The Spirit's Path: Living the Gospel Beyond Words* (05/27/'24) -Passage

The Spirit's Path: Living the Gospel Beyond Words (The Living Gospel: A Testament of Spirit and Will) The disciples of Jesus and Paul revered the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, finding in it the essence of divine will. The Holy Spirit cherished obedience to God's will, embracing the belief that death was an acceptable path if it aligned with God's desires. Jesus transcended life's mortal limits, embracing death as a reality within God's kingdom. His teachings, imparted through the Holy Spirit, held supreme importance, fostering an absolute trust in the Spirit's guidance. The disciples' lives were measured by their spiritual alignment with God's will, making the Word a secondary consideration (John 10:38; Matthew 7:21-23). The Word became the Word through the Holy Spirit, but it did not precede the Spirit. It was the spirit of obedience to God's will that birthed the gospel. Thus, genuine belief in the gospel naturally entails doing God's will. Merely speaking and hearing the gospel, without practicing it, renders it incomplete. The gospel only becomes the gospel when it is lived out. Pastor Steven G. Lee (May 27, 2024)