Live Wise: The Power Of Proverbs
Spirit Of Man
Life is difficult. There’s no way around it. But too often, we make it more difficult than it has to be because we work against principles God put into place. Fortunately, God offers us wisdom for how to live in harmony with the seen and unseen realities of our world. In this series, we’ll look at some of the powerful wisdom God offers from the book of Proverbs that can help us thrive in our family, finances, and careers.
Links
Series
Speakers
Marcus Avalos
Lead Pastor
Title: LIVE WISE | PART 8 | MARCUS AVALOS
PERCENTAGE QUESTIONS
What ___________% of my life do I yield to the Holy Spirit?
Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
The spirit God breathed into man is like a living lamp, a shining light searching into the innermost chamber of our being.
Proverbs 18:14 "The strong spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but a wounded spirit who can bear?".
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 COR 2:9-12,14 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
PROV. 20:27 THE SPIRIT OF A MAN IS THE CANDLE OF THE LORD,
OUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN QUICKENED BY GOD. (ILLUMINATED, Made Alive)
Rom 8:14, Gal 5:16-25
HE USES HIS WORD TO ENLIGHTEN Prov. 6:23 – For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light. Ps. 119:105 – the Word of God is a LAMP… to guide our feet.
WORD GIVEN TO OUTSIDERS IS FOR SALVATION WORD GIVE TO INSIDERS IS FOR DIRECTION
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT
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TO LIVE ONE’S DAILY LIFE by HS guidance and empowerment.
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TO OVERCOME SINS OF THE FLESH:
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TO BEAR FRUIT FOR HIS HONOR:
FOUR RULES TO TRAIN AND DEVELOP OUR SPIRITS.
- Meditate On the Word – “chew the cudd”
- Practice the Word – DO IT
- Giving Word 1st place – What does Gods Word say?
- Instantly obeying the voice of your spirit - Say YES!
COMPLETELY SURRENDER Rom 12:1 - “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
CRUCIFY - “put to death”
Gal 5 - “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by [keep in step with] the Spirit” (v. 25)
CS LEWIS
If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and, in parts, very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less.
We ALL have the Spirit RESIDING; We need Him REIGNING
THINGS I PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN DISCERNING:
- It’s SCRIPTURAL
- It’s DEEPER (emotions are secondary; bowels of compassion; INNER HOLY Conviction)
- It’s a KNOWING (Wondering to Knowing)1 Jn 2:20
- It leads to PEACE (Leads by still waters)
QUESTIONS TO ASK THIS WEEK IN GROUP
- How do I RESPOND to the light of God’s candle shinning deep within my inner man? Do I ignore the light and what it exposes?
- Do I value what God is doing in bringing things to light?
- Am I willing to let God shine in every corner of our heart?
- Do I run away from the light… and like the man who sees his face in the mirror, walks away and forgets?
- Or do I respond in faith and obedience and DO something about it?
Is our prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”?
THIS WEEK:
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COMMAND YOUR FLESH TO DO SOMETHING IT DOESN’T WANT TO
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SAY “YES” TO HIS PROMPTING, EVEN IF IT FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE. (walk by faith)
TITLE: Spirit Of Man
Week of 10-20-24
TEXT: Proverbs 20:27
CHECKING IN
If this is your first-time meeting as a group, or a new group member, introduce yourselves. Share with the group what you hope to get out of this GROW Group series.
MEMORY VERSE
Proverbs 20:27
“The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart.”
MAIN POINT
The spirit of a man is the CANDLE of the LORD
INTRODUCTION
As your group time begins, use this section to introduce the topic of discussion. Last week the focus was about sinning, and how that we ALL want to stop sinning, but it is incredibly hard. We all do it. We all do it all the time and we don’t know why. Sin is pervasive, it’s everywhere, and no matter how hard we try we fall into its embrace. This week we will discuss what it means to walk in the spirit. We will learn how to embrace the spirit and use it in our everyday walk.
QUESTION:
What ___________% of my life do I yield to the Holy Spirit?
UNDERSTANDING/DIGGING DEEPER
We all have the spirit RESIDING; We need Him REIGNING
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ Proverbs 20:27 Unpack Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart.
What does it mean to walk in the spirit?
We must live our daily lives by His guidance and empowerment. We also must bear fruit for his honor, and overcome sins of the flesh. Ways to do this are by training and developing our spirits. We can do this by meditating on and practicing the word. We must give the Word 1st place and actually listen to what God’s Word says. And lastly, instantly obeying the voice of The Holy Spirit. ANSWER THE CALL AND SAY YES!
APPLICATION
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ Galatians 5:25 Explain what The Apostle Paul is trying to communicate in this verse?
THINK ABOUT IT:
How do I RESPOND to the light of God’s candle shining deep within my inner man? Do I ignore the light and what it exposes? Do I value what God is doing in bringing things to light? Am I willing to let God shine in every corner of our heart? Do I run away from the light… and like the man who sees his face in the mirror, walks away and forgets? Or do I respond in faith and obedience and DO something about it?
COMMENTARY
The relationship that God has with you, is custom tailored. It isn’t the same as your friend, siblings, or even your spouse. So that should be used as encouragement rather than as an expectation. He loves every single one of us and He will be the light for our path. But we must make sure and answer the call when it rings. Listen to what The Holy Spirit is saying, and do it! Rather than just hearing it and not acting on it..
FOLLOW UP
Throughout this week, consider sending a follow-up email to your group. Some suggestions:
❏ Questions to consider as you continue to reflect on what you learned this week: How can our group pray for you this week about the challenges you are facing, so that you can have victory? When are you most prone to Satan’s attacks? List a couple of them, then prepare ahead of time for the potential attacks.
❏ A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering.
❏ Remember to memorize Proverbs 20:27 and seek ways to apply this week