Partnering with the Holy Spirit
The first eight chapters of Luke answer the question of “Who is Jesus?” We read of his birth, childhood, baptism, early ministry.
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’
-Luke 3:21-22
In chapter 9 Luke answers the question, “What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it mean to be a disciple?”
Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?'
-Luke 9:23-25
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The cross serves to remind us of the costly sacrifice that Christ made for us and the freedom that we have due to his obedience.
How often did Jesus say to deny yourself and pick up your cross? Daily.
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
We have been crucified with Christ, but there is a daily expectation of denying ourselves and following Jesus as we continue to be transformed.
True disciples are constantly being transformed.
What Happens in Metamorphosis?
- The caterpillar's body dissolves inside the cocoon, providing fuel for specialized cells to develop into the butterfly or moth.
- Small clusters of immature cells are activated to form the new body.
The life of a disciple is not “one and done” metamorphosis but a process throughout this life. We never fully “arrive.”
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…
-Galatians 4:19
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
We are not the agent of this change. The Holy Spirit is the agent; but we have a role to play.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
-Philippians 2:12-13
We need to work out what He has worked in.
Be intentional.
The Full and Abundant Life:
God’s desire for us is to be all He has called us to be and do all He has called us to do, for the purpose of evangelism.
He has set us up for victory. But it is up to us as to whether or not we will participate in the process.
St Augustine said it this way: God provides the wind; man must raise the sail.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election…
-2 Peter 1:3-10a
He has given us everything we need to be godly. You are not lacking anything. You can live a godly life!
How often do you live a limited life because you did not understand nor pursue what was in your hands? (Example: Computer/navigation system)
Do we recognize what we have access to spiritually?
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
-Romans 8:11
We need to make every effort–to be intentional about the development of an incredible list of attributes/moral virtues.
Godly character does not come from passivity. We have a role to play in our transformation.
Continued growth in all these areas happens simultaneously—not one at a time. They aren’t levels to complete but virtues that grow together in a healthy Christian life.
We never truly arrive. The more we become like Christ, the more we realize how much further we have to go.
As Christ continues to be formed in us:
- we are effective in our role in building the Kingdom of God
- we experience greater and greater levels of freedom in Christ
- we daily carry our cross and daily crucify the flesh
- we become more and more who we were always intended to be.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-Ephesians 2:10
Guaranteed effectiveness and productivity for the Kingdom
Go into strict training.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
-1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Path of disciplined grace
Disciplines liberate us from self-interest and fear. They are not simply for the super spiritual but for ordinary people. They are not joy-killers but rather joy creators.
In teaching us to say, “No,” to some things, they leave us with a much greater, “Yes,” to that which brings life.
Reminder: The path does not produce the change; it places us where the change can occur. The Holy Spirit transforms us. The Holy Spirit forms Christ in us.
You do not make yourself more like Jesus–the Holy Spirit does that. Remember, He is the vine and we are the branches–we abide in Him.
You work out what He has worked in. We cooperate with Him–He leads and we follow. It is part of picking up our cross daily.
In his book, A Celebration of Discipline, Foster mentions 12 disciplines.
1. Meditation
2. Prayer
3. Fasting
4. Study
5. Simplicity
6. Solitude
7. Submission
8. Service
9. Confession
10. Worship
11. Guidance
12. Celebration
Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the list. While anyone at any level of spirituality can do these, when you are first starting out there are a couple that are best to begin with.
If you have been walking with Jesus for a while, are you maturing? Perhaps you can get curious about a discipline you have not really practiced much and consider adding it to your path of disciplined grace this week.
These disciplines put us in a space for transformation to take place. They are not to be approached in a legalistic way–the discipline does not produce the change. The Holy Spirit does the transforming as we cooperate with Him.
- Prayer: Jesus gave the best teaching on how to pray. New disciples should look to make this a priority.
- Study of Scripture: Transforms our mind as we learn the Word of God and how to correctly interpret it.
- Meditation on Scripture: Listening to, reflecting on, rehearsing, ruminating on God’s Word. Not an emptying of our mind but a filling of the mind.
When reflecting on Scripture, ask:
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there a sin to confess?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there an example to follow?
Is there an encouragement to receive?
- Fasting: Abstaining from food for spiritual purposes and to grow closer to Jesus. Fasting reveals what controls us.
- Silence and Solitude: Produce space to hear God and break strongholds of people-pleasing and performance-based living.
How to practice Silence & Solitude:
Meditate on His Word.
Receive His love.
Get honest about what is going on inside.
Start with 2 minutes.
When your mind wanders, gently draw it back.
- Simplicity: Choosing to manage time, money, talents and possessions toward what matters most. Keeping priorities straight and not caving into materialism.
- Service: Using the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you to build up the body of Christ (Church)
Once we agree to follow Jesus we make a covenant to do three things:
1. We will have set a new priority. We live ultimately for Christ’s purposes, not our own. Jesus first and foremost.
2. We will have discovered our true identity. We find our Identity and meaning in Jesus, not in the idols of this world. We are disciples!
3. We will be living out a new mercy. We show mercy and grace to those around us, not condemnation and judgment. Moral virtues are increasing in our life.
How are you being intentional in cooperating with the Holy Spirit on your continued transformation?
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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Philippians 3:12-24
Make a Decision