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Jun 11, 2023

Seeing the Wind

Seeing the Wind

Passage: Titus 3:1-8

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: That’s the Spirit: Learning to keep in step with Him who indwells

You may have heard the saying, “I can’t see the wind, but I can surely see the effects of the wind.” Jesus said as much about the Holy Spirit. His existence is known more fully by His effects. Recently we asked what it was for the Spirit to regenerate the heart–to make it new and alive in an unfamiliar but unmistakable way. This morning we’ll try to account for the Spirit by the effects it has: on what is both unnatural and natural to us, as well as changing something so entrenched in us it can only have a supernatural cause.

Readings & Scriptures

PREPARATION: Psalm 73:1, 24-26
LEADER: Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.

PEOPLE: Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

LEADER: My flesh and my heart may fail,

ALL: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH/SCRIPTURE READING/CORPORATE PRAYER: John 14:15-17, 25-27

LEADER: John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. . . . John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

CENTRAL TEXT: Titus 3:1-8, 2:11-15

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

BENEDICTION: Philippians 2:12-13

LEADER: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

  • Deuteronomy 7:7-9
  • Psalm 119:32
  • Ezekiel 36:25-27
  • Romans 12:2
  • Romans 13:1-3 / Revelation 13:1-11 / Acts 5:29
  • 1 Corinthians 6:11
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17
  • Ephesians 4:24
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Illustrations:

InVew Media Album 06.11.2023

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Think back: can you remember anything that shifted in you when, to put it one way, Jesus became real to you? What’s one way your mind began to change, or how you felt about something, or someone?
  2. Related to the preceding, what’s the closest thing you can remember that might fit with the idea that by the Spirit we are cleansed of our sense of guilt and given a new kind of life and outlook that frees us to let go of what we once formerly loved and did (I know–deep question!)
  3. From the sermon’s way of speaking, did any of those priorities mentioned in 3:1,2 which at first may have at seemed unfamiliar if not unnatural start to shift as something more natural? If so, why?
  4. From the other sermon angle, did any of those quite human impulses in verse 3 start to feel off? If so, which–and then why?
  5. If goodness, lovingkindness, and grace are what motivated God to act toward us in Jesus, why is that “transactional” mindset we ordinarily and unconsciously adopt–that is, acting for our benefit–out of place in our relationship with God? 
  6. Personal question–answer at your own discretion: the last time (or a time) you were tempted, what thoughts (if any) contributed to your resistance to the temptation? Or, flip it around, the last time the opportunity to love another–friend or enemy–presented itself, what thoughts contributed to your motivation to follow through? Can you discern in either situation whether it was how the resistance against temptation, or motivation to act in love, was for your benefit, or “merely” for God’s sake alone? Why is obeying God just for God’s sake–doing what is good, not for what it offers you but simply for the good of goodness–what He ultimately intends for us? How does the gospel make that ideal even possible?

QUOTES: 

  • [Our] renewal, indeed, is not accomplished in a moment, a day, or a year, but by uninterrupted, sometimes even by slow progress God abolishes the remains of carnal corruption in His elect, cleanses them from pollution, and consecrates them as His temples, restoring all their inclinations to real purity, so that during their whole lives they may practice repentance, and know that death is the only termination to this warfare. John Calvin
  • Servile fear, such as the slave has for his master, which consists in fleeing punishment without faith and without a desire and purpose of changing the life, being accompanied with despair, flight and separation from God—such a servile fear differs greatly from that which is filial. 1. Filial fear arises from confidence and love to God; that which is servile arises from a knowledge and conviction of sin, and from a sense of the judgment and displeasure of God. 2. Filial fear does not turn away from God, but hates sin above every thing else, and fears to offend God: servile fear is a flight and hatred, not of sin, but of punishment and of the divine judgment, and so of God himself. 3. Filial fear is connected with the certainty of salvation and of eternal life: servile fear is a fear and expectation of eternal condemnation and rejection of God, and is great in proportion to the doubt and despair which it entertains of the grace and mercy of God. This is the fear of devils and wicked men, and is the commencement of eternal death, which the ungodly experience already in this life. “I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid.” “The devils believe and tremble. Zacharias Ursinus
  • . . . this [wisdom] restrains itself from sinning, not out of dread of punishment alone; but because it loves and reveres God as Father…. Even if there were no hell, it would still shudder at offending him.   John Calvin
  • . . .Self-love is an ending, she said,   
    and not a beginning. Love means love
    of the thing sung, not of the song or the singing. . . .
    “    These Poems, She Said,” Robert Bringhurst
  • . . .every father is pleased at the baby’s first attempt to walk: no father would be satisfied with anything less than a firm, free, manly walk in a grown-up son. In the same way, he said, ‘God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.’ C.S. Lewis (citing George MacDonald)

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