Life in the Spirit

8th Sermon in the Series : The Holy Spirit

22 August 2010 - Dr. Timothy Keller

Ephesians 5: 15-21

¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²¹Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

• Being drunk diminishes brain functions so we are less aware of reality and more happy; you have more courage because inhibitions are lowered.
• Being filled with the spirit gives you joy and courage by heightening our senses and our understanding of reality.
• It is an intensified understanding of the truth.
• Being filled with the spirit is a humble realism and surging joy.
• We have to study the Gospels as Jesus did.
• People don't find God, but God finds them. He finds the spiritual weak...the children - Luke 10:21

²¹At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

The Spirit of Sonship

5th Sermon in the Series: The Holy Spirit

01 August 2010 - Rev Scott Sauls

Galatians 3:26-4:7

²⁶You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, ²⁷for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

¹What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ²He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. ⁴But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ⁵to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. ⁶Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

• New awareness of a new identity when we accept our role as a son of God.
• Don't base your identity on ritual or moral laws.
• Associating ourselves with anything outside of God leads to a bunch of pathologies.
• We can't disassociate with other Christians if we follow Jesus.
• Christianity includes everyone, even those we disagree with.
• Future reality is our salvation; embrace the future person in front of us...look to their future.
• Jesus associated with everyone, not just the good people.
• Jesus doesn't quit on us.