New Series for this Month: “Keep In Step”

• This series looks what Galatians 5 tells us about walking in the Spirit. As the Father is, so we are meant to be. We see throughout the New Testament that we can only be like the Father by imitating the life of the Son and walking hand in hand with the Spirit. This series will consider ways to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) through the new year.
• Today, we are going to consider: What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? How does the Scripture describe this? Is it something that is marginal to the Christian life or central?
• Context of Galatians according to Paul >> Judaizers wanted to re-enslave people under a law of works. They wanted to make the Christian life about a relationship with a set of do’s and don’ts rooted in Judaism. But we don’t need a relationship with a code or law. We need a relationship with Jesus, rooted in the Gospel, and fueled by the Holy Spirit. When this is our focus, there is freedom to flesh out the wisdom of God in holiness and righteousness that is Christ-centered rather than fleshly.

Galatians 5:25 | If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

• Literally translated, “If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.” The two occurrences of “by the Spirit” are placed in the very center as Paul’s way of putting the strongest emphasis possible on it.
• Paul’s point is clear: The source of abudant life for the Christian is the presence of the Holy Spirit.

// At the moment of our salvation, God deposits the Holy Spirit within us >> Ephesians 1:13 | In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
// His ongoing presence is confirmation of our permenancy in the family of God, giving us access to all that is rightfully ours as children of God >> Romans 8:14-16 | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
// Romans 8:1-2, 9 | There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death…You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

• Other occurrences of this idea in Paul:

// Being filled with the Spirit means being consumed by God’s passion and agenda >> Ephesians 5:18-21 | And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
// The presence of the Spirit is the power of God to flesh out the character and kingdom of God in your personal life >> Philippians 2:12-13 | Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
// The presence of the Spirit in the believer is synonymous with the presence of God’s Word >> Colossians 3:15-17 | And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

• According to Jesus >> The Spirit takes what Jesus is rightfully Jesus’ and empowers the believer. Jesus’ authority to advance the Kingdom of God by the will of God, the truth and reality of life

// John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
// John 15:4-5 | Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
// John 15:26-27 | But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
// John 16:13-14 | When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

• According to the Old Testament >> We see God leading the people of Israel through the wilderness and being the confirmation and blessing of His presence to them. This is a metaphor of the Holy Spirit for the NT Christian. The Spirit is the one who powers on the headlamp of the knowledge of God’s Word to turn it into wisdom.

// Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
// These paths have a specific nature >> Psalm 23:3 | …He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.