Men’s Retreat 2005
Walking on Water
What does the Holy Spirit have to do with it?
(Galatians and assorted Scriptures)
Phil 2:12-13 …continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. NIV
Phil 2:12-13 Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. 13 That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Msg
Phil 2:13 Theos gár estin ho energoón en humín
Do guys have difficulty with the Holy Spirit?
1. We were raised to be self sufficient as opposed to relying on others! But eventually what is referred to as “hedonic adaptation” will catch up with us and we see that we don’t have the strength to create our own happiness.
2. We were raised to do great things! But eventually we see that this ultimately involves building people and we cannot do this without God’s help.
3. We were raised to lead rather than submit. But eventually we discover that we really don’t know what we’re doing and fear that others may discover it!
Warning…some of this is Christianity 301!
How does the Holy Spirit want to help us walk on the water?
1. The Holy Spirit wants to give me his power for water walking. – help with reaching your friends and family members for Christ.
a. This power comes through salvation.
Rom 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. NIV
b. This power is experienced through baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:3-8 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." NIV
c. The primary purpose of the Baptism is to give greater power for sharing our faith (Acts 1:8) but other benefits include greater joy in our spiritual life and ministry and a heightened sense of our purpose in life!
i. Bill and Stacy Sauls –
d. This power is experienced through being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. NIV (Prayer for God’s help because of Herod’s persecution!)
Eph. 5:18 Keep on being filled with the Spirit!
Questions…
I. Am I a follower of Christ?
II. Have I experienced the baptism of the Spirit?
III. Am I desperate for a fill-up this weekend?
IV. Do I regularly pray/worship in my prayer language?
V. Am I willing to step our where the Spirit leads and share my faith?
Gal 5:25-26 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
How else does the Holy Spirit want to help us walk on the water?
2. The Holy Spirit wants to change me from the inside out.
Gal 5:16-24 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
NIV
Present imperative…live…walk…
a. To live by the Spirit means to live in constant awareness, communion, and dependence upon the Spirit; To recognize that we are men at war with our flesh; To practice the presence of God, to invite him in, give him credit, ask for his strength, and to listen to his voice when he whispers, speaks, or yells!
Sexual implications…look at the list!
b. Be full of faith but also realistic of the battle! Grace is the key both ways! Remember we’re not saved because we’re good. We’re “gooder” because we’re saved!
17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
c. What area of my character is the Spirit leading me to change? ________
d. Will I ask for the Spirit’s help? ___________ help with communication and general sense of well being. Sexual help, raising the kids, - Cody, treating wife like the weaker vessel… - Teresa’s tough but I can’t expect her to be like a guy – that’s always been an issue with me…
3. The Holy Spirit wants to give me his counsel and direction.
John 14:25-27 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
NIV
a. Very cool here…
b. Mystical…
c. Insight…
d. Men will often pay hundreds of dollars for a human counselor and never invite the Spirit to give insight.
e. There is great power in careful listening.
Here are the main points: Our cat, Pepper was about 16 years old and was in failing health. On several occasions Judy and I had discussed having to have her ( the cat) put to sleep, as she was really suffering and didn’t have much quality of life. During the same time Judy’s dad had a stroke and was gravely ill, and was not likely to live more then a few weeks. She quickly made flight arrangements and planned on staying with her mom in Pittsburgh, PA for as long as she was needed to take care of her dad and all the family business. Literally as she walked out the door to go to the airport, she told me to “ take care of Pepper”. In light of our recent conversation about the cat’s ill health, I naturally presumed that she wanted me to make the necessary arrangements to have Pepper put to sleep while she was away, so that she wouldn’t have to deal with that issue upon her return from Pittsburgh. Soooo, the next day, a took Pepper to our Vet and had her put to sleep. As it happened, and unbeknown to me, Judy’s father passed away that same day. Several days later I received a very nice card from the Vet, expressing his condolences for the loss of our family cat. The following day I was speaking to Judy on the phone and mentioned that we received a sympathy card from the Vet. After a very long pause, Judy asked me why we received a sympathy card from the Vet, who wouldn’t have had any idea that her father had just died. When I replied that the card was regarding our loss of Pepper, I realized for the first time that she had no idea what I had done, and that she should have been more explicit in her instructions to me by telling me to “take GOOD care of Pepper”. Needless to say, I have suffered immeasurable ridicule for my handling of this very delicate situation. However, in my defense, virtually all of the men I have shared this story with have unequivocally agreed with my interpretation of “ take care of Pepper”, under these circumstances. The same cannot be said for the ladies.
f. The Holy Spirit understands everything and is comfortable that I don’t.
g. It is safe so I can ask Him anything.
h. What is really troubling me this weekend? __________________
i. Will I accept myself the way God does right now? ____________
“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
j. Where are my wounds which need healing? List in notes.
k. What specific directions and insight do I need this weekend for my relationship, career, etc? _________________________
l. Will I ask for the Spirit to give me counsel?
i. It can come direct.
ii. It can come through Scripture.
iii. It can come through another Christian.
iv. It can come through circumstances.
