Transformed by the Holy Spirit
Review: The ground we have covered is important.
We have stated that if a person is going to be a follower of Jesus Christ, there are a few things that are essential.
1. Truth is objective, not relative, and it can be discovered.
2. Jesus is uniquely the way to the Father. Truth by nature is exclusive and if the Bible is true, Jesus is the only One who has made atonement for your sins.
3. The Bible is uniquely the Word of God not merely because it says so but because all the evidence points toward that one truth.
Summary:
1. It is one thing to believe in God.
2. Its another thing to believe that God has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, validated by His resurrection.
3. Its another thing that God has revealed Himself to us through word revelation, the Bible, the Holy Scriptures.
And yet, the evidence points overwhelmingly to these realities.
Our next move in Dirt Road Discipleship is to understand this: Fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ come to terms with the reality and work of the Holy Spirit.
So I want to discuss this in three sections:
1 Who is the Holy Spirit?
2 What is the Gift of the Holy Spirit?
3 What is the primary function of the Holy Spirit?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is a person—a teaching, speaking, interceding, grieving, person distinct from the Father and the Son.
Illustration: Play-Doh: Same Substance, different person.
The Doctrine of the Trinity: The belief that God is one in being and three in person.
Who is the Holy Spirit:
- In Person: Distinct from the Father and the Son.
What is the Gift of the Holy Spirit?
‘Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’
-Acts 2:36-39
• The Gift of the Holy Spirit comes into our lives at Conversion and Baptism.
• We know the WHO: The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead.
What is the WHY? Why does He come into our lives?
As a result of the Holy Spirit living in us, there are wonderful benefits:
1. We are looked upon with filial favor.
- Everything Christ has accomplished is ours; All Christ won is ours. Forgiveness of sin, conquering death, and all the blessings associated with the promised inheritance.
2. We have victory over sin.
- We have fellowship with the Father.
- We can walk into the Throne room with courage knowing we will receive mercy and grace.
3. We are given divine comfort.
- In John 14 the Holy Spirit is referred to as “the paracletos” which means “Helper,” “Counselor,” “Advocate.”
When God places His Holy Spirit in us, the benefits are things like encouragement, guidance, assurance, and inspiration.
The Spirit and the Word work together to give you the right word, at the right time and place for major victories in your life.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
-Ephesians 6:16-17
When you saturate your mind with the Truth of God’s word, when times of difficulty come…The Spirit who dwells in you, ACTIVATES, at precisely the right time, THE RIGHT WORD to give you victory over the things that try to destroy you.
The Holy Spirit also:
Gives us assurance of our salvation.
• He teaches us and helps us remember Scripture.
• He reveals the deep things of God to us.
• He comforts us.
• He intercedes for us in prayer.
What is the primary function of the Holy Spirit?
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
-2 Corinthians 3:18
The primary function of the Holy Spirit working in you is to make you like Jesus—to transform you from the inside out.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
-Romans 8:26-29
Illustration: workout at at the gym
“Unless you fell off the treadmill, no one wants to hear about your workout.” Robin
Inspirational fitness quotes all highlight the importance of discomfort in attempting to reach your goals.
Without tension, there can be no growth!
God has given the Holy Spirit the solemn responsibility to conform us to the image of His son.
As a result he comes into your life and:
1) Gives you a greater sense of awareness of spiritual realities,
2) A greater sense of volition to conform your life to those realities,
3) More intense emotional experiences to move you close to these realities.
First: A greater sense of spiritual awareness
YOU See things others do not see
This is a heightened sense of:
• what needs to go in your life!
• what needs to be added to your life.
• what attitudes are not in harmony with Jesus
• what actions violate His word.
Not everyone has this.
• There are Many who cannot see these realities; they have been blinded by the god of this world, the "demonic trinity."
It is not that they see these things as sinful and futile and fight against them but fail; they actually see these things as the way to live life and to win the ultimate game of “He who dies with the most stuff wins!”
No pit of despair is so deep that His love is not deeper still!
-Corrie Ten Boom
He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!
-Jim Elliot
But the Spirit has come into your life and opened your eyes:
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
-Mark 8:36
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
-Psalm 37:1-6
Second, The Holy Spirit gives you a greater sense of volition!
The Kingdom of God is not mere words but power!
-1 Corinthians 4:20 (paraphrased)
There is a power that comes into your life and gives you the ability to do things you never thought you could do.
Puritans: Expulsive power of a new affection!
• No addiction has power over you!
• No sin is your master!
• You have been freed from the law of sin and death!
• You have the Power of New Life!
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
-2 Corinthians 3:18
Failure and frustration have been a primary tool of the Spirit.
There is something else associated with volition that you have to understand.
Then Jesus asked, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.’ Again he asked, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.’
-Luke 13:18-21
Illustration: How can grass grow through concrete?
Because it is organic! It’s living.
Life will always break through, given enough time.
Dirt Road Discipleship is a commitment to the long haul!
Third, The Holy Spirit brings a greater sense of feeling!
"The Holy Spirit Is emotional"
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
-Ephesians 4:30 (NASB)
Grieving is an emotion. Sorrow is an emotion.
Grieving the Holy Spirit by what we say or do is a big deal.
We are grieving the third person of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit can be grieved when we return to the things from which we should have been set free.
Why would the Holy Spirit grieve?
Because He truly loves us and wants the very best for us!
Illustration: One of the saddest days in a Father’s Life—One that causes him to weep—is when he discovers that his child is doing something that will destroy them!
We are emotional creatures because we have been created in the image of God.
We have the desire to feel!
• We desire to feel God. To experience His goodness.
• To feel His love for us.
• To, at times, be overwhelmed by His presence.
The Holy Spirit bridges the gap between our Spirit and God’s Spirit and gives us the ability to experience God on deep levels!
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you…Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
-Psalm 84:1-4; 10-12
The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to us to guide, lead, direct, encourage, counsel.
• This does not happen apart from the Word.
• The spirit and truth.
• The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.
His primary job is to conform us to the image of the Son.
He accomplishes this by:
1. The Holy Spirit gives you a greater sense of awareness of spiritual realities.
2. The Holy Spirit gives you a greater sense of volition!
3. The Holy Spirit brings a greater sense of feeling!
Two questions emerge:
One: Why does He want to conform us to the image of the Son?
Answer: Evangelism!
Conformity to Jesus is directly related to evangelism because living a life that reflects Christ's character and teachings becomes a powerful testimony that naturally draws others to the Gospel, essentially acting as a living example of the good news you are sharing; it's not just about verbal proclamation, but also demonstrating the transformative power of faith through your actions.
Two: Why is He doing such a poor job?
This is the forgotten road of true discipleship!
“Why at 60 do I continue to struggle with actions and attitudes that are not in harmony with the God I love?”
“Your affections in this world and your desires in your innermost being have very little to do with the reality of other options that stir in your heart and soul.”
When I was younger I would say: “What’s wrong with you people!?”
As I got older I began to say: “What’s wrong with me?”
Hudson Taylor:
A Christian missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission. Taylor spent 54 years in China. Amazing man of God.
My own position becomes continually more and more responsible, and my need greater of special grace to fill it; but I have continually to mourn that I follow at such a distance and learn so slowly to imitate my precious master. I cannot tell you how I am buffeted sometimes by temptation. I never knew how bad a heart I had. Yet I do know that I love God and love His work and desire to serve Him only in all things.
-Hudson Taylor
But that is not the end of Hudson Taylor’s story!
God sent a man to him by the name of John McCarthy.
John was also a missionary and had heard of Taylor’s struggles and sent him a letter.
How does a branch bear fruit? Not by incessant effort for sunshine and air; not by vain struggles for those vivifying influences which give beauty to the blossom, and verdure to the leaf: it simply abides in the vine, in silent and undisturbed union, and blossoms and fruit appear as of spontaneous growth. How then shall the Christian bear fruit? By efforts and struggles to obtain that which is freely given; by meditations on watchfulness, on prayer, on action, on temptation and on dangers? No: there must be a full concentration of the thoughts and affections on Christ; a complete surrender of the whole being to Him; a constant looking to Him for grace. Christians in whom these dispositions are once firmly fixed go on calmly as the infant borne in the arms of its mother.
-Harriet Beecher Stowe (as quoted by Hudson Taylor)
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
-John 15:5-8
The Holy Spirit produces fruit when you remain in, abide in, and stay close to the Vine.
Are you familiar with how a tree bears fruit?
• The leaves of a tree have tiny pores called stoma.
• This enables the tree to take in carbon dioxide.
• Carbon dioxide + Water + Sunlight= Glucose.
As water is lost through the pores...
• A negative pressure occurs where the sap is drawn up to the leaves from the roots to the branches to the leaves.
• Fruit comes as a result.
The roots and trunks are the life-line to the branches.
Branches are not designed to produce fruit!
They are designed to have fruit produced through them.
The problem with most of us is that we think by trying harder to be “good” we can actually achieve it!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
-Galatians 5:22-23
These things do not come into your life when you try harder to do them. They come into your life as a result of something else.
• The branch does not bear fruit by trying harder.
• The branch bears fruit because it is attached to the Vine.
It is the vine that does the work!
The fruit is the product of the sap that runs from the vine to the branches.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
-Galatians 2:20
Listen carefully:
1. The Vine is Christ.
2. I am the branch (I was grafted in by grace through faith)
3. The Holy Spirit is the sap that runs from the vine into the branch.
4. The branch lives, grows, bears fruit not by struggles and effort but simply by abiding.
When it comes to this new life . .
Why do some seem to exude with the power? And others—"The Kingdom of God is just words," not power?
One of three things:
1) The Word never took root. No understanding.
2)The Word came and was received but too busy to abide, so, choked out.
3)The Word came, was received and understood, but still under the illusion that they are supposed to work hard to produce fruit.
I am going to conquer my anger.
I am going to conquer this addiction.
I am going to stop desiring women.
I am going to stop gossiping.
I am going have more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
Jesus says that this is impossible!
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
-John 15:5
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, (even after conversion) and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
-Galatians 5:16-18
Meaning? Take your choice. These are mutually exclusive.
• You can choose to live by the power of the Holy Spirit bringing the sap to the branches which results in bearing fruit.
• Or, you can live by the law (I’m going to do good: I am going to earn this) which results in unrighteousness.
Jesus makes a clear delineation between the vine and the branch. The two are not the same!
• He is the Vine. We are the branches.
• The two are joined but are not one.
• The common denominator is the sap!
• Stay attached to the vine and the sap runs into the branch and the branch bears fruit.
• Cut off the flow of the sap to the branch, it slowly withers and dies.
How does one stay attached? This is a crucial question because..
• When the Holy Spirit takes up residency in us, He brings with Him an inexhaustible source of life.
• When conversing with the woman at the well, Jesus described the Holy Spirit in us as “a well of water springing up to everlasting life.” John 4:14 (KJV)
So how does one stay attached to these resources?
He abides in the Vine.
How does one abide?
Meno: stay, abide, endure
Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.’
-John 1:32
Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
-Luke 10:7
Illustration: Mother Teresa
“Your vocation is to belong to Jesus” - Mother Teresa
Why did she say that?
She is echoing the words of John 15
You can hear Jesus say:
There are human beings who believe that I am the Messiah and the Son of God, but they don’t produce anything. Their character doesn’t improve – they don’t become more godly, more righteous, more loving, more generous. They only obey Me half-heartedly. They won’t put My interests, and extending the Kingdom of God among humanity, first. They have other priorities. They think they can change things by working harder. They fail to understand that apart from me they can do nothing. The flesh is far too strong. What they need to do is, belong to Me! Abide in me. Stick close to Me.
Abiding in Jesus means: maintaining a close relationship, a deep, ongoing relationship with Jesus by:
• Living in such close connection with Jesus that his life flows through you,
• Producing good fruit and demonstrating his character in your actions;
• Having a commitment to prioritize Jesus above all else, including other good things in life.
You cannot produce fruit!
• If you don’t care whether or not you produce fruit, it's because you have a bad case of “grace abuse” and the chances are high you have never truly understood the Gospel.
• When the HOLY Spirit comes to live in you: He changes not only what you do but what you want to do.
But if you do care about the lack of fruit in your life—which is evidence of the Holy Spirit in you, then:
• Stop believing the lie that you can produce it.
• Start understanding that fruit comes as a result of abiding in the vine.
• Which means you live in close proximity to Jesus.
But what does that look like?
You want the divine energy, “sap,” of God to run through you. That happens when:
You saturate your life with His word.
- If you “abide” in the gym: The fruit is Muscle and Fitness.
- If you “abide” on your phone: The fruit is an insatiable lust to be entertained.
- If you “abide” in pornography: The fruit is insatiable lust.
- If you “abide” in food: The fruit is the destruction of the temple of God.
- What you abide or stay close to—that thing or person has the greatest influence on your life.
When you abide in Christ you desire to be around Him.
• You enjoy His presence.
• You love His word.
• You look forward to the gathering of His people.
• You yearn for the prayers and worship of His people.
• You take advantage of opportunities to pray.
• You seek a close, personal connection with Jesus, and you understand how this abiding works.
• You stay in close proximity to the things that move you closer to Jesus.
What moves you closer to Jesus? Let’s not guess.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles… Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
-Acts 2:42-44; 46-47
Does the Bible say if you want to be more humble, patient, kind, self-controlled, forgiving, and loving to just try harder?
No. The Bible says to “walk in the Spirit.”
Walking in the spirit means you are taking the "sap" into your life on a regular basis and as a result are being transformed from glory to glory.
You are saved by grace through faith.
You are also sanctified by grace through faith!
God will complete the good work He began in you as you “Abide in Him.”
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
-1 Peter 1:13 (NASB)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
-Philippians 4:8
Notice: The emphasis is on the mind—what you are thinking more than what you are doing!
When you “abide in Christ” you become hypersensitive to the things that conflict with the Spirit.
Stick close to Me by doing those things that will keep us close – study the Word of God, talk to Me and My Father, sing, congregate with the other sons and daughters of God, listen to your spiritual leaders who teach you the truth; make sure that you take time to be still and know that the Lord is God: take long walks, listen to worship music in your car, or hike in the woods, or whatever it is that helps you connect to Me and My Father, and stay close to Us.
If you do stay close to Me, then My thoughts, My strength, My Spirit, My divine energy will flow through you, and you will produce many many good results. But if you drift away from Me, and operate in your own energy, your own power, your own wisdom and insight, you will produce very few good or lasting results – if any at all. So stay close to Me!
Then, we have that beautiful imagery from Zechariah 4: a golden lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps connected to the bowl of golden oil. From this golden liquid flow two olive branches, pouring out oil, with the two olive trees standing on the right and left of the lampstand.
- Zechariah 4:14 tells us that these represent the two witnesses. As William Hendriksen explains, they symbolize the church bearing testimony through its ministers and missionaries, sent out by the Lord two by two—generation after generation.
- We, as signified by the two witnesses, will be empowered to see, do, and experience things we never have before.
But how? Is it by working harder? No!
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of armies.
-Zechariah 4:6 (NASB)
Will you take this dirt road of discipleship?
Will you make a commitment—not to be better—but to abide in the vine so that the “sap” of the Holy Spirit will run through you?
That’s a big change in priorities isn’t it?
But the investment pays huge dividends.
So here we go!
Illustration: Charles Blondin. Who will dive into abiding?
It is one thing to say, “This is a good message!”
It is another thing to realize what is required and commit to stay close to—abide in—Christ while forsaking the things that remove you from His presence.
Make a Decision