Walking with the Holy Spirit : Part 5 & 6

In this sermon, pastor Sam Merigala delves into profound aspects of Christian living by focusing on the sacred calling of fatherhood. This day many celebrate father's day. The sermon integrates these aspects of fatherhood into the broader theme of "Walking with the Holy Spirit" by asserting that fatherhood is a divine calling. Pastor also covers the keys to maintaining spiritual fervor, and the reality of spiritual warfare, culminating in a powerful call to surrender to the Holy Spirit.

A Father's Sacred Calling Pastor Sam Merigala begins by emphasizing fatherhood as a sacred calling, extending beyond merely providing for a family to leading with faith, love, and integrity, especially as it relates to spiritual warfare. He highlights the significant impact fathers have on their children and the lasting legacy they leave behind. According to pastor Sam, fathers are called to be spiritual leaders, guiding their children in faith and wisdom, as their words, actions, and prayers profoundly shape the next generation. He advises fathers to dedicate time to intentional conversations about faith and life, to lead by example through integrity and kindness in daily actions, and to pray for and with their children, teaching them to rely on God.

The sermon underscores the strength of a father’s unconditional love, drawing a parallel to the parable of the Prodigal Son where the father welcomed his son with open arms, reflecting God’s own grace and patience. Pastor Sam encourages fathers to demonstrate forgiveness and understanding, even in difficult moments, and to be a source of comfort and encouragement, mirroring God’s love. He stresses the importance of teaching children that love is not something earned, but freely given. Furthermore, fathers are presented as providers and protectors, with this role encompassing not only financial support but also crucial spiritual and emotional sustenance. Their calling is to ensure their families grow in a safe and loving environment. Practical applications include being present, as quality time surpasses material gifts, offering guidance and wisdom to help children navigate life’s challenges, and creating a home where faith, love, and respect form the foundational pillars. The sermon concludes this section by stating that a father’s most significant legacy is faithfulness to God. When fathers prioritize their relationship with Christ, they establish an enduring example for their children, making church and prayer a priority in family life, teaching trust in God during uncertain times, and living in a way that inspires faith in future generations. Pastor Sam affirms that fatherhood, though filled with challenges and blessings, is a divine calling that profoundly shapes the hearts of children and leaves a lasting legacy, a vital role in God’s plan.

Staying Spiritually On Fire Pastor Sam then outlines ten crucial keys for believers to remain "spiritually on fire". These include:

1. Daily Prayer with Intensity: A consistent and fervent prayer life is essential for spiritual vitality.
2. Living in Worship: Engaging in regular worship helps sustain one's spiritual passion.
3. Consistently Feeding on God’s Word: Regular engagement with scripture is vital for spiritual nourishment.
4. Fasting Regularly: This practice helps deepen one's spiritual discipline and focus.
5. Staying Surrounded by Spirit-Filled Believers: Maintaining fellowship with other believers who are filled with the Spirit provides encouragement and accountability.
6. Protecting Your Spiritual Environment: This involves being mindful of entertainment, conversations, and habits that can "quench the spirit." Pastor Sam refers to Ephesians 4:30, warning against grieving the Holy Spirit, and encourages reflection on whether one's activities draw them closer to God or pull them away, emphasizing that what is allowed into the heart will either feed or extinguish one's spiritual fire.
7. Being Quick to Repent: Allowing sin to linger in one's life quickly diminishes spiritual passion by creating distance from God, dulling spiritual sensitivity, and weakening hunger for His presence. Pastor Sam cites 1 John 1:9, asserting that keeping one's heart pure maintains a strong spiritual fire.
8. Walking in Obedience: Disobeying the Holy Spirit can harden the heart and weaken sensitivity to God's voice. Pastor Sam highlights John 14:15, stating that obedience to what God has already spoken is crucial for keeping the spiritual fire burning.
9. Sharing Your Faith: Pouring out what God has placed within continually refills believers. Evangelism, serving, and ministering to others keep the spirit alive and engaged with God's work, strengthening passion, as stated in Romans 1:16.
10. Expecting Fresh Encounters with God: Many lose their spiritual fire by settling for past experiences. Pastor Sam encourages believers not to dwell on past spiritual heights but to earnestly seek God daily for "fresh Revelation, new encounters and deeper intimacy," citing Psalm 63:1. He concludes that staying spiritually on fire is not about waiting for a special moment but intentionally feeding the fire every single day, which will cause passion for God to grow stronger over time.

Spiritual Warfare: Strategies of the Enemy and How to Fight Back Pastor Sam stresses that spiritual warfare intensifies when one decides to fully walk in the Spirit. He explains that the enemy does not fear casual churchgoers but deeply fears those truly filled with the Holy Spirit because such believers are "unstoppable, fearless and victorious," capable of destroying every plan of darkness through the power, authority, and clarity gained from surrendering to the Holy Spirit. He warns that growth in faith often leads to increased spiritual opposition, especially for those on the verge of stepping into their divine calling. Intense opposition, distractions, or sudden struggles after committing to walk with the Holy Spirit are signs that the enemy is attempting to thwart one's spiritual progress.

Pastor Sam detailed several strategies the enemy employs:

1. Distraction The first strategy is distraction, used when the enemy cannot prevent someone from seeking God. He tries to fill a believer's life with busyness, noise, and unnecessary worries, leading to less time in prayer, feelings of drainage, and difficulty focusing on God. This tactic aims to steal attention and weaken a believer's spiritual "fire". Pastor Sam cited Luke 10:40, referencing Martha, who was distracted by preparations while Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet. Jesus noted that Martha was "anxious and troubled about many things," while "one thing is necessary," which Mary had chosen. Believers are encouraged not to let distractions pull them away from God's presence.

2. Discouragement The second tactic is discouragement. The enemy whispers lies such as, "you are not strong enough," "God is not hearing you," or "your prayers are not working". The goal is to make seeking God feel pointless. However, Pastor Sam reminded listeners of Galatians 6:9, which encourages believers "not to become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up". He asserted that the enemy only attacks those carrying something powerful within them.

3. Temptation The third attack is temptation. Pastor Sam pointed out that when Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Satan immediately tried to tempt Him. He explained that the more one grows spiritually, the more the enemy attempts to draw them back into old habits, toxic relationships, and sinful patterns. The enemy's aim is to create spiritual compromise, thereby weakening a believer's power, but the Holy Spirit provides strength to resist. Pastor Sam referenced 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states that "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear," and "with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape". Pastor Sam further elaborated on Jesus's encounter in the wilderness, noting that all three synoptic Gospels record His solitary encounter with Satan in the Judean desert before His public ministry. In ancient understanding, the desert was considered a haunt of demons and symbolized Satan's power, a place of curse where life could not thrive. The Spirit of God led Jesus into this desert, not primarily for personal retreat, but specifically to face testing. Mark's account uses strong language, suggesting the Spirit "impelled" or "drove" Jesus into the wilderness, indicating the urgency and necessity of the event. Matthew's account clarifies that the purpose was for Jesus "to be tempted by the devil," demonstrating God's unambiguous intent for His Son to be tested. This desert mission was integral to Jesus's redemptive mission, and He "took the fight to Satan" there. Pastor Sam explained that God initiated this encounter, not Satan, even though Satan's desire was to derail Jesus's mission. Satan's actions are subject to God's sovereign purpose, as seen in the cases of Job and Peter. God's purpose was to replay two central Old Testament narratives. First, Jesus confronted Satan as the "second Adam," representing a new humanity, recapitulating the confrontation between Adam and the serpent in Eden. Unlike Adam, who was tested in a fertile garden, Jesus faced temptation in a "hostile, barren wilderness," symbolizing the chaos brought by the first Adam's sin. Second, Jesus's victory over Satan required perfect obedience, which Adam failed to provide. Through His obedience in the desert, Jesus overcame Satan's power, laying the groundwork for redemption that would impact all creation. Pastor Sam stressed that while Jesus overcame the tempter in the wilderness, His victory was crucial but not final, and temptations continued throughout His ministry. He noted that Matthew and Luke mention the devil's departure, but Mark suggests "the opposition of evil did not cease". Jesus even recognized the "voice of temptation" in Peter's attempt to divert Him from the cross. The wilderness testing represented the "ongoing, unrelenting, crushing pressure" Jesus faced, as Satan sought to "suffocate the new creation at the moment of its inception". Jesus's redemptive mission was accomplished through His obedience to the point of death, and His righteousness destroyed the devil's work.

4. Spiritual Exhaustion The fourth scheme is spiritual exhaustion, where the enemy aims to make believers feel tired, drained, and overwhelmed to stop them from seeking God. This often occurs when individuals rely on their own strength instead of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Sam underscored that "resting in God's presence is crucial," citing Isaiah 40:31: "those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength". He advised that if spiritually exhausted, one should cease trying to do everything in their own strength and allow the Holy Spirit to refresh them.

5. Fear and Intimidation The fifth strategy is fear and intimidation. When the enemy observes a believer growing, he tries to instill fear, planting thoughts like "what if you fail," "what if God does not come through," or "what if people reject you". This is designed to paralyze individuals and prevent them from stepping into their calling. Pastor Sam cited 2 Timothy 1:7, which states, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind". He concluded that the enemy uses fear because he cannot truly stop a believer, only attempt to make them stop themselves.

6. Isolation The sixth attack is isolation. As one grows spiritually, certain friendships may no longer align with God's direction. The enemy exploits this to make believers feel alone, hoping they will return to old circles for comfort. Pastor Sam warned against falling for this trick, stating that God removes certain people to make room for those who will strengthen one's spiritual walk. He advised staying connected to "spirit-filled believers who will encourage you," referencing Proverbs 27:17: "as iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another".

7. Confusion The seventh weapon is confusion. When a believer is about to embark on something significant, the enemy attempts to cloud their mind with doubt, leading them to question if they are truly hearing from God, if they are on the right path, or if they are even qualified. Pastor Sam countered this with 1 Corinthians 14:33, which reminds believers that "God is not the author of confusion but of Peace". He advised that if experiencing confusion, one should return to what God last revealed and move forward in faith.

8. Attacking Your Emotions The eighth scheme involves attacking emotions. The enemy tries to evoke frustration, impatience, or offense, wanting believers to react "in the flesh" rather than being led by the Spirit. Pastor Sam stated that spiritual maturity requires learning to control emotions, walk in love, and refuse to let negativity take root. He quoted James 1:19: "everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," adding that mastering emotions causes the enemy to lose control.

9. Hindering Your Prayers The ninth tactic is hindering prayers. The enemy, aware of the power of a praying believer, tries to weaken prayer life by making individuals feel too tired, distracted, or discouraged to pray. Pastor Sam encouraged perseverance, referencing James 5:16, "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective". He emphasized that the moment one feels like stopping prayer is precisely when they need to pray the hardest.

10. Making You Forget The tenth and final attack is making believers forget who they are. If the enemy can cause doubt about one's identity in Christ, he can steal authority. He will remind believers of past failures, try to convince them they are unworthy, and make them feel spiritually unqualified. However, Pastor Sam affirmed that the Holy Spirit reminds believers of the truth: they are "chosen, anointed and filled with power". He cited Romans 8:37: "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us".

Pastor Sam concludes this section by explaining that fighting back against these attacks is done "in the spirit," not through complaining, overthinking, or self-effort, but through "prayer, worship, fasting and declaring God's word." He encourages believers to press in deeper when attacked, viewing attacks not as signs of failure but as "proof that you are carrying something powerful," indicating what God is about to do through them. He urges believers to "Stand firm, keep walking in the spirit and know that victory is already yours".

A Call to Surrender and Experience the Holy Spirit: Pastor Sam emphasizes that knowledge alone is insufficient; action is required. The Holy Spirit is not merely a topic for study but "a person to be experienced," waiting for an invitation to fill, lead, and transform a believer's life. He presents a call to fully surrender and activate the Holy Spirit's power as a "moment of breakthrough" where distractions fade, fear is broken, and barriers to walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit are removed.

He invites all to declare a prayer of surrender, acknowledging their inability to live life in their own strength and their need for the Holy Spirit's "wisdom, your guidance and your power". The prayer involves a complete surrender of every area of life—thoughts, decisions, emotions, relationships—to the Holy Spirit, asking to be led, taught, and shaped according to God's will. It includes repenting for ignoring the Holy Spirit's voice and relying on self-understanding, and a conscious choice to remove all barriers such as fear, doubt, and distraction. The prayer then shifts to an earnest request for fresh fire, consuming presence, flowing power, and for the Holy Spirit's voice to be the loudest in their lives, expressing a deep desire to know Him intimately and walk in step with Him daily. The declaration concludes with a plea for open ears to hear clearly, open eyes to see God's work, and discernment to recognize His will, aiming for a life that reflects His presence. Finally, the prayer is a declaration of walking in clarity, boldness, and Divine Purpose, moving in obedience and trusting God even when understanding is lacking or the path is unknown. It expresses a desire for the Holy Spirit's fire to burn within, for increased hunger for God, and for unshakable faith, with a final surrender: 

"I am yours, Lead me, guide me and empower me for the glory of God. I receive this by faith, I believe that you are with me, that you are working in me and that my life will never be the same in Jesus name amen".