WEEK #6 SWAP SPIRIT WALK SURRENDER TO GOD’S WORD AND WILL WAIT ON GOD IN PRAYER AVOID SIN AS GOD ROOTS OUT ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS PURSUE SPIRIT’S PROMPTINGS

PREDICTABLE STEPS GOD is faithful to give us predictable steps for an unpredictable path. ABIDE - John 15 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. BE FILLED -Eph. 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Word Dwell richly Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Keep in step Gal. 5 …let us also keep in step with the Spirit. * Remember He is “Holy” Spirit Spirit leads us in the dance to heaven…He steps 1st God gives instructions on a need to know basis.

Surrender How much influence or force does it take for most of us to surrender to God? A Whisper? A Kick from a mule?

Swapping our control for God’s control How many times have we gone our own disobedient way and then been angry with God when it didn’t turn out?!

OBEDIENCE Surrendering to God’s Word and Will is another way of explaining obedience.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN (pg 56) COMMIT - we are still in control SURRENDER – do as we are told The blank paper of surrender (61) * Do you…can you trust God?

Surrendering to God’s word and will, waiting in prayer and avoiding sin are actually three simultaneous actions not a sequence of events. Surrender to the word of God and do as we are told. Great Commandment & Commission orientation

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Is surrendering at gun point really what God had in mind? David Psalm 32… 2 Samuel 11-12 God starts gently and increases pressure if required.

Paul Acts 9.3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

1Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Surrendering to God’s revealed will may test our will. Jesus Mat. 26.39 “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Living in the circle of God’s blessing Eph. 6.1-4

APPLICATION What did you learn tonight? How is abiding in Christ similar to staying in step with the Spirit? Explain the difference between commit and surrender. Is there an area of my life that needs to be surrendered to God?

Constant prayer Father, I know that I am united with Christ and consider myself to be His, therefore, I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. So I present myself to You: my mind and what I think, my eyes and what I see, my ears and what I hear, my mouth and what I say, my hands and what I do and my feet and where I go. In Jesus name by Spirit’s power, amen.

How does sin happen? James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

How does obedience happen How does obedience happen? A combined effort between Spirit, Word and our spirit’s will to agree.

Repenting after sins of commission and omission 1John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.