Holy Who? - The Spirit Transforms

Holy Who?
The Spirit Transforms by John Burke, November 18, 2007

In Cozumel, several years ago, John was about to make an 80 foot underwater dive, but he realized he needed a few refresher tips in how to make a safe scuba dive. His dive master gave him some quick reminders, “If the regulator gets knocked out, don’t panic, sweep your arm and put it back in, and start breathing again.” After overcoming his initial fears, John experienced the wonderful freedom of moving in three dimensions underwater, and was awed by the brilliantly colored fish, plants, and coral formations of all colors and shapes.

Under water, John just had to keep breathing, but to keep breathing, he couldn’t let anything cut off his air supply. He had to stay connected to his oxygen tank.

John shared how his underwater adventure is similar to our adventure with God and likened the Holy Spirit to our Spiritual Oxygen – our Source of Spiritual Life.

1. In John 15:4-5, Jesus gave a word picture to understand the reality of life with God. He said it was quite simple. We need to stay connected to Him just as a branch is connected to the vine. Explore in your group how a branch produces fruit. What is the source of life for the fruit? What happens to the fruit when the branch is cut off?


2. Jesus’ main message was, “The Kingdom of God has come near. You can now live under God’s rule and way and will, and it’s much better. It allows you to live life beneath the surface, at the level of spirit, not just flesh, and that way of living satisfies the soul. But you can’t do it by just trying harder on your own, like holding your breath under water, you must stay connected to his spirit.” How does your connection to the Holy Spirit transform you to live differently? Why is living by the Holy Spirit more satisfying to your soul?


3. Living life through the Holy Spirit is simple in concept. Galatians 5:16, 19-23 gives us a list of changed behaviors and freedom from the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When you have tried to develop these attitudes on your own, in what ways were you successful, or not?


4. So, practically how does it work? John talked about mindset and referenced the mindset in Romans 8:5-6 (see verses below). What are the two mindsets? What are the results of each of these two mindsets? Which mindset will bring you freedom and peace?


5. As we stay connected, God’s Spirit gives us power to break stubborn habits, to live free of plaguing guilt, to overcome temptation that we often feel powerless to resist, to love one another when it’s not so easy, to have inner peace in the midst of storms, and to pass on the hope of Christ and meet people’s needs spiritually and physically. Talk together about how you will try it this week. What will you do to be aware moment by moment to keep an open dialogue in your mind with God, listening and responding when you feel prompted in your thoughts? Talk together about your challenges with mindset. What patterns of thinking will you give over to the power of the Holy Spirit? What stubborn habits will you seek to break? It is simple (but not easy). All you have to do… is keep breathing.
   

Bible verses from the message:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:4-5

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5: 19-23

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace
Romans 8:5-6

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words
Romans 8:26

Get more - go further:

Want a LARGER understanding of God? Check out Beyond the Cosmos by Hugh Ross. You can search for other books on-line at the Gateway Bookstore or look for books at the "reality" bookstore in the "Garage".

Remember - each Sunday's message is available by 5 PM on the day of the message. Past messages are also available for listening and download. Just go to Gateway's Sunday Messages. Free CD's of the messages will be available after the services at Gateway the following Sunday.

(This weeks Second Helping was prepared by Jan Shurtz - THANKS JAN!)