SCRIPTURES: 
Old Testament 
Gen. 1:22, Gen. 28:15; Ex. 23:2-9; Dt. 14:27-29; Judges 13:24-25; 1 Sm. 3:19; Ps. 34:18; Pr. 20:30; Jer. 1:17-19; Ezek. 3:8-9; Mal. 2:4-9; 
New Testament 
Mt. 3:4, Mt. 5:3-12 Mt. 11:7-9, Mt. 14:1-5; Lk 1, Lk 2:40; Jn 5:35; Eph. 3:16, Eph. 4:1-16, Eph. 6:4

Tim Miller

Church

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<li>A “burning and shining lamp”</li>
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35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. (Jn. 5:35, ESV) 
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<li>“Strong in spirit”</li>
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80 And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit (Gk. ekrataiouto; “became spiritually strong” [HCSB]; “developed in body and spirit” [TEV]; “became stronger and stronger in spirit” [BHT]), and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed (“appeared publicly” [NIV, TEV]; “began his public ministry” [NLT]; “the time when he came out to preach” [NCV]; “the day of his manifestation” [RSV]) to Israel. (Lk. 1:80, NET)
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<li>What may this process have looked like? What were some of the factors that contributed to John becoming strong in spirit? What were the some of the “seeds” that were planted in his life, and what was the fruit?</li>
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JOHN’S SPIRITUAL FORMATION

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<li>The Lord’s work and blessing
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<li>Samson</li>
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24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him (“empowered him” [NET]; Heb. wǎyeḇǒrḵēhû, from bārǎḵ), 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judg. 13:24-25, NIV)
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<li>“To bless in the ot means ‘to endue with power for success, prosperity, fecundity, longevity, etc.’”</li>
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22 So God blessed (Heb. wǎyḇārěḵ, from bārǎḵ) them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” (Gen. 1:22, HCSB)
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<li>Samuel</li>
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3:19 Samuel continued to grow, and the Lord was with him (cf. Abraham [Gn. 21:22], Jacob [Gn. 28:15], Joseph [Gn. 32:2, 21], Moses [Ex. 3:12], Joshua [Jsh. 1:9], Jeremiah [Jr. 1:19], etc.). None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled. (1 Sm. 3:19, NET)
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<li>15 Look, I am with you [Jacob] and will watch over you wherever you go. (Gn. 28:15, HCSB)</li>
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<li>John</li>
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He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb (Lk. 1:15b, HCSB)
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<li>41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her,  and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Lk. 1:41, HCSB)</li>
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<li>Jesus</li>
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40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God (“God’s blessings” [TEV]; “the favor of God” [NET]) was upon him. (Lk. 2:40, NIV)
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<li>Parental Example and Instruction</li>
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5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah (cf. 1 Ch. 24); his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. (Lk. 1:5-7, NIV) 
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<li>A Good Levite</li>
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4 And you will know that I have sent you this admonition so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. 5 “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. 7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty. 8 But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. 9 “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways (the opposite in the case of a faithful Levite) but have shown partiality (the opposite in the case of a faithful Levite) in matters of the law.” (Mal. 2:4-9, NIV)
2 “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. 3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor (“you must not show partiality to a poor man in his lawsuit” [NET]; “show favoritism” [HCSB, NIV])…. 6 In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor… 8 Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see (“a bribe blinds those who see” [NET, NIV]). A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth. (Ex 23:2-3, 6, 9, NLT)
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<li>Faithfulness, Contentment, and Dependence on God</li>
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13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. (Lk. 1:13, NIV)
23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children (cf. v 58: “…the Lord had shown her great mercy” [NIV])” (Lk. 1:23-25, NLT)
27 Do not neglect the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you. 28 “At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and store it within your gates. 29 Then the Levite, who has no portion or inheritance among you, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come, eat, and be satisfied.  And the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands that you do. (Dt. 14:27-29, HCSB)
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. (Mt. 3:4, NIV)
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<li>“John’s diet is that of the very poor; although domestic beekeepers were common, John eats only wild honey.”</li>
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3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 5:3, NIV)
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<li>“Poverty and piety were often associated in Judaism; the term poor could encompass either physical poverty (Lk 6:20), or the faithful dependence on God that it often produced (“in spirit,” as here).”</li>
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<li>“The poor in spirit is a reference to the ‘pious poor’ for whom God especially cares.”</li>
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<li>Blessed are the crushed in spirit, for they will surely possess the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mt. 5:3, BHT)</li>
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<li>18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps. 34:18, NIV)</li>
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<li>20:30 Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the innermost being. (Pr. 20:30, NET)</li>
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<li>Godly Community</li>
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57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” (Lk. 1:57-60, NIV)

THE “SEEDS”

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<li>“What did you go out to see?”</li>
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7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see (“What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see?” NLT)? A reed swayed by the wind (“blown by the wind” [NCV]; “shaken by the wind” [NET]; “A blade of grass bending in the wind?” [TEV])? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (Mt. 11:7-9, NIV)
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<li>Cf Jeremiah and Ezekiel</li>
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1:17 “But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them (“Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them” [HCSB]). 1:18 I, the Lord, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, (cf Mt. 14:1-5) its priests (cf Mt. 3:7) and all the people of the land (cf Lk. 3). 1:19 They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,” says the Lord. (Jer. 1:17-19, NET)
7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.  8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.” (Ezk. 3:8-9, NIV)
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<li>John and Herod</li>
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14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard reports about Jesus, 14:2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 14:3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 14:4 because John had repeatedly told him, “It is not lawful for you to have her” (cf., eg., Lev. 18:16, 20:21). 14:5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. (Mt. 14:1-5, NET)

THE FRUIT

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<li>Like the prophets, we too must be strong in spirit</li>
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11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt. 5:11-12, NIV)
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<li>We too must plant righteous seeds, trusting the Holy Spirit to bring forth fruit</li>
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4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training (or “discipline” [Gk. paideia]; cf. ESV, NET, NLT) and instruction of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4, NIV)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:1-16, NIV)
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<li>16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Eph. 3:16, NIV)Discussion Questions and Prayer
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<li>What other Biblical figures come to your mind when you think of the words “strong in spirit”? What was it about these people that stands out to you?</li>
<li>What do you think it looks like to raise our children “in the training and instruction of the Lord” in twenty-first century American culture (or whatever the dominant culture is in which you live, if you are not in the United States)? How can we be “good Levites” to our children?</li>
<li>What are some ways that you think we as followers of Jesus can help one another become and remain strong in spirit and firm in righteousness?</li>
<li>Take some time now to come together and pray Ephesians 3:15-21—for your own lives, for your families, for your church family, and for the Body of Christ at large.</li>
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