This week we continue with the series “Same Power”. Last week we learned about the role of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit was part of Creation. He leads the people and He speaks through prophets. In the New Testament we read in Romans 8:11a “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you…” Jesus humbled Himself unto death on the cross (Philippians 2:6-8) and the Holy Spirit filled Him and brought Him back to life. Jesus told the disciples He must go, but He was leaving the Holy Spirit.
In today’s sermon, Pastor Adam said “Here is what the Holy Spirit is, simply put. The Holy Spirit is God with us, God in us, God through us, God’s presence, God’s provision, and God’s power in our lives. This is not just some emotional experience, but the Spirit is with you now and in all your darkest moments. He is with you. He is in you and He wants to work through your life. In John 5:1-15 we read the story of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda. He had been lying by the pool for 38 years. When Jesus sees him, He asks him (v 6) “Would you like to get well?” He tells Jesus that he can’t because he does not have anyone to help him get in the water when it is stirred. Jesus tells him (v 8) “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” The lame man did just that, he was healed. The religious leaders were angry at Jesus for working on the Sabbath. We see Jesus’ reply in John 5:19-20 “So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.” We also read about Jesus teaching to the synagogues regularly. On this particular Sabbath we read in Luke 4:16-19 “When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
We see that Jesus is under the authority of God and operating in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is aligned. So when you and I are aligned under the authority of God the Father, due to the sacrifice of Jesus you are filled with the power of the Spirit, and anything is possible. What can God do in and through my life? John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” Jesus was in perfect alignment with the Father. He was on the same mission. We can experience this as well.
We are going to take a look at misalignment, how to distinguish God’s will, prayerful practices, and learn some practical ways that we can know God’s will.
Monday:
Let’s consider the problem of misalignment. Think of when your spine is out of alignment. It affects everything you do. Your body is unable to function the way it is supposed to. What about your car tires being out of alignment, they are not functioning properly. Now think of this misalignment spiritually speaking. We cannot function the way we are meant to when there is a misalignment. The conviction we feel in our hearts is our spirit noticing misalignment and wanting to be aligned. We are created to be in alignment.
Reflection/Action:
Jesus was in alignment with God’s will. We disconnect from the power of God because we disconnect from the will of God. Take some time to pray and ask God: “Where am I misaligned?” Then take some time to listen to what He says.
Tuesday:
Pastor Adam said, “The power of God is reserved for the will of God.” At times we struggle to distinguish God’s will from our own and tend to follow our own will. Jesus asked the man at the pool of Bethesda if he wanted to be healed. That man needed God’s plan and power. Consider where in your life you need a bigger plan than your own. Where do you need God to show up? Where do you need God’s power to fix what you can’t? There are some things we are not meant to fix on our own.
Reflection/Action:
Maybe it’s not about what you can and cannot do (like the man at the pool of Bethesda), but it is about what God can and wants to do. Take some time today to give God the areas of your life that are bigger than you can handle. Write them down, and say them out loud. Physically hold your hands out and speak those things to the Lord.
Wednesday:
Living this out daily can be a challenge. If we really want to live lives where we see or experience the Holy Spirit with us, in us, and through us, we need to align our lives with His will. We must empty ourselves out. There is no halfway.
Reflection/Action:
We want to be aware of His presence, see His provision, and experience His power. Simply take some time today and listen to the Spirit of God and listen to Him call you by name. Ask Him to speak to you, to your heart. What does He want you to know? Empty yourself. Align yourself. The power of God is reserved for the will of God. That is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Thursday:
Living in the power of the Holy Spirit “God with us, God in us, God through us”, does not depend on us and our abilities, but on us emptying ourselves out and aligning ourselves with God’s will.
Reflection/Action:
Following yesterday’s reflection/action, has God put something on your heart, something He wants you to know? Take some time today to respond to God by simply saying “God I will ______________.”
Friday:
Pastor Adam created a resource called “How to Know God’s Will.” We will look at two ways today and the other two tomorrow. One way we can know God’s will is that “God speaks through His Word.” We can rest assured that the Holy Spirit and God’s will won’t contradict His Word. God has revealed His will in many ways already through His Word and the Spirit guides us in making decisions based on His Word. (Galatians 5:16, 25). Secondly, “God speaks to us through His relationship with us.” It is important to not wait until you are desperate to seek Him (although He hears your cry for help). God’s Spirit leads us as we consistently and intimately see Him (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 7:7).
Reflection/Action:
How have you experienced knowing God’s will based on the two points above, through His Word and/or through your relationship with Him? If you feel you are in a season of struggling to know His will, take some time to read the verses above and simply ask Him to help you. Empty and then align yourself. He loves you and he will help you.
Saturday:
A third way we can know God’s will, “God speaks to us through people.” Proverbs 11:4 says, “there is safety in having many counselors.”It is important to seek people who are led by the Holy Spirit, have good character, and are spiritually mature. And the fourth way, “God speaks through circumstances.” The Holy Spirit will lead us as we face life’s circumstances. Revelation 3:7 says that God “opens doors no one can shut and He closes doors no one can open. As you walk in wisdom and humility, you will be able to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading.
Reflection/Action:
Have you experienced knowing God’s will as he has used other people in your life or as He has led you through circumstances? Take some time to thank Him for this. If you have not, ask Him to help you.
A couple of last things:
It is so easy in our humanness to overcomplicate this. Ask God to help you, ask Him to confirm His will, use the wisdom God has given you and trust Him. Even if you make a wrong decision, His love, grace, and mercy will gently and lovingly redirect you.
I highly recommend taking a few minutes to listen to a song written and performed by Step Rowe in this week’s service. You can find it here. Watch The Same Power: Aligned, starting at 23:51 to hear the song.