There is a reason why the Bible says not many walk the straight and narrow. Surrendering and following Christ is not easy. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us and produce fruits, we have an outcome that is pleasing to ourselves, but more importantly to God. The more and more we operate in the spirit and adhere to God’s voice, that’s where true change comes in. If we quench the spirit, that little voice gets more faint and without God, we stand no chance against sin and temptation. Believing there is only one true God is half the battle, it’s what we do after, that counts. Jesus says to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 that those who do the Will of my father will enter the kingdom of heaven. These words should be taken very seriously as someone who has the knowledge of truth. Of course we aren’t always going to get it right, but it’s how we recover that matters. Will we keep making a conscious effort to sin? Or will we keep making a conscious effort to turn from it? Will our fruits and deeds bring people to Jesus? That is truly how we make disciples. Scripture that was mentioned in this episode:
2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Holy Spirit
Conviction. Helping us reflect on the spirit of Christ. Transforms our perspective of I should be doing this to I WANT to do this. It’s a conscious effort.
Developing in us the fruits of the spirit:
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Do not quench the Spirit
•1 Thessalonians 5:19-22•
James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 2:18
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
SIN NO MORE
John 5- Jesus healed the paralyzed man by the pool- he told him to pick up his mat and sin no more
Matthew 12:43-45
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first
James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains
