Abiding in the Prince of Peace Session 7 | Walk Empowered by the Spirit Big Ideas: • The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (peace) • The person of the Holy Spirit • The role of the Holy Spirit • Walking in the Flesh or Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, preaching, teaching, prophesy, tongues, repentance, salvation, unity, godly fear, miracles, healings, peace that surpasses intellect, godly wisdom, visions, dreams, divine protection, etc. The Person of the Holy Spirit Genesis 1:26a Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image….” Genesis 1:1–2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Judges 6:34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him. Luke 3:21–22 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” John 14:16–17 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. The Role of the Holy Spirit “helper” here is paraklētos. This word is translated as an “intercessor, councilor, advocate, or comforter.” John 14:25–26 These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 1 Corinthians 2:9–13 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. Romans 8:26–28 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Luke 24:49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Dunamis- Power-“force, miraculous power, ability, abundance, might, power, or “strength.” Plēroō: to fulfill, fill, or complete (Ephesians 5:18–19) Charis: (empowering) grace, favor, gift (Acts 4:33) Charisma: (empowering) gift of grace, free (spiritual) gift, ability or power the Holy Spirit gives to the church (1 Corinthians 12:4) Chrisma: anointing, unction, something smeared like an ointment (1 John 2:20) What things in your life are distracting you from abiding in the Prince of Peace? Romans 7:21–25 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 8:1–17 There is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Here are some insights on this passage to help it come alive for you: · There is no condemnation for you if you choose to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. This is another example of the willful choice you have. · Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. · Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. What a powerful affirmation for us to renew our minds. You have the authority and power to renew your mind or to set it on sinful things. · To be carnally minded is death but being spirit-minded is life and peace. If you simply learn to renew your mind to your new identity in Christ, it will bring you life and peace. · The carnal mind is at enmity with God. This means that you are in direct opposition to how God thinks. You are hostile, have hatred toward, have ill will toward, have animosity and antagonism toward God’s words. This means that your mind and the thoughts you think are enemies of God. Wow, that is strong language. You are not subject to the law of God, nor can you be. Your fruits are displeasing to God. If you want to have the peace of Christ, you must learn to renew your mind to think like He does and not after your flesh or worldly mindsets. · If you are born again, you should live in the Spirit and experience the life of Christ because of your righteousness. You get to choose. · This renewed mind accepts the spirit of adoption by God and cries out to Abba Father. The Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. Your inner person knows your true identity. It’s time to allow that to dominate the rest of your being. It is time to renew your mind to what your spirit knows. · This renewed mind understands that you are not only a child of God but an heir. You have been given a heritage from God. It's time to start walking in that and identifying as such. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. The temptation here is defined as a ‘test, trial, enticement to sin, examination, or disaster.’ Overtaken is defined as ‘seize, take hold of, select, taken.’ Bear is defined as ‘carrying away under, bear out of danger, taken from under, endure.’ Take Away: Question: Throughout the New Testament and church history, we see examples of people who yielded their lives to the Holy Spirit, and kingdom fruit followed them. Are you yielding to the Holy Spirit? Have you understood and walked with Him and experienced the fruits and gifts? Question: Based on the sailboat analogy, ask yourself, what am I doing or not doing to raise my sails and catch the wind of the spirit? What is some essential and non-essential cargo in your boat? Action: Write down a couple of practical steps you can do in the next week that you have learned in this book to win the battlefield of your mind. Journal: Pick a handful of the many scriptures in Romans chapters 7 and 8 that pertain to the practical steps you wrote down. Use the STAR journal method to process through in detail these verses application to your journey to peace.