Welcome to the Believers Bible Assembly This is the day that the Lord has made and we're

going to rejoice and be glad in it We began this series of studies about the spirit-led

life and today we're going to conclude this teaching series by talking about how to live by

the Spirit in 2025 How do we live Move and have our being in this fallen wicked world How

do we stay on course How do we keep pressing forward How do we live by the spirit

in 2025 That's what we're going to talk about today Open your Bibles this morning to 2 Timothy chapter 3

verse 1 and it reads as follows But understand this in the last days terrible times will come The

apostle Paul was writing to Timothy a young pastor in charge of the churches in Ephesus and he wrote

this letter to inform him that in the last days terrible times will come The amplified

Bible reads as follows but understand this that in the last days dangerous times of great stress and

trouble will come Difficult days that will be hard to bear We're living in a time when rebellion against

God and His word is no longer hidden They're not even trying to hide it no more It's

front and center and it's celebrated in the world both inside and outside the church These are the times that

we're living in These are the difficult days that will be hard to bear Truth

is being redefined Authority is being rejected and righteousness is being mocked This is the time

that we live in But the question is how do we live faithfully in a

world in a culture that is moving further and further away from God Regardless of

what the condition of the world is as believers we have to continue to live faithfully in this world

in this culture that is moving further and further away from God and the answer

is clear We must continue to live by the Spirit and the word not one without the other

but both together The spirit and the word always work together The spirit empowers us and the

word anchors us and we need both in this day and this time And when these two spiritual forces

are joined together we can stand firm and remain strong in faith and live holy lives even

in the midst of a rebellious wicked fallen world So what I want to do this morning I

want to examine the scriptures and discover how we are to live by the spirit and the word in 2025

in this wicked fallen rebellious time The first thing we need to know and understand is the

times that we live in We have to understand the times 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 through 4

reads but understand this that in the last days now what are the last days The last days is that

period between Christ's 1st and 2nd coming This is the time that we're presently living in today

but Paul told Timothy Understand this that in the last days there will come times of

difficulty for people will be lovers of self lovers of money proud arrogant lovers of

pleasure rather than lovers of God and this is the time that we're living in today And we should

not be surprised by the cultural downfall and decay of the world today We have people

who are lovers of self They're lovers of money They're proud They're arrogant They're lovers of pleasure rather than lovers

of God and this is where we are today But we shouldn't be surprised because rebellion in the

Bible is not new but it's going to be increased more and more and more as we get closer to

Christ's second coming Regardless of how fallen this world is you and I must be discerning of the times We

have to understand the times that we live in like the sons of Issakhar God is calling his people today

to understand the times that we live in and to know how to respond 1 Chronicles chapter 12 verse 32

says the men of Issakar had understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do These men

had an awareness they had an understanding of the times that they were living in

both the political and the social climates but they had the ability to interpret the times

that they were living in Likewise you and I we have to be able to discern the times that

we are living in today regardless of what's going on in the natural we have to

discern the times through our spiritual eyes and not our physical eyes Because our physical eyes are

going to deceive us our physical eyes are going to mislead us Our physical eyes are going to cause

us to make decisions that are not spiritual that are not biblical not supported by scripture 1 Corinthians chapter

that come from the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him And he cannot understand them because

they are spiritually discerned They can't accept things that's found in the work because they're trying to understand it with

their natural minds their physical eyes But you and I we're not to look at life through those lenses

We have to look at life through the spiritual eyes that the spirit reveals to us in

the scripture So we need to understand the times by spiritual discernment What is the

cernment It is the spiritual ability to judge well separating truth from error good from

evil and God's will from worldly deception It is the spiritual ability so you can't do this through

the physical and if you're not looking at it through spiritual eyes you will be

deceived Jesus said in the last days even the elective God will be deceived Why Because

we're not looking at it through spiritual eyes We're looking at life and the things that's going on in

his life through our physical eyes But we need discernment to separate truth from error good from evil God's will

from the worldly deceptions It requires wisdom and insight that can only come from God by the Spirit

God is the one that knows all and he reveals wisdom and insight to us by the Spirit and

this enables us now to think spiritually to think biblically and to live righteously Spiritual

discernment requires the Holy Spirit's presence and activity in our lives That's why we put so much emphasis in privileged

teachings on being led by the Spirit being guided by the Spirit because the Holy Spirit

is going to lead us to the truth and it's the truth that's going to set

us free So we need to rely on the Holy Spirit's presence and activity in

our life to reveal things to us to give us wisdom knowledge and understanding and

how to apply God's word in every situation Now this contrasts with man's reliance on

human wisdom and understanding because that's all they have All they can do is discern things through

their physical eyes because the things of God must be spiritually discerned Paul wrote and exhorted the

church in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 4 and 5 to rely on the power

of the Holy Spirit and not on human wisdom We have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit

to give us wisdom knowledge and understanding on how to apply God's word in every situation because we can't

rely on our human wisdom Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 and 6 says trust in the

Lord with some of your heart No no no no no Trust in the Lord with

all your heart and lean not on your own understanding In all your ways acknowledge Him and He

will make your path straight So how do we live in these last days How do we

live in this wicked fallen rebellious world We have to trust in the Lord with all

of our heart and let Him guide our paths How does he guide our path

Through the Spirit and by His word We can't trust in human wisdom We can't trust in human intellect

abilities and systems because we do that it's going to lead to weak faith We're going to be

overwhelmed by the things of this world So we can't lean on our own understanding but we must rely on

the leading of the Holy Spirit We have to pray and ask the Lord to give us more discernment

Open our eyes Lord so that we can see the truth that's found in Your word Number 2 we have

to live by the Spirit and the word because God's spirit is working in us Living

by the Spirit means surrender daily to the leading of God rather than being influenced by the world

and the culture around us We've talked about that We have to surrender daily to God's

leading to where he wants us to go what he wants us to do how he

wants us to live how he wants us to view things that's going on in the world

versus being influenced by the world Galatians 5:16 says walk by the Spirit and you

will not gratify the desires of the flesh Galatians chapter 5 verse 25 says if we

live by the Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit Ephesians chapter 3 verse 16 says that we

are being strengthened spiritually energized with power through his spirit in our inner being our inner man It is the

spirit that produces spiritual fruit in us that enables us to overcome this rebellious wicked world But we have to

continue walking in step with the spirit and this has to be a continuous active

daily walk with the spirit allowing us now to be guided influenced by the spirit and not

the world And this is a deliberate choice that we have to make each and every day

to follow the Spirit's leading in every aspect of our life because the Spirit is working

in us God wants to work in us and through us the willing to do of

His good pleasure Now while the Spirit empowers us the word grounds us 2 Timothy chapter

is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching for reproof for correction and training in righteousness We

live in a world that rejects absolute truth while the Bible remains our final authority for all truth The Bible

doesn't change The truth of God's word does not change God is immutable meaning he does

not change He's the same yesterday today and forevermore His word does not change and God's

word has a profit for our life The Spirit empowers us but the word grounds us In the truth and

that's where we need to be as we live move and have our being in this fall and wicked

world We have to be rooted and grounded in the truth of God's word That's how we live

in 2025 because God's word has not changed and it's not going to change next year either It's the same

Yesterday today and forevermore Psalm 119105 says Your word is a lamp to my feet and

a light to my path The word is designed to illuminate remove darkness and bring forth light so that we

can see the truth of God's word and be able to discern the error and the wickedness

of the world Jesus did this in Matthew chapter 4 verses 1 through 11 Jesus resisted temptation

and the deception of the devil by standing firmly on God's word The devil tempted him

with the word It is written it is written it is written And the Bible

says the devil had to flee from him If you want to stand strong stand

firm in this fallen wicked world we have to stand firm on God's word to combat the attacks

of the evil one Scripture is designed to equip us to be able to do that

but we have to know the word intimately and renew our minds to what it says Romans chapter

but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think The amplified version

reads do not be conformed to this world any longer with its superficial values and customs but be transformed and

progressively changed as you mature spiritually by the renewing of your mind focusing on godly

values and ethical attitudes This is how we do it The spirit empowers us But the

word grounds us and we have to know the word intimately We have to become one with the Word Jesus

said if you remain in me and you remain in my word your life is going

to produce fruit So we have to know the word intimately and renew our minds to it

Then and only then we'll be able to defeat the attacks that comes our way I would like

to promise you that 2026 is going to be better than 2025 but I can't The word don't back

that up But one thing I know we can do we can strengthen our walk with the Lord We

can strengthen our knowledge of the word We can strengthen our walk with the Spirit We can do those things

So when the issues of life come and it's not if they come but when they come we'll be able

to stand But we have to focus our minds We have to focus our attention We have to

focus our thoughts on the things of God which is going to help us not to succumb to

the ways and the pressures of the world which will lead us to compromising the truth We have

to live by the spirit and the word And number 3 the spirit and the word work together You

can't have one without the other Now some people they emphasize the spirit without the word which leads to

confusion Others emphasize the word without the spirit which disconnects us from the transforming power of the

spirit But the scripture teaches we need both in order to walk in victory in the world So again we

can't go by what people say We have to go by what the word says and the word teaches

that we need both the spirit and the word in order to walk in victory in this

world John 16:13 says the spirit of truth will guide you into all truth The

spirit never contradicts the word and the word will never contradict the spirit And the word becomes alive

in you through the Spirit Acts chapter 1 verse 8 says but you will receive power when the Holy

Spirit comes on you The truth of the gospel empowered by the Holy Spirit remains unchanged regardless of any

human argument philosophy or tradition God's word will stand so we need both But in order

to be discerning we need to test every spiritual source and every experience against the truth of scripture Yes

the spirit and the word works together but we have to be discerning We have to know

if what we're hearing what we're seeing is the truth That's why we have to test every spirit First John

chapter 4 verse 1 says beloved do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to

see whether they are from God Too many people being hoodwinked bamboozled let us try and run

amok because they believe in every spirit They believe in everybody that they hear They

believe in everybody that they see They believe everybody that they listen to on YouTube Facebook social

media The scripture says do not believe every spirit but test the spirit to see whether

they are from God Now how do you test the spirit You test the spirit by

the word That's how you do it But listen you've got to have knowledge of the word in order

to test the spirit Too many people are being deceived misled by people with name

and fame Too many people are being hoodwinked and bamboozled by men and women that are popular We're just

following people because they attract crowds We're just following people because they got a famous name No the

Bible says do not believe every spirit but test the spirit And the only way you can test

the spirit to see whether or not the people are from God or what they're saying is from God

is by the word But here's the reason for many false prophets and teachers have gone

out into the world They're here They're not coming They're here They're on television they're on social media

they're having conferences They're here and their purpose is to mislead and to deceive Testing the spirit

involves spiritual discernment and an evaluation of every teaching every prophecy especially in this upcoming year They're already saying

it 2026 is gonna be your year of deliverance 2026 is gonna be your year of breakthrough Everything

the Lord promised is gonna come to you In 2026 You need to discern that false teacher

You need to discern that false prophet You need to discern if what they're saying lines up with the scripture

And when you line it up with the scripture you're not going to find one prophet You're not

going to find one teacher in the scripture that said anything that they said So what do

you do You reject it That's a false teacher That's a false prophet That don't

line up with the word But in order to do that you have to be in a frame of mind

to be able to discern and evaluate what's being said If you're caught up in your emotions if

you're caught up in your feelings if you're caught up in how the person speak we need discernment and we

have to evaluate every teaching and prophecy in these last days And this is a call for us to

use the wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to determine what the truth is Because every lie

has a percentage of truth in it This has been the devil's method of operation since day one but

you and I have to be discerning believers to be able to discern truth from error You're just straight

line today They're just making up stuff because they know the majority of people are not going to

go to the word to confirm what they're saying So that's why they say the

outrageous things that they say God told me to tell you You ain't gonna find that statement one

time in the Bible Where's that in scripture But if you don't know the word you'll

get caught up in this and next thing you know you're giving out money because that's what it's

all about Can I keep it a buck this morning Can I keep it 100%

It's all about getting in your pockets Somehow or another whatever this false prophet whatever this false teacher is

going to tell you is gonna equal you coming out of your pocket and giving some money So don't

get caught up Don't be hoodwinked Don't be bamboozled Don't be led astray Don't be run amok by these false

teachers Get into your word pray and ask the Holy Spirit for discernment so you can determine

good from evil right from wrong a lie from the truth That's what the Bahrains did in Acts

chapter 17 verse 11 That's what they did They examined the scriptures daily to confirm that the teachings that

they're hearing is from God If it was good for them it's good for us If it benefited them

it benefited us And this is what we have to do in this day in this

hour We have to be a balanced believer who is both spirit-led and rooted and

grounded in the truth of God's word You can run you can shout you can

dance you can buck you get slain in the spirit whatever that is because that's not biblical either and nothing

changes in your life Or you can get rooted and grounded in the word of truth and

allow the spirit of God to transform you from the inside out So let me

leave you with this this morning God has not called us to get caught up

in these last days but he has called us to walk wisely It's not going to

get better God just does not want us to survive it He wants us to walk wisely through them

Remember what the psalmist said in Psalm 23 He says even though I walk through through through the valley

of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for God is with me We have to

walk through these troubled times We have to walk through this time of rebelliousness and

wickedness and evil We've got to walk through it But listen God is with us so

we have to walk wisely in this day in this hour Ephesians chapter 5 verse

wise Scripture is calling us to walk as sensible intelligent and discerning people We have to maintain

our faith in Christ because all of this turbulence in the last days is designed to move you

away from Christ So you and I we have to maintain our walk We have to maintain

our faith in Christ 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 58 says be steadfast immovable always abounding in the work of

the Lord knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain So many people have fallen by

the wayside because they thought that their work was in vain and they gave up They threw

in a towel But the scriptures encouraging us to be steadfast to be immovable always abounding in the work of

the Lord knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain As we live by the Spirit and

the word in 2025 and in this upcoming new year if we adhere to the leading and the guidance of

the Spirit and the teaching of the word we will become a people who are rooted and grounded in

the scripture a people who are resilient a people who are inspired by hope Christ is

our hope and in Christ we have everything that we need So we need to continue to walk

by live by the spirit We need to continue to be anchored in the word and trust that

God is at work in you because he promised that He's working all things together for the good for those

who love Him and called according to His purposes We have to trust in that even

though we don't see nothing going on We have to trust in the promise of the Word

That God is working in you and working all things together for the good even in the

midst of this wicked rebellious world Be blessed everyone in Jesus' name