WEBVTT 00:04.115 --> 00:14.178 [SPEAKER_00]: As believers, we've been given the Holy Spirit as a helper, teacher, friend, and seal for the promised inheritance of eternal life with God. 00:14.960 --> 00:22.157 [SPEAKER_00]: His presence, guidance, and wisdom in our lives are our greatest gifts while here on earth. 00:22.137 --> 00:27.225 [SPEAKER_00]: Through Him, we have access to direct connection with our Heavenly Father. 00:28.026 --> 00:31.812 [SPEAKER_00]: Through Him, we receive spiritual gifts to empower us. 00:32.593 --> 00:38.222 [SPEAKER_00]: And through Him, we are able to bear the incredible fruit of abundant life. 00:38.506 --> 00:47.808 [SPEAKER_00]: Today, we begin a week-long focus looking at how we can grow in our understanding and in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. 00:48.570 --> 00:53.702 [SPEAKER_00]: May He reveal Himself to each of us in real and fresh ways this week. 00:54.504 --> 00:56.970 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the verse 15 podcast. 01:11.092 --> 01:27.409 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Romans chapter 8, verse 14, where Paul writes, for all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 01:30.953 --> 01:32.935 [SPEAKER_00]: Where do you need leadership in your life? 01:34.216 --> 01:38.601 [SPEAKER_00]: What challenge, decision, or circumstance is weighing on you? 01:39.830 --> 01:41.974 [SPEAKER_00]: Where do you need a word from God today? 01:42.014 --> 01:53.376 [SPEAKER_00]: We have available to us the most perfect guide to lead us throughout the twists, turns, and challenges of this adventurous life. 01:54.718 --> 02:01.872 [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible says in Romans 814, for all who are led by the Spirit of God, our sons of God. 02:03.100 --> 02:11.732 [SPEAKER_00]: As children of the most high God, we are granted full access to the leadership of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. 02:13.354 --> 02:17.580 [SPEAKER_00]: No child of God is exempt from the leadership of the Spirit. 02:18.842 --> 02:21.565 [SPEAKER_00]: We don't earn access by our own merit. 02:22.627 --> 02:26.492 [SPEAKER_00]: We don't gain more favor to receive more leadership. 02:27.485 --> 02:32.273 [SPEAKER_00]: God has given us all the gift of the Holy Spirit because He loves us. 02:33.194 --> 02:40.447 [SPEAKER_00]: He has filled us with His Spirit because He longs to lead us into the abundant life He has planned for us. 02:41.689 --> 02:48.640 [SPEAKER_00]: So let's learn today how we can better discover and follow this gift of leadership. 02:49.041 --> 02:52.767 [SPEAKER_00]: We've all been granted through Christ in the Holy Spirit. 02:54.130 --> 02:54.591 [SPEAKER_00]: first. 02:55.572 --> 03:01.282 [SPEAKER_00]: It's crucial to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit and the Word worked perfectly together. 03:02.464 --> 03:04.567 [SPEAKER_00]: One does not contradict the other. 03:05.869 --> 03:12.240 [SPEAKER_00]: Both the Holy Spirit and the Word he inspired are vital in living the Christian life. 03:13.165 --> 03:24.762 [SPEAKER_00]: in God's word says in Galatians 5 verses 16 through 18, but I say, walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 03:25.147 --> 03:32.063 [SPEAKER_00]: for the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. 03:32.765 --> 03:38.318 [SPEAKER_00]: For these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 03:39.280 --> 03:44.151 [SPEAKER_00]: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 03:45.886 --> 03:51.774 [SPEAKER_00]: The leadership of the Spirit is in direct opposition to the lifestyle of the world. 03:51.834 --> 04:08.316 [SPEAKER_00]: His desire is always to lead us away from sin that entangles us in the perspectives and pressures of the world toward a lifestyle of peace, joy, and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. 04:09.359 --> 04:23.036 [SPEAKER_00]: All of His leadership is purpose toward the goal of abundant life in God, of the fullness of satisfaction in God, rather than the weak and fleeting pleasure in things of the world. 04:24.818 --> 04:30.405 [SPEAKER_00]: So how do we follow this person of the Holy Spirit toward that abundant life? 04:31.313 --> 04:39.636 [SPEAKER_00]: Galatians five twenty five says if we live by the spirit let us also keep in step with the spirit. 04:40.780 --> 04:43.684 [SPEAKER_00]: So how do we keep in-step with the Spirit? 04:44.806 --> 04:49.493 [SPEAKER_00]: It all starts with spending time getting to know what the Holy Spirit is like. 04:50.635 --> 05:03.294 [SPEAKER_00]: He has a personality, he has a voice, his leadership feels a certain way, just as you get to know a person, you can get to know the Holy Spirit. 05:03.314 --> 05:07.260 [SPEAKER_00]: And the absolute best way to learn about him is one on one. 05:08.287 --> 05:16.661 [SPEAKER_00]: Often, we wait until we're in public or right before a highly stressful situation to ask for the guidance of the Spirit. 05:17.823 --> 05:24.034 [SPEAKER_00]: But it's in the secret place that we learn what his voice and leading sounds and feels like. 05:24.014 --> 05:29.021 [SPEAKER_00]: so that we can discern his guidance out in the rush and stress of the world. 05:30.302 --> 05:40.916 [SPEAKER_00]: It's in the secret place that we grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit, so that we can follow his steps throughout the twists and turns of our day. 05:42.418 --> 05:50.629 [SPEAKER_00]: John 1613 says, When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. 05:50.609 --> 05:53.453 [SPEAKER_00]: for He will not speak on His own authority. 05:54.254 --> 06:00.984 [SPEAKER_00]: But whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. 06:02.686 --> 06:07.914 [SPEAKER_00]: The Holy Spirit is excited to speak to you what He hears from the Heavenly Father. 06:08.935 --> 06:18.709 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to declare to you God's plans to love you, provide for you, heal you, transform you, and deliver you. 06:19.313 --> 06:23.755 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to lead you to the fullness of life available to you here. 06:24.983 --> 06:28.967 [SPEAKER_00]: spend time getting to know the Holy Spirit in the secret place today. 06:30.328 --> 06:38.997 [SPEAKER_00]: As you enter into a time of guided prayer, I pray that God will reveal himself to you in new and powerful ways right now. 06:40.238 --> 06:44.022 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to rest in the presence of the Holy Spirit. 06:45.083 --> 06:47.846 [SPEAKER_00]: As a believer, he already dwells within you. 06:48.647 --> 06:52.611 [SPEAKER_00]: He is nearer to you than the very ground beneath your feet. 07:17.414 --> 07:31.857 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on God's desire to lead you into abundant life. 07:33.339 --> 07:40.671 [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 8 verse 14 says, for all who are led by the Spirit of God, are sons of God. 08:19.598 --> 08:24.084 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you. 08:25.365 --> 08:33.676 [SPEAKER_00]: Spend time learning about who He is, ask Him to speak to you, and to reveal the way His leadership feels. 08:35.518 --> 08:44.610 [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 816 says, the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 08:49.045 --> 08:51.478 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 09:27.301 --> 09:27.962 [SPEAKER_00]: and last. 09:29.083 --> 09:31.446 [SPEAKER_00]: Open up your life to the Holy Spirit. 09:32.748 --> 09:36.833 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to reveal to you the things he wants to lead you away from. 09:36.873 --> 09:44.803 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to show you the life he wants to lead you to and commit to following his leadership today. 09:46.505 --> 09:50.490 [SPEAKER_00]: Galatians 5 verses 16 through 18 says, 09:50.858 --> 09:56.987 [SPEAKER_00]: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 09:58.289 --> 10:05.520 [SPEAKER_00]: For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. 10:06.361 --> 10:11.569 [SPEAKER_00]: For these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 10:12.931 --> 10:17.237 [SPEAKER_00]: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 11:02.392 --> 11:08.842 [SPEAKER_00]: When you have opportunities to indulge the flesh, choose life in the Spirit instead. 11:10.043 --> 11:25.446 [SPEAKER_00]: When you feel a desire to avenge yourself, promote yourself, slander someone or engage in a sinful activity, choose life in the Spirit instead, choose to love God and others. 11:26.236 --> 11:43.452 [SPEAKER_00]: live in step with the spirit, and discover the amazing life he longs to guide you into today. 11:57.252 --> 12:01.218 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for taking the time today to experience God in a fresh way. 12:01.959 --> 12:07.526 [SPEAKER_00]: I pray that this time hasn't courage to bless you and brought you a real sense of peace. 12:08.448 --> 12:21.426 [SPEAKER_00]: If you have any questions about first 15 or how you can go deeper in your relationship with God, don't hesitate to reach out to us at podcast at first15.org or check out our website at first15.org. 12:22.287 --> 12:26.753 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek him.