Introduction to the Spirit Formed Life
VIDEO #1: GOD IN STEREO: GOD WHO IS AT WORK IN US!
God is Trinity: 7 “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” I John 5:7-8, NKJV Imago Dei: Created in the Image of God
Rublev’s painting “The Divine Dance”
Perichoresis: God Created us with Destiny in Mind and that we could do our dance with Him … as well as invite others to the dance (Discipleship).
“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated, A Stone).” (John 1:35-42)
Discipleship has to do with making you more like the Savior than you would be otherwise.
Two definitions: Define being Filled with the Spirit: “Being Spirit-filled is centered upon a continual process of spiritual growth and maturity that can only be found and cultivated by the Spirit of God. This is a daily submission as we walk with the Lord, being filled for His glory.” Define being a Spirit-Formed Disciple: A Spirit-empowered disciple is a lifelong follower of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the One who forms us from the inside-out in the context of community. He (The Holy Spirit) forms the character of Christ in believers (Fruit of the Spirit) and helps disciples reproduce themselves by leading others in that same character formation process. This is all accomplished in the context of communal relationships. It is the believer who exercises one’s will to be submitted surrendered to the authority and the work of Christ in their lives.
S.O.A.P. Passage for this week: Since then, you have been raised with Christ (that’s identity), set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (that’s meaning) … Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved (that’s identity), clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (that’s meaning).” Colossians 3:1, 12
Three steps Help us to recover our true - identity as set forth in Scripture: 1) Be Spirit-Born: by repenting for your sins and by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior, verifying the commitment by obeying Jesus Christ as Lord and being baptized in water as he commanded us to do (see Acts 2:38-39) 2) Be Spirit-Filled: by receiving the promise Jesus gave that His followers shall receive power – power to move into new dimensions of worship, praise, prayer, service, and witness (see Acts 1:5-8;2:1-4) 3) Be Spirit-Formed: by recognizing that the entry point of new birth, and that birthright blessing of the Holy Spirit fullness are only the beginnings – both calling us as believers to growth in Christ’s likeness, and discipleship under His lordship (see Romans 12:1-2; Acts 2:42, 46, 47) The Day Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit said to Humanity … YOU NEED A NEW LENS to see GOD, YOURSELF and OTHERS! Are You Seeing Yourself the Way God sees You?