12-03-25 Sermon: Faith-Rest Life, Filling of the Spirit, Spiritual Walking

Opening Orientation and Upcoming Study Schedule

Teacher frames tonight’s session within a larger series.

Announces forthcoming focused study:

“In a couple of weeks after tonight’s study... we are actually going to spend about three weeks on 1 John 1:9.”

Purpose: Ensuring clarity on the filling of the Spirit, “which is one half of the power system that we operate in.”

Connection: “It goes right in line with the faith-rest life that we’ve studied in the pre-designed plan of God.”

Motivation for the new sub-series:

Recent questions from listeners led to conviction to address the topic.

Parallel emphasis: Just as being “straight on salvation and our position in Christ” is essential to operate in the predestined plan of God, likewise being “straight on why we’re using 1 John 1:9” is essential for the filling of the Spirit.

Proposed theological alignment:

Faith and confession as non-meritorious acts:

“Pisteuō” (Greek: πιστεύω) for “believe” and “homologeō” (Greek: ὁμολογέω) for “confess” are “very similar words” in function, both being non-meritorious.

Warning: “Just like if you add something to salvation, salvation is not going to take place.” Implication: adding human merit to faith or confession corrupts the doctrine.

Transition: “This week, we’re going to finish up our sixth week of walking.”

Call to Worship and Confession

Instruction: “Focus in, bow our heads, we’ll take a moment of silence, confessing any known sin to God to ensure the filling of the Spirit.”

Application: Casting cares upon the Lord if the day has been “horrendous.”

Implied exhortation: Utilize the principles of casting cares (cf. 1 Peter 5:7, though not directly cited).

Pastoral Prayer

Thanksgiving for the day and opportunities “to execute the plan that you have for our lives.”

Acknowledgment of means: “Through your word and through the filling of your Holy Spirit... we are able to execute the pre-designed plan.”

Requests:

Blessing upon the service.

The Holy Spirit to “open our hearts to hear the truth.”

Power to speak with authority and grace consistent with Scripture.

Closing: “In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Personal Illustration: Pressure and Faith-Rest Application

Context: Teacher “on call a lot” and had a “horrendous day at work.”

Specifics:

Early call-in at 4 a.m. the previous day.

Ongoing pressure; “late from the first thing” creating cascading lateness.

Dentist appointment scheduled; unexpected “temporary bridge” prep extended the appointment.

Booked for 1 hr 20 min.

Pressure mounts as time approaches pickup obligations for daughter Bella and her friend (Philharmonic, East Providence).

Time checks: “10 of 5”; left dentist at 5:20; still had “another 25 minutes to get home.”

Purpose:

Not to vent, but to model the faith-rest life under pressure.

“Every step of the way... when the pressure was mounting... it was faith rest for me.”

“Checkup from the neck up” repeated self-exhortation:

Acknowledge bad situation.

Affirm: “God is in control. Whatever happens.”

Distinguish: Not “undeserved suffering”; simply normal life constraints; still handled by faith.

Anti-hyper-spiritualizing caution:

Hypothetical: “It must be an attack from the devil because the devil wants to get you out of fellowship.”

Instruction: “Don’t hyper-spiritualize everything.”

Unless it is known to be satanic attack, “why even talk about it?”

Affirmation: An enemy may oppose us, but certainty is needed before attribution.

Theological Framework: Sovereignty of God Over Circumstances

Diagnostic distinction:

If the issue is not “reaping what you sow” (cause and effect from bad choices), then it falls under the sovereignty of God.

Even divine discipline can be turned into blessing and momentum (anticipation of future study on sowing and reaping).

Sovereign boundaries:

“Nothing can touch me as a believer, unless God allows it. Nothing can happen to me.”

Category outcomes:

If attack of the devil: still within God’s sovereignty and permission.

If not an attack: “Then it’s momentum testing... God is the one that’s doing it... to bring about... a test.”

Purpose of testing: Growth through passing tests.

Practical implication:

“Regardless of what it is,” the handling is the same: faith-rest and doctrinal application.

No need to differentiate in the moment; the method remains consistent.

Faith-Rest Lifestyle as Ongoing Discernment

Growth pattern:

As one lives the faith-rest life regularly (not sporadically), one begins to “recognize oppressive situations.”

Teacher’s experience: surveying daily situations—“Is this a test?”—as habitual mindset.

Faith mixing with doctrine:

Either you believe these doctrines or you do not; if not, “nothing’s being mixed with faith” and it will not work.

Reframing adversity:

Internal dialogue: “This could be God using this situation... to help me to grow.”

Attitude shift: Pressure becomes welcome—“Oh wow, this is great. I love the pressure.”

Spiritual growth trajectory:

“When we get into spiritual maturity and the steps of spiritual growth and spiritual adulthood, the pressure gets churned up all along the way... more and more.”

Assurance: “God’s not going to put on you any more than you can handle,” and “with the test [He] is always going to provide the way of escape.”

Implied reference: 1 Corinthians 10:13 (not explicitly quoted).

Expectation: Increased capacity brings increased testing.

Pre-Designed Plan of God and Escrow Blessings

Distinction between types of divine provision:

Not talking about “logistical grace” (basic provisions: housing, food, needs).

Escrow blessings:

Defined as special categories of blessings “that God has put in eternity past” for mature believers.

Clarification: “Most Christians never receive their escrow blessings.”

Reason: Most remain at logistical grace level and “never grow into the stages of maturity,” avoiding suffering required for advancement.

Sovereign variability:

Even logistical grace may differ among believers, as “God chooses to give some people... more than others.”

Key point:

Receiving escrow blessings is tied to spiritual adulthood and enduring suffering/tests under the faith-rest life within the pre-designed plan of God.

Exhortation: Capability in Christ and Method of Handling

Comprehensive assurance:

“There’s absolutely nothing that you cannot handle... No situation can come into your life that if you choose to do it God’s way, you won’t be able to handle it.”

Common failure:

Refusal to do it God’s way; attempting to “fight the giants in our own strength.”

Result: “Frustrated and broke, busted, and disgusted.”

Documented Scripture References (exact order mentioned)

1 John 1:9

Quoted in substance: “God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins if we confess them.”

Doctrinal use: Ensuring the filling of the Spirit; confession as non-meritorious act (homologeō).

Connection drawn: Faith (pisteuō) and confession (homologeō) as parallel non-meritorious responses.

Original Language Notes (as delivered)

Pisteuō (Greek: πιστεύω)

Meaning: To believe; the New Testament verb for faith response.

Doctrinal note: Non-meritorious; efficacy resides in the object (Christ/God), not the subject (the believer).

Homologeō (Greek: ὁμολογέω)

Meaning: To confess; to say the same thing, to acknowledge.

Doctrinal note: Non-meritorious; in the context of 1 John 1:9, confession is the means for experiential forgiveness and restoration to fellowship, ensuring the filling of the Spirit.

Transition to Spiritual Walking Review and Context

Opening remarks and context:

Personal aside: “I don't know why I said that. And you were being checked up on the neck of both ways.”

Transition: “Anyway, we're going to continue on now and finish up spiritual walking.”

Note on humility handout:

Intends to look at “that humility thing” later; expects notes to jog memory; has not reviewed notes today.

Recap intent: Will recap the study; last heading uncertain; proceeds to summarize key points already covered.

Review: Five Greek Words for “Walking” in the Bible

Focus on stoicheo as the most prominent in this study:

Reference context: “If we are made alive or if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Translation note: Some translations use “walk,” others better render as “follow.”

Greek definition: stoicheo = “to march in step,” “to follow a leader,” “to follow from the ranks.”

Emphasis: march-in-order concept rather than casual ambulation.

Humility vs. Arrogance Handout

Not required to review in detail now; “mainly it's stuff we've been over.”

Handout covers differences between arrogance and humility; will discuss humility verses shortly.

Provided “for your information,” but not revisiting line-by-line at this moment.

Precedence for Our Walk: Looking unto Jesus

Central thesis: The humanity of Jesus Christ is the great power demonstration and the prototype for the church age.

Church-age power equivalence: The exact same power available to the humanity of Christ in His earthly ministry is available to believers in the church age.

Scripture: 1 John 2:6

Quoted: “The one who says that he remains in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked.”

Precedence: Believers must pattern their walk after Jesus’ walk.

Abiding and the Pre-Designed Plan of God (PPG)

“Abiding in him” relates to the pre-designed plan of God.

How Jesus walked:

Under the power of God the Holy Spirit.

In the pre-designed plan of God.

Using the problem-solving devices.

Hypostatic union reminder:

Jesus is not half God/half man; He is fully God and fully man.

The humanity of Christ is true humanity, comparable to ours.

Kenosis doctrine:

Definition: The Son voluntarily suspended the independent use of His divine attributes.

Operational point: In His humanity, Christ functioned as a man; miracles performed only within the Father’s will and plan.

Prototype application:

Jesus maximized the Spirit’s power; believers cannot fully do so due to indwelling sin nature.

Necessity of “rebound” (1 John 1:9) to confess sins and restore fellowship; study on this is forthcoming in next three weeks.

Restatement of 1 John 2:6: We are instructed to walk as He walked.

Each Step of Spiritual Growth Appears in “Walking” Passages

Scripture: Romans 8:4

Quoted: “So that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Categorized: Filling of the Holy Spirit; walking in the Spirit.

Process: Spirit-Filling Leading to Metabolized Doctrine

After being filled with the Spirit, believers learn promises and metabolize doctrine.

Only Spirit-filled believers metabolize doctrine.

Importance of 1 John 1:9: Confession ensures the Spirit’s filling for learning.

Natural man cannot understand the things of God; they are foolishness to him.

Spending maximum time in the pre-designed plan of God:

Achieved by spending maximum time filled with the Spirit (no unconfessed sin).

Critical moments: Before studying or hearing the Word; hence the moment of silent prayer to ensure filling.

Gnosis vs. epignosis (epinosis):

Without Spirit filling, learning remains gnosis (raw knowledge) and does not mix with faith nor convert to epinosis (usable, metabolized doctrine for application).

Scripture Sequence: Walking by Faith

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Quoted: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Emphasis: Walking by faith is essential to spiritual momentum.

Humility and Objectivity: Enforced and Genuine Humility

Handout tie-in: “Basic virtue and objectivity from enforced and genuine humility.”

Working definition of arrogance (previously taught):

“Arrogance is anything that elevates itself above God and His Word.”

Humility definition:

Conducting oneself “doing things God’s way,” where God gets the credit and His power is operative.

The handout clarifies the distinction between humility and arrogance.

Personal Illustration: A “Very Bad Day” and the Temptation Toward Arrogance

Situational pressure: lateness, being backed up, obligations, traffic frustrations.

Self-focused thinking: “why is this happening… I can’t catch a break…”

Diagnostic moment: You become arrogant when you focus on self.

“Checkup from the neck up” practice:

Evaluate thinking in real time under pressure.

Ask: What are my thoughts? Am I focusing on God and God’s Word?

Aim: Head issues off before they blow up; build habit through practice.

Emphasis: The pre-designed plan of God will be central teaching “until probably March.”

Upcoming Focus: The Pre-Designed Plan of God as a “Christmas Gift”

On the 21st (Sunday service, Christmas message):

The “second Christmas gift” besides the Lord Jesus Christ.

Distinction: Baby Jesus in the manger and the pre-designed plan of God.

Message emphasis: Focus on PPG rather than traditional nativity details (wise men, gifts, trees).

Purpose: Learn daily operation in God’s power; grow to maturity; receive blessings and rewards God promises.

Enforced Humility and Its Role

Definition: Prioritizing spiritual disciplines even when you don’t “feel” like it.

Example: Attending class even if you didn’t want to; that’s enforced humility.

Trajectory: Enforced humility develops into genuine humility over time.

Priority of doctrine intake:

You need doctrine beforehand to handle today’s pressures.

Personal testimony: Today’s handling of pressure was due to doctrine already metabolized through ongoing enforced humility.

Common failure mode:

Crisis prompts seeking doctrine; once pressure eases, people back off.

Warning: “The next time is coming,” so maintain enforced humility to be ready.

Practical Counsel on Self-Discipline

“If your body feels like doing something you don’t want it to do, don’t let it.”

Enforced humility results in genuine humility.

Scripture: Walking Worthy with Virtue Love

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1–2

Quoted: “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

Operational traits for walking worthy:

Humility, sensitivity, perseverance, toleration, impersonal virtue love.

How these traits develop:

By walking: Spirit-filling through walking, faith-rest drill through walking, basic virtue love through walking.

Movement is forward: “Keep walking, not standing.” At any moment, you are moving either backward or forward.

Two Systems: No Neutrality

You are either:

In the pre-designed plan of God, or

In the cosmic system (devil’s system).

Clarification:

No neutral ground; choosing “not God’s way” by default aligns with the devil’s system.

Fellowship dynamics:

Unconfessed sin breaks fellowship (not salvation); results in carnality and exiting the PPG.

Aim of recognition: Not condemnation or guilt, but rapid recovery to fellowship.

Life correlation:

The quality/blessedness of life correlates with time spent in the PPG versus out of fellowship.

Pressure does not negate blessedness: personal example of a pressure-filled yet blessed week due to continuing forward.

Recovery and Perseverance

If you mess up:

Confess to God (1 John 1:9), pick up the pieces, and move on.

Avoid guilt and condemnation; resume walking.

Upcoming Transition to “Running”

On the 21st (Sunday service):

Shift from six weeks of “walking” to “running.”

Reason: “We have a race that has been set before us.”

Principle: You learn to walk before you run; running accelerates growth.

Momentum from Metabolized Doctrine: Walking by Means of Doctrine

Doctrine is analogous to digestion:

“You’re eating the word of God,” generating spiritual energy.

Metabolized doctrine produces spiritual walking.

Scripture: Pastoral Joy in Walking

Scripture: 3 John 1:4

Quoted: “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Pastoral application:

Joy in testimonies and reports of God’s work through the studies.

Shared experience: Receiving texts/emails about the benefit of teaching; “I’m sure Joe feels the same way.”

Desire: To see believers executing the pre-designed plan of God.

Intercessory Prayer Focus

Daily pattern: Prays redundantly yet deliberately for people on his prayer list.

Specific petitions:

That God would guide and lead them in the pre-designed plan for their life.

That God would give strength to execute His individual plan.

Individualization:

“Your plan is your plan. My plan is my plan.”

Emphasis: Keep eyes on the plan God has for your life.

Anticipation of 1 John 1:9 Study

Extended focus in coming weeks.

Confession principle:

“When we confess, we confess our sins, not someone else’s sins.”

Priority: Focus on your relationship with God.

Opening Emphasis: Virtue of Minding Your Own Business

General assertion: “The ability to mind your own business is one of the greatest virtues you could ever have.”

Application:

Freedom found in disengaging from others’ behaviors and focusing solely on one’s personal relationship with God.

Indifference to others’ spiritual failures or sins; refusal to measure one’s walk by others’ actions.

Doctrinal point:

God’s plan and blessing for the individual believer are not contingent on anyone else’s actions or involvement.

“God doesn’t need anyone to do anything in order to bless me.”

“God doesn’t need anybody to come to this Bible study in order for God to bring about what His plan for me is.”

Practical implication:

When situations arise that seem to be affected by others’ choices, resist walking by sight.

Transition to faith-rest posture: not looking at circumstances or other people, but trusting God.

Faith vs. Sight in Daily Pressures

Application:

In daily pressures and uncertainties: “I’m trusting God… God is in control.”

Faith-Rest Drill reference (methodological note):

Personal practice: often “skip the first step of the faith-rest drill (claim the promise) and go right to the rationale.”

Rationale embraced:

God is sovereign.

God is omnipotent.

Nothing can happen unless God allows it.

If God allows it, His power is present to strengthen and enable endurance.

Resulting conviction:

“That is the truth that I live in no matter what is going on in my life.”

Spiritual Self-Esteem and Virtue Love

Doctrinal theme: Spiritual self-esteem is “walking in virtue love.”

Preview: “We’re going to spend a lot of time on that in the next coming months.”

Scripture: Walk in Love and Propitiation

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1–2

Text: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Precedence:

Christ is the model and precedent for virtue love.

Doctrinal note: Propitiation

“Have to mention it whenever it comes up even if it’s not part of our study.”

Definition:

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the justice of God.

God is satisfied “no matter what you’ve done in life, no matter where you’ve been.”

Soteriological implication:

“That means you and I are holy and righteous in God’s sight, not because of anything that we did, because of what Jesus Christ did.”

Scripture: Putting on Christ and Not Making Provision for the Flesh

Scripture: Romans 13:13–14

Text: “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

Greek/lexical note on “debauchery”:

Definition given: reckless, uncontrolled life dominated by the sin nature.

Clarification: More intense than the English sense of “debauchery”; highlights total lack of restraint under sin nature domination.

Application:

“Let’s behave properly, not be involved in this kind of stuff.”

Clarification:

Not calling for a “perfect, holy life.”

Warning against making life about drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, sin-nature domination, strife, jealousy.

Doctrinal emphasis: Walking in the predesigned plan of God.

“He’s talking about walking. He’s talking about walking in the pre-designed plan of God.”

How to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”:

Be filled with the Spirit.

Walk in the predesigned plan God has for you.

Practical method:

Requires volition; active self-evaluation (“check up from the neck up”).

Evaluate thoughts and actions; recognize when going down the wrong road.

Not about judgment or condemnation for sins; rather about identifying sins to recognize loss of fellowship and recover.

Principle:

“The system that you spend the most time operating in is the one that’s going to dictate where your life goes,” especially regarding maturity and walking worthy of Christ.

Scripture: Winner Believers Walking in White

Scripture: Revelation 3:4

Note: “I actually didn’t even add a verse in here. Revelation 3:4. I don’t have a slide for it.”

Text: “But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

Identification:

“These are winner believers. These are not people who have never sinned.”

“These are people who have executed the pre-designed plan of God, reached spiritual maturity in their life, and that makes them worthy.”

Credit principle:

Contrast: creature credit vs. Creator credit.

“When you’re operating the pre-designed plan of God, God gets the credit.”

Personal testimony:

“God gets the credit for my day today—for me being able to get through it and not completely lose it, not completely go off the rails, not completely just say, ‘You know what, I forget it, I give up, this is too much, this is too hard, I can’t live this life.’”

Pastoral Encouragement in Crisis

Affirmation: “Absolutely… I’ve said this many times recently: You can’t live this life.”

Turning point application:

When reaching the limit—“I can’t do this anymore”—do not quit.

“Great, perfect, stay right there for a second. Don’t go beyond that. Don’t quit now. You’re on to something.”

Maxim:

“The only true failure in life is the person that didn’t know how close to success they were when they gave up.”

Illustration: The Twelve Spies in the Promised Land

Narrative setup:

Reference to “giants in the promised land,” with twelve spies seeing the same realities.

Outcome:

Ten spies:

Report: “We cannot defeat these people. These are walled cities. These are big, giant people. We are like grasshoppers in their sight.”

Perspective: walking by sight; forgetting God; lacking faith; choosing to run.

Two spies:

Response: “Hold on, let’s go right now… we’re well able to possess it.”

Perspective: faith—seeing an impossible situation, yet trusting God to fight for them.

Doctrinal contrast:

Same data, different conclusions based on faith vs. sight.

Application:

In personal problems: do not conclude “I can’t take it anymore.”

Recognize impossibility under human strength; shift to faith in God’s power.

Scripture: Hebrews 4 (Reference to Faith Mixed with the Word)

Point:

“It’s talked about in Hebrews… where it says that the words that they heard did not benefit them, because what they heard was not mixed with faith. It was not united with those who listened in faith.”

Doctrinal implication:

Hearing Bible teaching without faith (non-metabolized doctrine) yields no benefit.

Failure mode:

“You can listen and sit in Bible class, and if you’re not metabolizing any of this, if you’re not believing any of this, it’s not going to be beneficial to you.”

Parallel to the ten spies: overwhelmed by problems due to lack of faith.

Concluding application:

Acknowledge personal insufficiency: “Of course [your problems] are” too much for you.

Therefore, embrace faith-rest: trust God’s sovereignty and power, walk by faith, operate in the Spirit within the predesigned plan of God.

Purpose of Giants and Joshua Generation Application

Opening framing: “That’s the whole point of it.”

Purpose of the giants:

Repeated emphasis: “The point of the giants … was to reveal their unbelief.”

Giants exposed Israel’s lack of trust in God.

Two (Joshua and Caleb) trusted God; they entered the promised land.

The rest wandered 40 years on what “should have been an 11-day journey”; they died in the desert.

Joshua generation application:

“Be strong, be courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Exhortation when trials seem overwhelming:

Do not be discouraged by feeling overwhelmed; that feeling is not bad. It can be good—an occasion to trust God’s way.

“These problems are not for you to fight.”

God’s call: “I have a way. My way. Get on track with my way. I have power. I’ll fight these giants for you.”

God’s presence and leadership:

“He’s going to go over the Jordan … going before him.”

Affirmation: “God’s going before you.”

Indwelling presence: contrast Old Testament with Church Age

“The Trinity didn’t live in the Old Testament believers.”

Church Age believers have “the very Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit living inside of us.”

Application: “I don’t even have to worry about going out that door. Everywhere I go, God is with me.”

Pastoral Counsel on Interpreting Adversity

Avoid hyper-spiritualizing pressures:

Don’t immediately attribute: “Could this be the devil attacking me? … a test? … God trying to get me back?”

If there is known, unconfessed sin:

Recovery protocol:

“Get back in fellowship. Confess it to God. Name it. Cite it. Pick up the pieces. Move on. Get back in fellowship.”

If pressures feel “too much”:

Do not quit or withdraw.

“Stand strong now. Keep walking.”

Personal Illustration: Mental Health and Faith Walk

Bipolar disorder testimony:

“A year and a half now I don’t take medicines … don’t see a psychiatrist … but I still have symptoms.”

Racing thoughts now saturated with doctrine due to studying:

“It’s racing thoughts with doctrine … the Bible … God’s word … edifying me … building me up.”

Clinical depression defined:

“Nothing’s happened … all of a sudden you feel like your best friend died.” That’s clinical depression.

Resolution:

“I’ve decided that I’m going to go forward in my life while I’m depressed, until God fights that giant for me and gives me the victory.”

Observation from the last 1.5 years:

“The depression never lasts … not even more than a day.”

Practical steps:

Even when feeling very sad or discouraged, keep moving rather than withdrawing.

Past tendency: missing work and withdrawing; present resolve: “You can do it. Take a couple of steps. One step—God will take two steps.”

God’s presence: “God will be there with you wherever you go, even when you’re depressed … anxiety … frustrations.”

Expectation of trouble:

“People want … a life that’s filled with no problems. That’s not going to happen.”

Jesus’ word:

“In this world, you will have trouble … fear not, for I have overcome the world.”

Critical distinction in trials:

Will you have God fight the giants, try to fight in your own power, or run away?

Visual Recap of Six-Week Teaching on “Walking” (Projector Anecdote)

Summary bullets (repeated refrain: “you kept walking”):

Power of the filling of the Spirit comes from consistent walking.

Operation in the faith-rest drill: walk by faith, not by sight.

Developing basic virtue and objectivity: you kept walking.

Momentum from metabolized doctrine: you kept walking.

Spiritual energy from your spiritual walk.

First stage of spiritual growth attained by walking in virtue-love.

Momentum tests at spiritual self-esteem and spiritual independence: kept going in spite of pressure.

Arrival at spiritual maturity: because of how you walked.

Eternal reward: “you will walk with Jesus Christ in the uniform of glory in all of eternity because you became a winner.” How? “You kept walking.”

Framework for Spiritual Growth Stages

Spiritual adulthood divisions (three stages):

Spiritual self-esteem.

Spiritual autonomy.

Spiritual maturity.

Pastoral target:

After salvation, spiritual self-esteem “should be the goal of every person.”

Common failure noted:

Many are in the pre-designed plan of God (PPOG) only at the moment of salvation.

They sin, do not know how to recover the filling of the Spirit, and never function inside the PPOG thereafter.

Principle:

“Anything you do in the flesh cannot please God.”

Morality without filling is non-meritorious before God:

“If you’re not filled with the Spirit, none of that counts with God.”

Transition to Extra Notes and Scriptures (No Slides; Posted on Facebook)

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15–18 (quoted and expounded)

Text summary:

“Be careful how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.”

“Making the most of your time” (“redeeming the time”).

“Because the days are evil.”

“Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

“Do not get drunk with wine … debauchery … but be filled with the Spirit.”

Doctrinal contrast:

Opposite of life dominated by the sin nature is being inside the pre-designed plan of God (PPOG) by the filling of the Spirit.

No dual residency:

“You cannot be living a life dominated by the sin nature and be filled with the Spirit.”

“You cannot be walking in the predesigned plan of God and walking in the cosmic system at the same time … You can’t have one foot in and one foot out.”

Application: redeeming moments with edifying content

Make the most of time: listen to doctrine during mundane activities (shower, driving, cooking).

Word studies (Greek)

“Redeem the time”:

Exagorazō (E-X-A-G-O-R-A-Z-O):

Definition: “to buy back,” “buy up,” “seize an opportunity,” “make maximum use of a moment.”

Emphasis: spiritual alertness, not busyness.

Time:

Kairos, not chronos.

Kairos: divine opportunity, God-designed moment loaded with purpose.

Support: Thayer’s lexicon cited as having a “really good write-up” on kairos.

Pastoral reflection (read from his Facebook post):

Ephesians 5:16: “redeem the time” means seize every God-given kairos.

Contrast:

Chronos measures your day; kairos evaluates your spirituality.

The cosmic system seeks to steal these moments.

Examples of kairos response:

Trust God instead of reacting emotionally.

Use doctrine instead of human viewpoint.

Apply faith-rest.

Stay inside the PPOG.

Walk in wisdom rather than drift in distraction.

“Redeeming the time means refusing to let the world, pressure, fear, guilt, or emotional instability rob you of spiritual opportunities.”

“Because the days are evil”—noted connection to the angelic conflict (acknowledged but not unpacked here).

Personal application to his stressful day: chose kairos over emotional reaction.

Scripture: Colossians 1:9–10 (prayer pattern for believers)

Text summary:

“Since the day we heard … we have not ceased praying for you … to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

Purpose: “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.”

Results: “to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Doctrinal mechanics:

Walking worthy requires walking in the PPOG by the filling of the Spirit.

Method: perceiving, metabolizing, and applying Bible doctrine as pressures arise.

Scripture: Colossians 4:5–6 (closing text)

Text summary:

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.”

“Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

Extension: also how to respond to “every situation in life.”

Lexical note:

Teacher’s surmise: Greek term may be the same concept as “redeeming the time” in Eph 5:16 (not confirmed here; flagged as a likely parallel).

Application:

Conduct with wisdom = learn the Word of God.

Power system emphasis:

Upcoming series: 1 John 1:9 (three weeks) on grace-confession.

Being filled with the Spirit (two weeks) as “one half of our power system.”

Theology of the New Creation and Divine Power System

Creation pattern:

God equips every created species to function as designed.

Believers: “If any person is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

Not a cleaned-up old life; a brand-new life.

Old life remains and “rears its ugly head”; we “fall short … fail”—hence “rebound.”

Power system necessity:

“You can’t put new wine in old wineskins”—divine power requires a new spirit and a new power system.

Spiritual nourishment analogy:

As with food and water for physical life, believers must take in spiritual food.

The two components of the power system:

Filling of the Spirit:

Paramount: without the filling, perceiving, metabolizing, and applying doctrine “will make no difference.”

How to be filled:

Identify and confess any known, unconfessed sin.

Learning what sin is is for recognition and recovery, not condemnation or guilt.

Grace-confession principle:

“It is irrelevant how you feel.”

Forgiveness is not based on feeling bad, feeling sorry, or promising God “not to do it again.”

Some of those responses can themselves be sins.

Pastoral aim for the next weeks:

Ensure no one doubts how to be filled again; “it’s going to be done the right way.”

Perception, metabolization, application of Bible doctrine:

Failure points:

Failure to perceive: don’t read, don’t attend, don’t listen—cannot metabolize or apply.

Failure to apply: knowing doctrine but choosing not to use it under pressure.

Example from the teacher’s difficult day:

He could have chosen not to apply and “blow up.”

That would be “arrogance.”

Arrogance defined and warned:

“Anytime you are elevating yourself above God and his word, you are operating in the arrogance complex of sins.”

Believers are “bought with a price.”

No right to elevate our circumstances above God’s Word regardless of tragedy or pressure.

If we do, we are in sin; we must confess, rebound, return to fellowship, and keep moving.

Transition to Q&A Logistics and Closing

Anecdote about prior Q&A overload and recording challenges:

Desire to limit on-record Q&A due to audio issues in recordings.

Closing prayer:

Thanksgiving for the day as an opportunity (kairos motif).

Petition: Holy Spirit to “quicken this word” to hearts.

Request: Guidance in God’s plan; strength “to stand against any giant and any obstacle and any distraction.”

Blessing sought for the remainder of the night, “In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Post-prayer invitation:

Open to questions, comments, criticisms afterward (off-record).

Note: Moving on from the “walking” series; next: grace-confession (1 John 1:9) and filling of the Spirit.

Scripture References in Exact Chronological Order

1. 1 John 1:9 — “God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins if we confess them.”

2. 1 John 2:6 — “The one who says that he remains in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked.”

3. Romans 8:4 — “...who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

4. 2 Corinthians 5:7 — “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

5. Ephesians 4:1–2 — “...walk in a manner worthy... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

6. 3 John 1:4 — “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

7. Ephesians 5:1–2 — “...be imitators of God... and walk in love... an offering and a sacrifice to God...”

8. Romans 13:13–14 — “Let us behave properly as in the day... But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh...”

9. Revelation 3:4 — “...they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

10. Hebrews 4 (referenced) — The word not benefitting them because it was not mixed with faith.

11. Ephesians 5:15–18 — “Be careful how you walk... redeeming the time... be filled with the Spirit.”

12. Colossians 1:9–10 — “...that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord... bearing fruit... increasing in the knowledge of God.”

13. Colossians 4:5–6 — “Conduct yourselves with wisdom... making the most of the opportunity... speech... with grace... seasoned with salt...”

Original Language and Word Studies (in order delivered)

Pisteuō (πιστεύω): believe; non-meritorious faith response—efficacy in the object (Christ/God).

Homologeō (ὁμολογέω): confess; to say the same thing; non-meritorious act restoring fellowship (1 John 1:9).

Stoicheo (στοιχέω): “to march in step,” “follow a leader,” “follow from the ranks”; emphasis on ordered, disciplined walking by the Spirit.

Debauchery (as used in Romans 13): reckless, uncontrolled life dominated by the sin nature (stronger than common English sense).

Exagorazō (ἐξαγοράζω): “redeem the time”—to buy up, seize opportunity, make maximum use of a moment.

Kairos (καιρός) vs. Chronos (χρόνος): Kairos = divine opportunity, God-designed moments; Chronos = sequential time; emphasis on seizing kairos for spiritual growth (Thayer’s lexicon noted).

Doctrinal Points (chronological across the sermon)

The filling of the Spirit is “one half of the power system” for the believer’s operational life.

Clarity on salvation and position in Christ is essential to functioning in the predestined plan of God.

Confession (1 John 1:9) must be understood and believed; otherwise, assurance of the filling of the Spirit is compromised.

Adding human merit to salvation or confession nullifies the doctrine’s efficacy.

Faith-rest life is the mode of handling pressure and adversity; “checkup from the neck up” is self-exhortation to think doctrinally under pressure.

Avoid hyper-spiritualizing circumstances without evidence; maintain focus on God’s sovereignty.

Distinguish between reaping what you sow and sovereignly permitted testing (including satanic attack or momentum testing).

Nothing touches the believer apart from divine permission; all adversity is within God’s sovereign control.

Testing under sovereignty is for growth; passing tests builds capacity; God provides a way of escape.

Escrow blessings differ from logistical grace:

Logistical grace: God’s basic provision.

Escrow blessings: Prearranged rewards for mature believers; most never receive due to avoiding growth/suffering.

Practical exhortation: Do it God’s way; don’t fight in human strength.

Jesus Christ’s humanity is the prototype of the Church-age power system; believers are to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6).

Kenosis: Jesus voluntarily suspended independent use of deity—operated in His humanity under the Spirit and the Father’s plan.

Rebound (1 John 1:9) is essential due to indwelling sin nature to restore fellowship and learn doctrine.

Gnosis vs. epignosis: Only Spirit-filled believers metabolize doctrine; otherwise knowledge remains unusable.

Walking by faith (2 Cor 5:7) fuels spiritual momentum.

Humility vs. arrogance: humility = doing things God’s way; arrogance elevates self above God’s Word.

Walking worthy (Eph 4:1–2) requires Spirit-filling, faith-rest, and virtue love with humility and patience.

No neutrality: you are either in the PPOG or the cosmic system; unconfessed sin breaks fellowship.

Recovery protocol: Confess, pick up the pieces, move on—avoid guilt/condemnation.

Virtue of minding your own business: focus on your walk; God’s plan for you is not contingent on others.

Walk in love (Eph 5:1–2); propitiation assures God’s satisfaction based on Christ alone.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ; make no provision for the flesh (Rom 13:13–14); requires volition and self-evaluation.

Winner believers (Rev 3:4) are those who executed the PPOG to maturity; God gets the credit.

When at the end of self: don’t quit; often close to breakthrough; failure is giving up too soon.

Spies illustration: faith vs. sight; same data, different conclusions—choose faith-rest.

Hebrews 4 principle: teaching does not benefit if not mixed with faith.

God’s command to Joshua generation: be strong and courageous; God goes before you; in the Church Age, Trinity indwells believers.

Mental health testimony: keep walking under depression/anxiety; God fights the giants; don’t withdraw.

Expect trouble in the world; Christ has overcome; choose God’s power vs. running or self-effort.

Six-week walk recap: consistent walking yields filling, faith-rest operation, virtue, momentum, energy, maturity, and eternal reward.

Spiritual adulthood: self-esteem, autonomy, maturity; aim for self-esteem post-salvation; flesh-works cannot please God.

Redeem the time (Eph 5:15–18): be wise; days are evil; be filled with the Spirit—no dual residency with sin nature domination.

Exagorazō and kairos: seize God-moments; don’t let cosmic system steal them; choose doctrine, faith-rest, PPOG, wisdom.

Colossians prayers (1:9–10; 4:5–6): walk worthy by Spirit-filled wisdom; make the most of opportunities; speech with grace.

New creation requires new power system: filling of the Spirit + perception/metabolization/application of doctrine.

Grace-confession: not based on feelings, sorrow, or vows; objective naming of sin restores fellowship.

Arrogance warning: elevating circumstances above God’s Word is sin; confess and keep moving.

Applications and Illustrations (chronological)

Real-life time-pressure scenario: dentist and child pickup logistics; faith-rest at each step; “God is in control.”

Self-talk under stress: “Checkup from the neck up”—evaluate thoughts to avoid arrogance and remain in PPOG.

Attitude transformation: Regard pressure as opportunity for growth toward spiritual adulthood.

Virtue of minding your own business: focus on your walk and God’s plan for you.

Spies and giants: choose faith over sight in impossible situations.

Mental health application: keep moving under depression/anxiety; small steps; God’s presence and help.

Redeeming time: use mundane moments for doctrine intake; seize kairos opportunities.

Personal testimony: God gets the credit for endurance and not quitting under pressure.

Attributions

None explicitly referenced by name in this recording (e.g., no mention of R.B. Thieme Jr., Robert McLaughlin, etc.).