Sunday, December 9, 2012
JESUS WALKED IN THE SPIRIT
Brothers
and sisters, I sense that we have arrived at a great crossroads. With a few interruptions, we have been
looking Sunday after Sunday at the ministry of the Holy Spirit for the last six
months. Surely the Lord has taught us
many important truths concerning the Spirit.
He is the One who is directly responsible for our spiritual birth. He is the One who dwells within us as the
Comforter, literally "the One called alongside." As Jesus put it, we are better off having the
Spirit dwelling within us than to have Jesus in the flesh standing beside
us. But now we must deal with the
question: "What are we going to do with
all this biblical truth?"
Now the
answer to that question has come to us in the words of Gal. 5:16, "Walk in
Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Perhaps a more literal and graphic
translation would be, "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not bring to
completion the evil desire of the flesh."
That word "lust" can mean any kind of desire, but in the
scripture it is most often used of evil desires, and we know that all the
desires of the flesh are evil, no matter what they may appear to be. Live your life in the Spirit, and you will
not bring to completion the desire of the flesh.
Remember
the context of chapter 5. "For
freedom Christ has set us free" (5:1, ESV). Verse 13, "For you, brethren,
have been called to liberty (freedom); only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." In our own strength and wisdom, we have the
capacity to twist our freedom into something the flesh can use for its own
purposes. With some it comes in the form
of license. "Now that I am free in
Christ, I can do whatever I want. I'm
free." For others, the deceitful
distortion comes in the form of legalism, where rules and regulations become
the standard by which we must grow and mature.
Paul says, "No, this freedom in Christ is for the purpose of
enabling us to serve one another through love." Before we were in Christ, we weren't capable
of serving one another through love. How
do we know? Because Paul defines love,
when he says, "All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself." Even for those of us who
are now in Christ, in our own strength we cannot love our neighbor as
ourselves.
Then what
are we going to do? We are free, but it
seems we still can't fulfill the law through loving our neighbors as ourselves. Paul gives the answer: "Walk in the Spirit." When we do, instead of fulfilling our own
selfish desires, we will increasingly serve one another through love. We will experience the miracle of loving our
neighbors as ourselves. The crucial
question is this: Will we walk in the Spirit? Will I walk by the Spirit? Will you walk by the Spirit? As a people, will we walk in the Spirit?
I. A Personal Testimony -- Lack of Example
What about
your pastors in this church? That would
be Norman, Alex, and myself. Do your
pastors walk in the Spirit? What about
this one who stands before you week after week preaching the Word? With fear and trembling I want to share a
word of testimony with you this morning.
I say "with fear and trembling" because there is great danger
in talking about me. Our focus must be
upon the Lord Himself. But on the other
hand, there is something you need to understand about me.
I turned 60
yesterday. I have been a pastor in this
church for 33 1/3 years. That is one
third of a century, and that's a long time.
After all those years of experience and the graciousness of the Lord to
me and the love of His people for me, I ought to be a great example to you of
walking in the Spirit. A church needs
such an example in a pastor.
I could
tell you lots of stories, but I won't.
Rather, let me tell you one. I
found myself sharing this experience with two different brothers this week; I
hope the two of you can bear the repetition.
Those of you who were here then have never heard me tell it, but you
lived it. It happened 23 and a half years
ago. It
began with a deep realization that I was not up to the task of being a pastor
to such a group of people. There were
strong godly people in this church, and I sensed that I was inadequate to lead
them. So I began to cry out to God. To the best of my knowledge, my motives were
pure and my desire was intense. The Lord
began to work in me. He gave me a
tremendous hunger for His Word and an openness to speak the truth of that Word
to my brothers and sisters. So many
things happened within the space of a week that I can't begin to remember them
all. What I know is this: somewhere about the middle of the week the
work of the Lord in me got twisted. My
focus which had been on the Lord began to shift to me. I can't tell you how it happened, but I know
it happened and I know that it had a great deal to do with the lust of the
flesh.
On the
outside things looked pretty good. I was
quoting the Word; I was speaking to people about Christ; I was calling people
to action. I remember knocking on the
door of a couple in this church at 6:30 a.m. and challenging them to come here
to pray instead of going to work. I was
so excited about it all that I couldn't sleep.
During
Wednesday evening prayer meeting an idea began to crystallize in the minds of
some. We were getting ready for a World
Missions Conference. The group of
churches in our association would be hosting missionaries from New Mexico, the
United States, and all around the world.
On Saturday afternoon all these missionaries would be delivered to a
particular church in Alamogordo, and then each church would send a couple of
representatives to pick up the one missionary for which it was responsible to
feed and house during the week. That
Wednesday evening the idea was put forth that on Saturday afternoon at that
little meeting I would preach a powerful sermon that would be have influence
around the world, since these missionaries would hear it. The idea sprang from a place which should not
have been influential, and it should have been squashed by a godly and
discerning pastor. Instead, the flesh
swallowed it up and raced forward.
On Saturday
we assembled here and about 40 of us boarded the church bus to go to that
meeting. But before we got on the bus,
two of my precious brothers took me aside and told me candidly that they didn't
believe the Lord was in this plan.
Probably not to their satisfaction, but in my own mind I smoothed things
over enough that we plunged ahead. One couple
took their car along. On the way to the
meeting, the Lord reminded me of something I needed to do. Also before boarding that bus, I had
confronted a woman about her sin. It was
not in love. I borrowed the car from
this couple and went and apologized to the lady at her house. I had no sooner got back into the car than
the Lord convicted me of something else I had neglected, because I had been so
busy with all my spiritual excitement.
When I finished taking care of that, He convicted me of a third thing
that demanded immediate attention. By
the time I got back to the meeting, everyone was coming out of the
building. The looks on their faces said,
"Where were you? You got us down
here and then didn't even show up in the meeting." Rhonda had the same look, but she put words
to the look on her face, and they were more than appropriate for the
occasion. I asked her to get everyone on
the bus. I tried to apologize for my
pride and the fact that I had led them astray.
The only response I remember is a 76 year-old man getting in my face and
comforting me with the words of the Psalmist:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite
heart , O God, you will not despise" (Ps. 51:17).
That was
Saturday afternoon. When we met on
Sunday, one of my brothers preached.
Something else happened that morning.
I had been talking to a lady who helped me coach Tracy's soccer
team. I had invited her and her husband
numerous times to come to a service here.
They showed up that morning, but they never came back. She told me later, "Ron, I don't know
what was going on that morning, but there was such confusion that we didn't
want any part of it."
That was
the most painful experience of my life, and perhaps it was the darkest of hour
in the history of this church. For a
while, a pastor became proud and brought to completion the desire of his
flesh. My brothers and sisters were
embarrassed, shamed, and humiliated because I was deceived.
Why do I
tell that story? For two reasons. First of all, I want you to know that a man
being a long established leader in a church does not assure that he is walking
in the Spirit. I am not the example I
should be. I wasn't then, and I'm not
now. Some of you haven't been around
here too long. I don't want you to think
that the man who preaches to you is something he is not. But there is a second reason I share that
story with you. There is forgiveness
with the Lord. Praise God that isn't the
end of the story. He forgave me, but the
pain continued. It was a full year
before I could talk about it with anyone, including Rhonda. Again and again I asked the Lord to take away
the pain. He didn't speak in an audible
voice, but the message came through loud and clear: "I will not take away the pain, because
you must always remember that you can be deceived and you can deceive others." I have not forgotten.
During that
year and the years since, no one has ever condemned me for my actions. Though things were awkward, the people of
this church loved me. Not only did I
learn something through the experience, but God is so gracious that through my
sin He taught this people something too.
The lesson was simple: You must
never idolize a pastor. He is a man and
has feet of clay.
Paul could
say, "Follow me, as I follow Christ."
I cannot say that today I am a great example of walking in the Spirit,
but I can say this, "Follow me, as I strive to walk in the Spirit day by
day." I have a long way to go, but
I praise God that He has given me that desire.
I sense that my fellow-pastor Norman knows more of this walking in the
Spirit than I do, but he too would tell you that it is his desire to walk more
fully in the Spirit each day. Alex is
much younger than Norman and I, but he is much farther along than I was at his
age, and I praise God. The desire of his
heart is also to walk in the Spirit day by day.
II. Our Perfect Example -- Jesus
By the
grace of God, we will strive to be the examples God wants us to be, but praise
God that I can point all of us to the greatest example of all, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Last week we concluded the
service with the challenge to pray, "Lord, show us how to walk by the
Spirit." After the service a
brother asked me, "Did Jesus walk in the Spirit?" I replied that He certainly did. We recently read those passages in Luke about
how the Spirit led Jesus, who was filled with the Spirit, into the desert to be tempted by the devil
and then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Shortly after in the synagogue of Nazareth,
he read to the people these words from the scroll of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach
the gospel..." Yes, Jesus walked in
the Spirit. What better question with
which to begin than this: "How did
Jesus walk in the Spirit?"
So I am
asking us this morning: How did Jesus
walk in the Spirit? In order to answer
that question, we have to look at Jesus.
And how do we do that? There is
only one way -- we must look at the Word.
Young ones, where is the primary place we must look, if we want to
examine the life of Jesus? Yes, in the
gospels. Actually, there is only one
gospel; it is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But four different men recorded that good news. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Now let me
pause. There is great advantage in
beginning to answer the question, "How do I walk in Spirit?" by
looking at Jesus. We know we are looking
in the right direction, because Jesus, speaking of the Spirit, said, "He will glorify me,
for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you" (John
16:14). Furthermore, when we
look intently at Jesus, we will not be looking at ourselves. Nothing defeats the flesh like looking away
from self. All lust of the flesh is
selfish desire. That is precisely why we
can't defeat the flesh by determination and hard work, for the flesh thrives on
such.
I suppose
there is much we could say about how Jesus walked in the Spirit, but this
morning I want us to focus on what I am calling "the not/nothing
passages." I have been familiar
with these passages through the years, but I had never made a complete list of
them. I ran across such a list, as I was
reading Andrew Murray's book Humility.
By the way, it is a great book. I
still have about a quarter of it left to read, but it has been very
thought-provoking and helpful. If you
have internet access, you won't need to buy it, as it is readily available
online. You will find this list of
verses in your bulletin insert. Let's
look at them in their context...
In the
fifth chapter of John we read about how Jesus healed a man who had been lame
for 38 years. He said to him,
"Rise, take up your bed and walk."
What a mighty miracle! But the
Jewish leaders had a problem with what Jesus did. They said to the man who had been healed: "This is the Sabbath; it isn't lawful
for you to carry your bed." When
they found out that it was Jesus who had healed him, the focus shifted from the
healed to the Healer. Now let's pick up
the story and read John 5:16-19...
For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and
sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But
Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have
been working." 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him,
because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father,
making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what
He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."
In that same context Jesus says in verse 30, "I can of
Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge;
and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of
the Father who sent Me." Later in
the same context, Jesus flatly tells the Jewish leaders that although they
search the scriptures, they do not have eternal life in themselves because they
refuse to come to the One of whom the scriptures testify. Now let's read verses 40-44...
But
you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive
honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.
43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes
in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive
honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
Now come to
chapter 6. This is after Jesus has fed
the 5,000 and has come walking on the water to His apostles. The crowds chased Jesus around to the other
side of the sea. It was there that Jesus
told them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw
the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but
for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give
you..." (John 6:26-27). From
there Jesus began to tell them that He was the bread of life, the bread which
came down from heaven. Listen now to verse
38, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but
the will of Him who sent Me."
Chapter 7
begins with the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles.
People were wondering if Jesus would show up at the feast. As they talked about Him, some said He was a
good man; others said He was a deceiver of the people. Let's read John 7:14-18...
Now about the
middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 And the Jews
marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never
studied?" 16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine,
but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know
concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own
authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks
the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him."
In the
context of that same feast we read these words in verses 25-29...
Now
some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill?
26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know
indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from;
but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from." 28 Then Jesus
cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, "You both know Me, and you
know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true,
whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent
Me."
In chapter
8 is recorded an extended discussion between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. At one point Jesus bluntly told them,
"You are from beneath; I am from above.
You are of this world; I am not of this world" (vs. 23). Now let's pick it up and read John
8:25-29...
Then
they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just
what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say
and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the
world those things which I heard from Him." 27 They did not understand
that He spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you
lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing
of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent
Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things
that please Him."
Later, when
Jesus accused them of doing the deeds of their father (whom He later identified
as the devil), another lively discussion followed (John 8:41b-42): "Then they said to Him, 'We were not
born of fornication: we have one
Father--God.' Jesus said to them, 'If
God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from
God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent me.'" The confrontation became even more heated, as
recorded in verses 48-51...
Then
the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a
Samaritan and have a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a
demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own
glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if
anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."
Now let's
come all the way over to chapter 14.
Most of you know this chapter well.
Let's just begin in verse 6 and read John 14:6-10...
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known My
Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 Philip
said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."
9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not
known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say,
'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the
Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority;
but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."
Then down in verse 23-24 Jesus said, "If
anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will
come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not
keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who
sent Me."
Conclusion
So why take
time to read through all those passages?
For starters, we are looking at Jesus.
Don't take that lightly. The
writer of Hebrews says, "Let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb.
12:1-2). That word translated
"looking" is a very strong term.
It means to turn your eyes away from other things so that you can fix
them on the one object. If we are going
to effective run the race that is set before us, if we are going to walk in the
Spirit, we must fix our eyes on Jesus.
As we look
at these passages, we are not only fixing our eyes on Jesus, but we are
discovering what Jesus looked away from and where He fixed His eyes. He is our example. Notice again in those passages before you the
recurrence of the words nothing and not. I put them in bold italics, so that we can't
miss them. Every time Jesus speaks of
Himself, His teaching, His will, His glory, His words... there is always a not or
a nothing.
"The Son can do
nothing of Himself" (John
5: 19).
"I can of Myself do nothing; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not
seek My own will, but the will of the Father who sent me" (John 5: 30).
"I do not receive honor [literally 'glory'] from men" (John 5: 41).
"I have not come... to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me"
(John 6:38).
"My doctrine [teaching] is not Mine, but His who sent me"
(John 7:16-18).
"I am not come of Myself" (John 7:28).
"I do nothing of Myself" (John 8:28).
"I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true" (John 8:
42).
"I do not seek My own glory" (John 8:50).
"The words that I speak to you
I do not speak on My own
authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does the works" (John 14: 10).
"The word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent
Me" (John 14:24).
Let's
summarize what He says in four brief statements.
I did not come on my own
and I do not seek to do what I want, but only the will of the Father.
I can do nothing on my
own initiative and by my own power, but only what I see the Father do.
I do not speak on my
own, but say only what I hear from the Father.
I do not seek glory from
man, nor do I seek to glorify myself before men.
During the next two or three weeks I want you
to be chewing on these concepts, as we continue to ask the Lord, "How do I
walk in the Spirit?" Yes, we are at
a crossroads. Will we be content to
learn more about the Spirit? Or will we
long to walk in the Spirit until it is a reality. If we are going to walk in the Spirit, we
must fix our eyes on Jesus.
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