fast or when you pray in the spirit, your your brain, your soul is like, what are we doing? I I don't understand. This sounds foolish or what I don't know what's going on or maybe I don't have the ability.
1:23:58
And your brain goes, but your spirit says, sit down. Sit. Relax. The boss is in charge for a second. Your spirit man.
1:24:10
You pray in the spirit. You pray in the spirit. And you bounce back and forth in the spirit in English, whatever your first language is. Bounce back and forth and watch what your flesh does after a while. Now, your flesh will never understand although you can, why not pray for understanding?
1:24:31
Man, I, on the drive from Wilson into town, I felt such a burden to pray like, I was just praying in the spirit the whole drive and it's not because of all the rental cars with the barcodes. Like, I don't know what it, like, I've just been really like heavy and I've been praying in the spirit the whole way here. Why not have your mind, your mind can ask your spirit. Hey, what was I praying about? Could I get the interpretation?
1:24:56
And then the Holy Spirit often times would be like, or who knows? A circumstance, maybe you're about to have a conversation at the grocery store where, like, you just happen to say the right words, but the Lord was preparing you for circumstances. Right? But but praying in the spirit puts our spirit man in the driver's seat. Another verse.
1:25:17
I've got just a few verses. Yeah. This is a good one. Romans eight twenty six. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
1:25:28
For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in, I would say, English or Spanish words. How many of you have ever been praying about something so intensely that you've run out of words to say, but you know that you're not done praying yet? That is your invitation to take the on ramp to praying in the spirit. And the father, look at this, and the father who knows all hearts, knows what the spirit is saying through your words for the spirit pleads for us believers, look at this, in harmony with god's own will.
1:26:18
When you pray in English, the thoughts have to come either from your brain, out your mouth, and up to heaven or maybe from your spirit filtered through your brain which needs to be renewed and then out your mouth. And who knows what happens in translation between the spirit and the mouth? When you pray in the spirit, your mind is is set aside for a moment. He gets to observe. Your spirit prays and it comes right out of your mouth that you're always in control of.
1:26:55
The Bible says the spirit of a prophet is subject to a prophet and he's speaking about the gifts. It never jumps on you and like like grabs a hold of you, Right? That that's not how the Holy Spirit works. That's not how the gift of tongues or practicing a prayer language works. You it's an act of your volitional will.
1:27:15
I'm going to pray in English. I'm going to pray in the spirit. When you pray in the spirit, you are praying the perfect prayer. In English, we're like, oh, I gotta nail this prayer. Oh, Lord.
1:27:39
You try a British accent. Thou taught in heaven you know, what I don't know. Whatever you think you do to, like like, sound really holy. Just pray in the spirit. How do we do that?
1:27:58
If you haven't ever. It's not on my notes. Come back next week. How do you pray in the spirit if you never have? First of all, the Bible says, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1:28:11
How did you get saved? You just asked Jesus into your heart. In a similar way, you ask him to baptize you in his Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, you have taken up residence within my heart to operate. Now I want to give you permission like taking a cork off of that alabaster jar.
1:28:34
I'm gonna give you permission to operate in my life and through my life. And I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and then just tell him specifically, specifically, will you give me a prayer language. It is available to each and every believer because why would why would god give some the ability to be strengthened personally but not somebody else? Why would god give one the ability to pray the perfect prayer in unity and harmony with god's will but not somebody else? Right?
1:29:17
Now, in a corporate setting, might you, one of you might have the gift of tongues and then somebody else will have the interpretation of tongues. That's in a corporate setting but in a private, a private expression as a prayer language, you already have. The gift of a prayer language. Last example and then we'll wind down with this. What if I said, Selah, that the evidence or one of the gifts of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit was the ability to jump 12 feet in the air.
1:30:00
And and you said, I would like to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And you you prayed that best prayer in the best way that you knew how. Get me, Lord. Lay down my life to you. I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1:30:17
And maybe you felt something, maybe you didn't. And then you said, or if I prayed for you, I said, amen. What is the next thing that you might try to do?
1:30:32
Jump.
1:30:35
Right? Here's what a lot of people do. They they get to this point. You've been in numerous sermons and you've come to this point right here and then you walk out and you say, I want that. But you never try to jump.
1:30:52
You just go, well, k, I guess I've received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and you sit there like a little cute bump on a log. You gotta try it. Sayla said, I'd go out and I'd jump. Now what happens if you jump the same height, your first jump, you jump the same height that you've always been able to do. What would you do then?
1:31:14
Try again. What if the next time you jump, you jump like 12 inches? What would you do the third time? What would you do again? Try again.
1:31:25
What would you do again? Try again. That's why I use the word practicing your prayer language. I wanna try to remove the mysticism of like, some people got it and others don't, like you're cool and I guess I'm not. Practice.
1:31:42
How do I practice? We'll give you a moment right here. How about yeah. We got time. We'll give you a moment right here.
1:31:50
So number one, if you're not saved, get saved.
1:31:53
How we do that?
1:31:55
Oh my gosh. Fall on. Thank you, Lizzie. Fall on your knees. Confess that you're a sinner and come and and commit your life to Jesus.
1:32:08
Forgive me of my sin. Come into my heart. Give me a brand new life. The Bible says that you become a new creation. Number two, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and what that looks like is just in the stillness of your heart.
1:32:25
You just say, Lord, I want all that you have for me. Baptize me in your Holy Spirit. I know that you live on the inside of me, but I give you permission to operate in and through my life with the gifts of the spirit. And then number three, to give you some privacy, just barely loud enough for your own ears to hear you. This is a private expression, and we happen to be in a corporate setting.
1:33:00
It's okay. Barely loud enough for your ears to hear you. You can start in English or whatever your first language is and just tell them, I love you, Jesus. I love you. Oh, I trust you.
1:33:15
I worship you. I praise you. Thank you, father. If you need to prime the pump with English, great. And then allow yourself through an act of your volitional will, allow yourself to make up words that don't make any sense to your brain.
1:33:39
And your I'll tell you right now, your brain's gonna say you're making it up. You're speaking gibberish. You're faking it. Just tell your brain, stop for a second. Your brain is always gonna tell you, this is silliness, but watch what happens to your spirit man.
1:33:59
Don't raise your hand, but how many of you would be willing to even just try it? Just try it. You might only come up with one or two words. Your vocabulary, if I can use that word, will increase. Jesus, help us to walk in the spirit.
1:34:25
Help us, Help us to walk in the spirit, Lord. Help us to walk in the spirit by embedding your word deep in our heart. Help us to walk in the spirit by being obedient to the small little things, maybe like this. Help us to discipline our flesh, not cast it out, but really just crucify it. And Lord, give us the courage to step out in faith to pray in the spirit.
1:35:00
Now, you take just a moment. You talk to him in English or whatever language you would like to practice. Just just loud enough barely for your own ears to hear Thank you, Jesus. We love you. We praise you, Jesus.
1:35:18
Oh, I trust you. Thank you, Jesus. We see you. Your grace and your power. One more thing before we shift gears to worshiping the lord in another way.
1:37:05
You don't have to raise your hand because admittedly, it's a personal private thing. It may be done in a corporate expression like this from time to time, but it's a very personal, private, intimate thing. I get it. But I'm just curious, and again, you don't just if it did happen, you don't have to raise your hand because it's between you and the Lord. But I'm just curious, did anybody try it and have something happen?
1:37:47
That's good. Such a great way to boss your flesh around. Lord, fill us with your holy spirit. Amanda, will you lead us in one more way of worship?
1:38:06
While Amanda's coming, I'll just share a quick story. I prayed and prayed and prayed when I was first saved maybe a year after giving my life to the lord. I was like, Lord, I just want everything you have for me. Look, whatever it is, I just want it all. I was reading all these books about the gifts of the spirit.
1:38:23
I was like, Lord, I wanna walk into a hospital and lay hands on every sick person and watch them just get healed. I wanna lay hands on the dead and see him raise. It's just earnest prayer from the lord. And I was like, gosh, I just felt like it started with this praying in the spirit. Like, I just needed to but then I just never did anything.
1:38:45
I never I didn't know what that gap was. Like, I wanted this, but I felt like the Lord say a couple things like, well, have you gone to the hospital and given it a whirl? That's such a big risk. And I just felt like the Lord just kind of speak to my heart, and we were praying one night over the first day of school. It was probably twenty five years ago.
1:39:07
And And before school would start every year, we'd go at midnight and we'd pray over the high school. We'd lay hands on the doors. I just remember it was 20 degrees outside or something, and I was like, I don't wanna be here, Lord. I gotta work early tomorrow, and I laid hands on the back door of the high school, the one that just kinda faces the field. And I said, Lord, but I'm here, and I don't know what to pray.
1:39:30
But you love these students, and I don't even know what's gonna happen this school year, who's gonna lose their innocence, or who's gonna be bullied, or what teachers need prayer. But, Lord, you do. And I was just all by myself in the dark, cold, and so I put my hands on the door and I said, Lord, you just pray through me. I'm here. And I just opened my mouth and I just started kinda babbling, and I just felt my spirit just rise up in agreement because the Lord knew.
1:40:01
And it wasn't anything magical. I was just in obedience, opened my mouth, and then, you know, I told Brian and I just had to kinda practice it like, okay, Lord. That was so cool, you know. It wasn't anything magical. It wasn't like I spoke another language that people could understand or anything like that.
1:40:18
And so that's just an encouragement to you. It's not anything like magical. You just ask the Lord what he wants to pray.
1:40:33
Obedience is what that is. In something that seems small, you discipline your flesh. That's an act of obedience and the lord loves that. And we're gonna discipline our flesh when we bring our tithe and our offering to the Lord. It's another great way to say, God, I feel like I maybe need all this money that I worked really hard for.
1:40:55
And it's just an act of worship to him saying I love and I trust you. It's all yours anyway. And so it's another great way to constantly be that we talked about today, like fasting is fantastic and watching your mouth and bringing your tithe and your offering. We see that it's scriptural. That's what the basis why we do it, but it's another great way to discipline your flesh.
1:41:16
So as we do that together, here at Tribe, we don't pass buckets or anything, but you see on your screen the easiest way to give. And if Tribe is at your local church, don't worry about it. Give to your local church to do the work of the ministry that you're a part of. But you just text a number to 84321 just like you're texting a new buddy, and then you just type in the amount that you wanna give. And if it's your very first time, it gives you just a little bit of instruction, but that's it.
1:41:42
We also have if you have cash or check or like Brian said, if you have that little connect card on your seat, cash, check for tithe offering, which is above and beyond, or that little prayer card, just turn it in the back where Justin so beautifully displayed the little brown box on your way out that has the tribe logo. But let's just pray together with whether you're giving now or another time. Let's just bow our heads and pray together as a family. Father, we love you and trust you so very much. You are so faithful even if we don't feel like it, even when people aren't.
1:42:13
You are faithful. You are just. You are kind. You are merciful. Thank you for your grace.
1:42:18
Thank you that we get to be a part of what you're up to. You created the universe with your breath. You don't need us to do anything, but we do it delightfully because you ask us to partner with you. What an honor and a privilege that is. So, Lord, we just say, whether we're giving today or another time, we just say, please, all this money that comes in for you, let it do your kingdom work.
1:42:44
Let it be assigned to exactly what you want it to do. Practical things doing the work of the ministry, but thank you that you also, above and beyond that, change our heart as we remain calibrated to you, as we discipline our flesh and our mind to give. Every two weeks, every week, whatever our rhythm is, father, thank you that we get to be a part of what you are up to. What an honor that is. In Jesus' name, amen.
1:43:08
Quick few things, and then we'll get you guys out of here. The women's bible study has finished on the book of Galatians. And are you is there anything in the works? Or you can just
1:43:19
Not yet. There will be
1:43:20
down the road. Another women's study. I heard that it was absolutely fantastic, and they just went through the book of Galatians, which is amazing, just letting the scripture speak for itself. And Galatians is super powerful. Remember last week, I said we almost just held hands and read it from start to finish because it's so good.
1:43:38
Men's bible study is still going on. They're reading a watchman knee book. If you've never read him, he's very intellectual and brilliant about the mind, body, spirit connection. What book is what book are you reading? Journey Towards the Spiritual.
1:43:53
And if you've never read that or don't have a copy, it's okay. You can jump into the men's study anytime. It's on it's gonna be tomorrow, so it's every Monday at 06:00. Even if you haven't been coming and that interests you, come tomorrow. It it's at the TMC, which is the building that Tribe owns, 1200 South 89, right across from Whole Foods.
1:44:11
Somebody called them the tissue boxes. They're condos that look like tissue boxes. So that's where we are, right at the corner, and we have a sign on the outside. Speaking of the TMC Tribe Ministry Center, next Sunday, do not come to the bar unless you wanna be part of a Virginian event. It is you know, this is a space that we rent, of course.
1:44:33
We don't own it, but we do own the TMC. And so as you see on the slide, next Sunday, the ninth, we're gonna have service there so we can continue to have service. This is what we did for a long time, so it's very familiar, but the space is smaller than the room we're in now. So for that reason, we're doing these two times, 08:30 and ten. And we're not gonna hold you to this, but if you we have to kinda divide it because we can't all come to the ten, which is statistically whatever one will come to.
1:45:04
But just by a quick show of hands, again, it's okay if it needs to change, but will you, by show of hands, tell me if you're coming to the 08:30 or you'd be willing to do that? Okay. 124567. Okay. And then who thinks ten?
1:45:16
This is just to help us out logistically. Okay. Awesome. It's pretty for who answers pretty slick?
1:45:23
Yeah. We'll send you a reminder.
1:45:25
Yeah. Very cool. So thank you for doing that. Yeah. This is just next week.
1:45:30
We don't know what's to come, but we're just being obedient in this space that we're in, and they need it next week. And so we're gonna still gather, but at the place that we own. So the TMC right across from Whole Foods, and just park there in that space. What do we call it? To the north.
1:45:45
The Not in runs towing because they'll do their job. Tow your car. Parked by the tribe bus. By the tribe bus. You can't miss that beauty.
1:45:55
She's out there every week just parked by her. And then today is another gathering for Israel. And this is something and, Brian, if you wanna speak a little more, you can. But this is again, we don't call it a rally or, like, we see in scripture that we as believers are supposed to partner with Israel and love her just like the Lord does. And so when we gather tonight at at 05:00 on Town Square right across from Leestes, it's not saying that Israel is perfect because they absolutely are not.
1:46:24
It's saying, God, these are your people, so they're our brothers and sisters, and we love them, and we support them in what they're doing. So come to that. And then what you see today are on the screen right now is tribe mountain adventures. This is something that we're wanting to pick up more and more as the Lord would lead, but, man, Jackson is so beautiful. And we're gonna get out probably anyway, night, why not get out with your tribe fam if you're gonna exercise or hike or do something?
1:46:51
So go ahead and take a screenshot of that. There's also a little paper next to the donuts, but if you wanna sign up for that, there's a number. Carla's number is at the bottom. She's kinda putting that together. So please, let's do this stuff together.
1:47:05
A canyon climb, a hike, and a hot springs float. Girls girls hike. Hike. There's boys book club girls hike. Girls wanna do Table Mountain?
1:47:19
Yeah. Table Mountain's a a solid one. Christian and I climbed that one time, and it rained out of nowhere, and it was quite an adventure. But that won't happen this time, of course. Thank you for that.
1:47:30
Yes. You're welcome. Thank you, Amanda. Yeah. Tribe Mountain Adventures also, if you didn't know, this is just something we do feel like the Lord has invited us to.
1:47:38
It's not just, oh, let's find stuff to do. We do feel a leading that the Lord is like, yeah, use this geography. Community is important. Let's why not combine them? So, yeah, that's something that we will do more and more of down the road.
1:47:50
Right. Thank you.
1:47:57
Just before just before I have you stand up and get you out of here, I wanna reiterate the gathering on the town square this today at 5PM. If you have, like, an American flag, if you have an Israel flag, if you have a a sign, it's really important for us to follow Jesus' footsteps. And God says that Israel is his firstborn, and we get to support Israel's firstborn. It doesn't mean that we're, as Amanda said, condoning every single action. We're not saying that Israel is perfect, but being a Jew around the world and even in this community is much harder today than it has been.
1:48:42
We're when we show up, we are acknowledging our stance with the Lord in support of his first born son, Israel. And I invite you to come. I I really invite you to come if you've never been. If you have been before, you know the the value. And when you come tonight at five, park wherever you need to park and show up and you'll see hopefully a good number of tribe faces.
1:49:18
You'll perhaps see some faces from other churches in the Christian community, but then there'll be a decent number of faces that you have not seen or recognized before. I encourage you, introduce yourself to them and don't say, hey, why are you here? Like, that that's a bit abrasive, but you could ask like, hey. How did you end up here today? And meet somebody new.
1:49:42
Tell them that you're from tribe. Listen to their story. Why is this important to you? And talk to one another, talk to other people that are gathered, and and let's make a practical demonstration of our support. If you're curious and you're like, I'm not quite sure about all this, this is a great opportunity to come and meet some people.
1:50:05
Okay? Have I said enough about that? I'll see you tonight at 5PM on the town square. Stand up. Let me pray for you.
1:50:11
I know it's a school night, but come on. Lord Jesus, help us this week to walk in the spirit. I command a blessing over each and every member of our tribe fam here today. We love you so very much. We pray these things in Jesus name, the strong son of god and everybody said.
1:50:37
Amen. Amen. Amen. I want you to have a great week. Lee and Colleen are gonna be in the back.
1:50:44
They would love to pray with you. If there's anything that you need prayer for, have a great week. And Oh, Jesus. Lanisha is also in the back for prayer. Have a great week.
1:50:54
And remember, you got this.
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