186: Service from a Spirit-Filled Life
John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.”
Have you thought of this ministry of the Holy Spirit?
One of the ministries, one of the ways the Holy Spirit wants to serve you and me, minister to us, and touch our lives, is by giving life.
Man, do we naturally seek ourselves first or what? I was just having this conversation with a counselee and what does that renewal daily look like. This podcast is so encouraging for me to remember that it is by the Holy Spirit that we operate from, not the self. Good word!
Totally agree that we cannot live the Christian life from the self life. Totally impossible. Must be a work of the Holy Spirit.
Love the idea of pointing others in that direction and the idea that “they dont need to hear what I think, but what God has already taught” . Amen.
Great comment Ann-Louise. People don’t need to hear us and our opinion but the truth of what God says. Amen to that!
“Christians can serve God outwardly from the flesh, and it looks similar…but it’s void of life.”
Such a good point I’ve spent many days outwardly serving the Lord but really it was in the flesh and having people compliment because they thought I was serving the Lord but it just filled the flesh . I think the greatest example are the people that serve to be faithful to the Lord and not to be successful In the eyes of people.
Thanks Jeff
Totally agree Landon. But oh how our flesh likes to be thought well of! It’s a real struggle. Thank you for your comment.
It seems that I must be in the hands on and scriptural training for this class. The warfare that has come at us from the time I signed up is unrelenting. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who comes along side us. HE is faithful and good. These lessons on the Holy Spirit came at just the right time for me. I was ready to give up and yet I KNOW that God has called me to counsel others (I’ve been doing it unofficially for many years). Satan is angry and trying to destroy what God has started. In God’s faithfulness, He has given me encouragement through church friends, family, His Word. I’ve even woke up and realized I was in prayer about an issue while I was sleeping. God’s ways are above our ways.
I think I’ve been going through all this to help me realize that there are times when I help God do things in my own strength and knowledge, my own where-with-all, etc. and it does get in the way, it is not helpful. Isn’t God’s timing perfect?!? The newest attack was that my right hand got bit by a dog the day after Thanksgiving. Ya! . . . It is healing nicely, I can make a fist now without too much pain. Praise God! The thing is I wanted to give up, but I persevered, pressed through with Holy Spirit (James 4:7). He’s not giving only head knowledge, but I am getting hands on training in His classroom with the Holy Spirit right alongside me through it all. Keep on keeping on you guys. His is with you!
The fullness of life is found in abiding in the Spirit. Even King Solomon, in Ecclesiastes, points out that life aside from God is Meaningless. There is no hope, let alone point, to life unless it is inspired, filled, and guided by Him. Just as Jesus confirmed in John 15:5 “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Apart from Him we can do NOTHING. I love this truth, and the promises that come with it. Combine this with the closeness and relationship that He desires; it shows me that He is truly pursuing us. And he loves it when we pursue Him back. There is one prayer that God will always say “yes” to: a prayer for more of Him.
Isn’t that truth awesome in John 15:5? I love it as well, Timothy. Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murry is an excellent little book/devotional. Yes, more of Him!!!!
Throughout these podcasts on the work of the Holy Spirit it is essential and key for the believer to be humbled and submitted to God and not our selfish desires. The Spirit gives life and I believe we are to live this life by teaching, serving and witnessing to others as the power of the Holy Spirit flows through us. The flesh gives nothing but rather takes away from God and His plan for our lives (profits nothing).
Amen Humbly submitted to the Lord is the only way to live that life abundantly. whenever i am not i find myself fighting and bickering trying to get my way then when I do i’m not satisfied with what i thought i needed.
love this Barnes
thanks
-Landon
The flesh profits nothing! Good word. I needed to hear this today. I have been in the mode of pulling up my boot straps and pushing through in flesh at work lately. It is time to give it back to Him who can do work through me. Thanks Jeff
Good point Mike. The flesh doesn’t profit anything but the flesh doesn’t believe that. Hence the battle! Always my prayer that even though I failed today, may I have at least planted a seed of God’s kindness, His love, His hope, and His salvation. But yes, the struggle is real!
The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual life. This life begins and ends with God. He provides us with the truth and enables us to respond to that truth. We can do no work on our own apart from the Spirit. God always keeps his promises. It is shown in the Bible repeatedly that the whole truth of God and the Spirit within us helps remind us of what the word says. God is gentle and loving as He gives us daily what we need prompting us as we go about the day. We can stay in tune with Him through the word, in prayer, and fellowship with other believers. We can listen to his voice as we remember what we have learned.
I love the ah-ha moments because he gives us spiritual food, and we grow hungry for more as we digest what we have learned.
One of the first verses I committed to memory was Duet 8:3 “And he humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” The words of God are indeed our spiritual food, and I memorized that verse to convict me to always eat God’s Words every day.
“The flesh profits nothing?!“ This biblical truth is so contrary to the mind of man! Part of it perhaps is our own human arrogance and one part is the world putting the emphasis on US – whether it be “our” gifts or “our” talents. But the Bible makes it very clear that what all men need is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:1, “I am the True Vine… apart from Me you can do nothing.“ Jesus says it and yet oftentimes we try to serve God in our own strength. The Gospel is indeed the wonderful news, Christ IN me! The Spirit of God working and willing IN me just as Philippians 2:13 assures us. There is no other way to live the Christian life but through the power and presence of holy spirit!
I agree, Laura. Only God gives us the gifts we need to use His word through the Holy Spirit to work through us. When I think back, I am reminded that apart from Him, I can do nothing. I returned from Isreal just a few short weeks ago, and what I learned is forever in my mind as I see what He has shown me from a new perspective.
So true, there is no other way to live than through the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit! I am definitely guilty of seasons of trying to serve God in my own strengths. Usually doesn’t work out to well.
Oh yes, arrogance, it raised it’s ugly head in the garden when Adam and Eve sinned and has been a problem ever since. Satan loves playing that card in our lives. Abiding in the True Vine is the only way to live.
Totally agree laura. There is no other way. No other option. But I have to be reminded all the time if that truth. Thank you.
I am reminded of Galatians 3:1-10 (and so forth). The works of the law do not justify us, they do not profit us anything, and they cannot please God in way that Christ has fulfilled them and pleased God by His sacrifice and obedience. We are then saved by grace through FAITH – not of works (Ephesians). God always worked with our faith from the beginning, and Abraham’s faith was complete in obedience (James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?).
I will also agree with you, jeff, on the illuminating of the Scriptures to us – the word has been revealed to us, and now we need God’s Holy Spirit to help us understand the revelation! He is a good God. I learn so much from other people who love and cherish and expound upon God’s Word in faithfulness. And I learn so much from my own studying – I am prompted to consider praying for the Holy Spirit’s illuminating wisdom when i read from now on.
Kayla, I vividly remember the day when Ephesians 1 came alive for me personally. I saw with fresh eyes how it was a privilege to be called by God and to be adopted into His family – and that He did it because it gave Him pleasure. It made the Holy Spirit and his work of redemption so real to me.
That is wonderful Laura! The more I read and reread Scriptures, the more I see and it is very exciting to have new knowledge and new understanding. Praise the Lord for His Kindness!
What a feeling, I too remember the feeling of that revelation. It is comforting to know that it gives him pleasure to call me into His family!
Yes, it’s illuminating as we learn through scripture that God has such a wonderful plan for our lives to be lived and guided through Him, His Holy Spirit.
Amen !
so True it’s foolish for us not to Receive Help from the Helper especially when it comes to the study of the word and living it out!
Amen!