SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018 – LENT 1
Liturgical Colour: Violet
10.30 A.M: PRE-SERVICE BIBLE STUDY 07
Conductor: The Revd Canon OreOluwa Agbelusi
SUB-THEME/2: How to live a God-pleasing life.
TOPIC: Living a holy life in spirit (heart).
TEXTS: Gal.5: 16-25; Rom. 8: 1-11.
AIMS:
* To understand the concept of walking/living in the Spirit;
* To yield our spirit to the control of the Holy Spirit so as to manifest His fruit;
* To differentiate between living by the spirit and living by the flesh.
INTRODUCTION:
There are three distinct types of ‘Spirit’ in the Bible – the human spirit; good (angels) and evil (demons) spirits; and the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit). In our texts, Paul contrasts walking by the flesh with walking by the Spirit. “Walk” refers to lifestyle, and walking by the flesh is living according to the sinful nature and selfish dictates of one’s desires under the influence of evil spirits or the carnal human spirit. On the other hand, “walking by the Spirit” describes a life yielded to the control of God’s Spirit. It is keeping steps with the Spirit.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
- What does it mean and entail to “walk in the Spirit”? According to Gal.5:16-18; Rom.8:2-5
- What differentiates those who live in the flesh from those who live by the Spirit? Rom. 8: 5-11; Gal. 5: 16-23
- How can a Christian keep his/her heart from defilement so as to keep it pure always? Prov.4:23 with Mark 7:21-23; Rom.2:29; Col.2:11; Heb.10:22
- What are the rewards for those who please God by being holy in heart? Psa.24:3-4; Matt.5:8; Rom.8:1, 13-17
CONCLUSION:
Until and unless the human heart is totally submitted to the Holy Spirit and purged thoroughly, holy living remains a challenge. Discover the state of your heart and get it circumcised and controlled by the Holy Spirit through daily consumption and application of God’s word. Then it will be liberated from the grip of sin and the law, then it will be a lot easier to please God.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
It is better to live by the Spirit as children of God than to be slaves to sin and the flesh.
MEMORY VERSE: Heb. 10: 22.
Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.