How to Maintain The Spirit-Filled Life

Salvation is a result of JC's work, not mine. When God forgives my sins, they are forgiven forever. Salvation is the gift of God through JC. Maintaining that salvation is the work of God, not the believer.

But, as a B, I am responsible for maintaining my spirit-filled life. How do we maintain this life?

Galatians 5:16--So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Romans 8:14--Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.F35 And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

HS leads from within. One of HS's responsibilities is to lead us. SPL if a moment by moment of reliance on HS to guide us; to be lead by the HS. Any time I choose to sin, I choose to say no to HS. There is no way to maintain SPL and walk in disobedience.

How do I deal with sin?

I must understand what my relationship to sin is. Victory does not come through confession and repentance.

Romans 6:11--In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

We are dead to sin's appeal. Stop letting sin govern your life. JC's work on the cross changed our relationship to sin.

Romans 6:18--You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Before we received JC as our LORD and Savior, we were slaves to sin. Once we received JC as LORD and Savior, our relationship to sin is different. Satan lies to us telling us that we are weak and we can't resist him. But we are not as weak as he would want us to think because we have the power and strength of HS inside us. Therefore sin shall not be master over us. God does not intend for us to be mastered by sin. God has provided for this. We have been freed from sin. As a B, in order to sin, we have to consent to sin in order to sin. In other words, we can't be forced or compelled to sin. We have to assent, yield, relent to sin. We can submit to satan's desire for us to sin. But we have HS to instruct us and guide us away from sin.

We must recognize that our mind is the battlefield of sin.

Romans 8:5--Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Set your mind on the things of HS (which are the things of God.) Therefore, we will develop the character of JC. The things of the flesh no longer fit who we are (in JC). If I'm sensitive to the things of God, I won't carry out the things of the flesh.

The battle does NOT start at the point of temptation. But, by that point, we're already defeated. There's a battle before the battle. We have to learn how to deal with the thoughts that come our way before the become a problem. It's not a sin that an evil thought comes our way. We have to determine whether we entertain the thought. If I'm walking in the HS, anything contrary to that is not a part of who we are. It begins with the thought itself. Once you begin to entertain the thoughts, you're then defeated. You are to begin to deal with it as soon as the thought comes. You can do that because sin is no longer our master. We are from from it.

God's Call to Genuine Repentance

Luke 24:45--Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations including Jerusalem.

Matthew 3:1--In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 4:17--From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

JC began His ministry preaching about repentance.

There are 2 concepts of repentance in the NT.
Repentance-heartfelt sorrow.
Genuine Repentance-heartfelt sorrow for sin against God AND a sense of change. A commitment to forsake sin and to walk in obedience to JC. The emotional reaction (guilt, shame, etc.) to sin is NOT genuine repentance. Holy God cannot tolerate sin. His unconditional love for us does not mean that He disregards our sin.

What about the scripture that does not mention repentance. What about people who believe in JC but have not repented.
John 3:16--
Romans 10:--

To believe in JC involves and includes repentance. This was understood by 1c. believers.

Every time someone "believes" in the NT, there some action occurring. Faith and repentance are inseparable. That means there will be a change in my conduct and my character. When you trust JC with genuine repentance, you will have a new beginning. That is what it means to be born again.

This does not mean that you will clean up your life. That is the work of HS. Your spirit is renewed but it's HS who allows you to live out this Christian life.

If you are not saved, you have to acknowledge your sinfulness before God. Salvation has nothing to do with works. You can't clean up your past. It's about placing your trust in God to change your life. Salvation is an eternal change of your destiny. Your destiny is to walk as a Godly man or woman.

God hates sin. He loves us. He judges sin because He sees what it does in the life of the believer.

The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11--Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

The Prodigal Son is a good example of genuine repentance. He left home, ate, drank, and was merry. He hit rock bottom, realized his error, decided to return home and leave the pig pen, and confessed his wrongdoing to his father.

God got the son's attention by making him lose everything. God uses this tactic to get people's attention. He's will use it until the person's will is broken. It's not punishment, it's about changing his/her life.

Genuine repentance=heartfelt sorrow, forsaking sin, submitting to the authority/sovereignty of JC.

Confession-homologeo=to agree with.
Genuine confession-confession that He is listening, agreement with Him that He is right, and genuine repentance. Genuine confession and genuine repentance are inseparable.

Genuine confession occurs when you surrender, let it go. Surrender is the key. I'm willing to walk away from what God says does NOT belong in my life.

Partial obedience=disobedience.

If I genuinely repent of my sin, that means I lay it down. That does not mean that I won't do it again. (UnGodly habits, differing norms, etc.) But HS will bring to our mind what is sin and what is NOT sin. HS will convict our sin.

Proverbs 28:13--He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

The Power Within

The power of the Holy Spirit (PHS) is available to every believer to help you accomplish what God has called you to do. It is not limited only to preachers, teachers, pastors, ministers, etc.

PHS is the divine energy God expresses through us. PHS is the divine authority that allows someone to accomplish what s/he is called to do.

Acts 1:8--"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The power of HS is referred to in the context of witnessing.

PHS should not lie dormant within us. We are to use it to carry out the work that God has called us do.

Walking in the HS is us being filled with HS and He is free to do through us what He chooses.

Anything that glorifies man is NOT of God. Any work of God will glorify God. Only God can perform miracles, answer prayer, forgive sin. God flows through people and only those who are clean and pure. HS indwells us to use us and to flow through us. God's supernatural power lives inside of us. He wants to release it in our lives. But PHS does not flow throgh disobedience. It flows through someone who is submitted to its power.

Luke 4:14--Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

God expresses His power through us
1. through the fruit of the spirit. God seeks to creat Godly character in us. This will make us a strong witness because God's character, peace, and faith within us will attract unbelievers to JC.
2. to provide a way for us to relate to us in the body of JC and carry on the work of God successfully;
3. as a defense system. God gave us HS to make our need a reality. He gives us power and authority in our areas of weakness. PHS is not available for me to use, but to flow through me to be used by God.

Galatians 5:22--But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

PHS is used to produce Godly works through the gifts He has given to us.

2 Corinthians 6:1--As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

We are partners with God. He uses HS to express His power for us to do His ministry here on earth. We have been given one or more spiritual gifts that each believer indwelt by HS so that we can serve Him in the kingdom of God. Spiritual gift is a special ability given to you by God to equip us to serve Him.

1 Peter 4:10--Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Sap-->Vine-->Branch-->Fruit

God wants His kingdom to bring in millions of people to JC. He equipped (gifted) us to accomplish this. If you don't use your gift, you lose it! You can't hold your gifts and serve God.

God owns you. He has the right toi tell you how, where, and when. To do otherwise is sin. The only way to get rid of sin is to repent. Choose not to waste anymore of your life!

The Abiding Life

Salvation and victory in the Christian life, victory over adversity is for everyone. He offers it to all who are willing to claim it.

God didn't make any false promises. He didn't intend for you to not have peace and joy. But there are many discouraged Christians.

John 15:1--"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

God never intended for you to live the Christian life.

The Christian life is not the product of the fruit, it is a product of the branch.

God wants you to rely on him. He wants you to rest in the vine.

God's Gift

I have all of Him. How much of me does God have of me?

We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We are to be filled with the Spirit of God.

Epesians 5:11--Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

At first, things were gong well in your Christian walk, but as time went on, you began to experience defeat. This could be so because you were not taught well. You were not taught that you were not given the strength to live the Christian life.

The Spirit Filled Life is a gift from God.

John 4:13--Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 7:37--On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

JC spoke of the HS as living water (well, river). When HS came down at Pentecost, He came to live inside of us.

John 14:16--And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will beF72 in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:26--But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The fullness fo the Spirit of God is a gift of God. We don't have to wait for HS because He has already come. He lives inside of us. Every believer is indwelt by HS. When God gave you HS, He filled you up with HIm. You've gotten all of the HS you can ever get. We received Him when we were saved.

The issue is how much of me does He have? The Spirit Filled Life is about how much of me does He have.

Why isn't Jesus enough?

How much of you He has is determined by whether you are filled with Him.

Acts 2:4--All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

Acts 4:31--After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

They were filled with HS. They don't pray Him down, HS comes down and fills them. HS fills every single believer.

Paul says we are to be filled BY the Spirit of God. The SFL is a life lived in submission to HS; under the control of HS. The Spirit of God ministers through us as He controls us. This leads to a life of fruitfulness and productivity.

The purpose of the SFL is to enable us to live the live He wants us to live and to do the work that He wants us to do. You cannot live the Christian life. God gave us HS to enable us to do what we cannot do.

A Spirit Filled Christian has a hunger for God.

If I am not living under submission to Him, then I am not living the Spirit Filled Life.

Requirements to be Spirit Filled: Absolute, total conviction that you CAN"T do it.

SFL is a life of control, submission, yeildedness to Him. Any time I reserve a part of me from Him, then I am not living the SFL. We are SF ONLY when we are totally surrendered, submitted, dependent, yeilded. To be SF is to be living in total submission to HS. I have transferred all authority in my life to Him. HS is in control of body, soul, money, job, friends, church, goals, everything. He will empower you. The emphasis is that we are to be dominated by HS.

Give up the right to self.

Seeking God's Guidance

How do you make important decisions in your life? Believers start with the premises that There is a God who has a will/plan for our life. He is interested in our life, He has our best interest at heart.

Psalm 16

16:7--I will praise the LORD , who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

God will guide and direct us in our life.

1. God has promised to give us Godly guidance. "You have made known to me the path of life."

Psalm 32:8--I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Proverbs 3:5-6--Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 58:11--The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Psalm 16:8--I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

I John 5:14--This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

It is God's will to seek Godly guidance. He promises to direct us. He promises to refresh us.

Genesis 12--God gave Abraham sparse guidance but clear direction. He gives us a sense of direction. As we trust him day by day, His guidance becomes clearer and clearer.

It is the character of God that He would give us very clear guidance in every decision we make. Since it's His will for us to obey and please Him, it's His responsibility to show us want to do. It's not in God's character to make us guess at what we're supposed to do. God will certainly give us Godly guidance if we seek it.

2. We have a pilot in our search for Godly guidance. JC promised to send a Helper/Teacher/Guide. It's HS's responsibility to guide us. HS is living in us to guide/direct us.

Psalm 16:7--I will praise the LORD , who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

When we're asleep, the HS has absolute undisturbed control of our mind. Our mind is highly active when we're awake. But when we're asleep, the things that we are seeking guidance for from God, HS will reveal God's guidance to us (often in the middle of the night.) That is the work of the HS.

I Corinthians 2:12--We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Unbelievers can't understand the things of HS because they don't have HS to help them interpret/understand. Believers understand things of HS not because we're smarter, but because we have HS in us, guiding us.

First, you must believe that there is a God. He sent His one and only Son to die and pay for our sins. If you accept His son, Jesus Christ, and confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and accept Christ as your lord and saviour, that is when you become a child of God, and can receive clear guidance from God through HS. Put your faith and trust in God. He is trustworthy and loving. He will give you Godly, which is the best direction you can ever receive.

We must watch out for the pitfalls when seeking God's guidance.

1. Strong fleshly desires. There is nothing wrong with having natural desires. We must assess what is controlling our decision-making powers. We must ask, "what's the will of the Father?"

2. Wrong counsel. Everyone can offer advice. But they don't have to suffer the consequences. But we can go to the decision maker Himself. He wants us to be able to discern His mind so we know His will for our life.

3. Impatience. We must have patience. I will wait here until I get further orders. I refuse to run ahead.

4. Doubt. Some people feel that they are not worthy of hearing from God. Others feel disappointed by past unanswered prayer. Others misinterpret God's guidance, then things didn't go as desired and they conclude that prayer doesn't work.

If we have sincere motives, God will use our experience for good, no matter what.

5. Pressures. There's external pressure (friends, family, etc.). But those people don't know God's will for your life. So we must be careful of the external pressure. There's also time pressure. We are sometimes forced by the circumstances to make a decision. Other times, the pressure of the circumstances themselves will force us to have to make a decision. Internal pressures come from promptings of HS.

How do we find genuine Godly guidance?

1. Cleansing. We must first look at ourselves. What in my life will hinder me from seeing your guidance?

2. Surrendering. If I am going to deal with things, I have to surrender my will to Him. I must bring my will under submission to His.

3. Asking.

1 John 5:14--This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.

4. Meditating on the Word of God.

Psalm 119:105--Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

God may use His word to reveal other thing that needs to be cleansed from our lives.

5. Believing.

Mark 11:22--"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

6. Waiting.

Isaiah 64:4--Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

7. Receiving.

If you've done these things, you will know that you've heard from God.

Our Trustworthy Guide

Life is an traveled trail that each of us travels. Is there anyone guiding me? All of us need a guide. God wants to be your trustworthy guide.

Psalm 32:8-9: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

God will instruct, teach, guide us on our path. Is there anyone giving me instruction, guidance in my life or am I doing it on my own? God is available to be my guide.

Psalm 31:3--Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Psalm 48:14--For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. God will guide us until death.

Psalm 73:23-24--Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. God promises to be my guide. Am I seeking genuine guidance from anybody? We all need a guide. God did not equip us to live our lives on our own understanding. We are inadequate.

Life is a journey. We go up difficult mountains and through valleys. We pass through the desert. We have conflict with other people and times of wonderful relationship. Life is hard because we live in a fallen world. Oftentimes, when people get in trouble, it’s because they ignored God. God is motivated by love. Why would we not want to follow His plan for us? We are inadequate to live without divine guidance.
People who don’t know God may seem to do well in life, but one day they will give an account of themselves

Luke 12:16-21--And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Many people want to be like this guy. They want to acquire much and "eat drink and be merry." When you choose to live life without God, God says you are living the life of a fool. It is essential to have a guide; a spiritual guide.

Reasons to follow God
1. God knows us perfectly. He knows our strengths, weaknesses, endurance, personality, desires, relationships, etc. He knows everything about us.
2. He’s available to guide us. Are we available to follow him?
3. He has set the best path for us. He already knows our path. He knows the dangers, what we should avoid.

When things become difficult, the wise thing to do is to respond by trusting God to protect you, provide for you, and guide you in every decision. God is our guide, not the world. God will never mislead us. This doesn't mean that I'll never have trials or hardships. But God promises to counsel us with His eye on us.

There are certain things God wants you to accomplish in life. Don’t try to figure it out; leave it up to God. Trust God, guide, supply at every turn. H will never leave, fail you. God will never tell me to give up. He will tell us to surrender. Giving up means defeat. Surrendering means awesome victory.

Psalm 32:8-9--I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

God warns us not to be like an unbroken horse or a mule that won’t obey.

It's OK to ask friends for advice but it should be "what do you think God would have me to do?" God is trustworthy. He will always tell us the truth.

Sometimes we disobey because we want to choose an exciting and colorful route for ourselves. God knows what we want better than we do. When you hit stormy times, remember that Jesus will guide you through them.

Don’t you think it’d be wise to link your life to the Master Guide? He’s a trustworthy, dependable, unfailing, intimate and personal guide. It begins by asking the Lord Jesus to forgive you of being rebellious and of trying to have your own way.

A Good Conscience

God gave us a conscience for a specific reason.

1 Timothy 1:18--Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Paul prayed that God would discipline these people so they would repent. When you preach false doctrine, that means you're not listening to your conscience. We make decisions that involve our conscience. The

Your conscience is a gift of God. We are uniquely made. Believers and non believers have them.

Genesis 3:7--Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Adam and Eve ignored their conscience, they disobeyed God.

1Samuel 24:5

David's conscience bothered him after he cut off a piece of Solomon's garment in the cave.

Everyone has a conscience.

Romans 1:18--The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

Even lost people know the truth because God made it evident inside them. For instance, every believes assault/murder is wrong. The only explanation is that God put these morals inside of us. We understand that there is a penalty for our wrongdoings. Man's conscience lets us know that these things are wrong.

Once you begin to violate your conscience it, something begins to erode inside of you, your heart is darkened, your conscience is dulled. God gave the rebellious people over to their sins.

Romans 2:14-(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

God has written in unbelievers what is right or wrong. Their conscience bears witness to this. There is no escape from obedience to God. Every person has one and we all have to deal with it. It's a monitor. It monitors what we think, everything we do. It's a gift from God. The word of God sharpens your conscience. It's our moral capacity placed within us to distinguish between right and wrong. It's not there to guide us. People have an advantage to have a conscience.

HS is our helper. HS is equipped to do things for us that we are unable to do for ourselves.

You cannot violate your conscience without consequences.