Renewed Of The Spirit

Introduction

Good morning brothers and sister.

It is so good to see you all here and I am so very thankful for this opportunity to not only preach God’s precious message here in Oologah once again, but to be able to spend this extra time with you all this week during this gospel meeting.

My family and I are honored to be with you this week.

Speaking of this week, we are going to be focusing on “Christian Renewal” a concept that is not unfamiliar within the holy write.

That “renewal begins” in every Christian’s life by one being “Renewed Of The Spirit.”

Titus 3:4–5 (NKJV)

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit

In our first lesson today we are going to ask and answer this question, “how has a Christian been renewed of the spirit?”

I hope you are as eager as I am to get into God’s word and study this powerful topic on “Christian Renewal.”

Now before we get into what it means to be “Renewed Of The Spirit,” we must first back up and get a clear picture of the state of humanity, from God’s perspective, without this renewal.

So the first thing we are going to examine is…

Humanity Without Renewal Of The Spirit

Mankind’s State At Creation.

The God whom you and I are here to glorify, honor, and worship this morning has a vested interest in each of our lives here today.

There is never a point in time, in this life, when our Creator is not demonstrating a love for us.

God’s love for us starts before conception.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)

5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.

God’s love for us continues at conception.

Job 10:8–9 (NKJV)

8 Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. 9 Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again?

Psalm 139:13–16 (NKJV)

13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

God’s love is there for us as little children.

Matthew 19:13–14 NKJV

13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

God’s love is there for us as adults whether we are obedient or not.

Matthew 5:45 (NKJV)

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Job 25:3 (NKJV)

3 Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise?

So, from “God’s perspective” he has a “vested interest” in each person’s life from before we were even conceived.

But at the age of accountability, the point when one can discern good and evil (Deuteronomy 1:39), without exception every person whom God has personally been involved with sins and separates themselves from him.

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Isaiah 59:1–2 (NKJV)

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Again from God’s perspective, who is so invested in our lives, that choice to sin on our part is devastating to our God, our Creator, our Father.

That brings us to then…

Mankind’s State After Sin.

What does God see in us once we separate ourselves from him due to sin?

God witnesses our heart be seared with darkness.

Romans 1:21 (NKJV)

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

1 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)

2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron

God witnesses that once innocent heart plummet into the darkness of this sinful world.

God watches his creation lust for their own interests and override their best interests in willful ignorance.

Psalm 82:5 (NKJV)

5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness…

Ephesians 4:17–18 (NKJV)

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart

God watches his creation, who he gave life to, who he has blessed every day of their existence begin to rebel against him and hate him.

Job 24:13 (ESV)

13 There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.

John 3:19–20 (ESV)

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

God watches all of us, whom he so desperately loves, choose death and an eternity away from him instead of life and an eternity with him.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

23 For the wages of sin is death…

Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins

Romans 8:6 (NKJV)

6 For to be carnally minded is death…

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (NKJV)

3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

This picture written down by God for us to see of ourselves “lost without him” from his perspective it most powerful.

To our Creator who is always holy, who knit us in our mother’s womb, and who loves us so much, it is no wonder he considers us in sin as “abominable and filthy” in our sin.

Job 15:16 (NKJV)

16 How much less man, who is abominable and filthy…

God goes so far as to compare those in darkness as “an unclean thing, like filthy rags.”

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

Summary

For those of you here who have children, who have watched your children grow up with all their ups and downs, with all the heartaches and joys, and with all the love invested by you in them.

Now imagine “not being able to set eyes on your children” because they choose to leave you after all the love you poured out to them in their lives.

It’s only then that we can “at the most slightly” imagine that pain, anguish, and heartbreak our Father goes through, who is so pure, holy, and righteous he cannot even look upon what his children have become (Habakkuk 1:13).

This is what the majority of humanity ends up looking like to their Father above (Matthew 7:13-14).

It’s no wonder we can hear the tears in Jesus’ voice in Matthew 23:37.

Thankfully, however, God’s love for us did not stop when we chose to leave his loving arms.

All though we are “like filthy rags” deprecated in our sin in the sight of our Father, thankfully God the Father, Son, and Spirit love us so much that “the scheme of redemption” was established and fulfilled.

In other words, God created and executed a plan wherein he could once again look upon his creation.

Today, because of the scheme of redemption, we can be here today as…

Humanity With Renewal Of The Spirit

How Can We Get This Renewal?

So what does God’s word say we must do to be “renewed of the Spirit?”

We must first actually determine what is true and what is not.

It’s unfortunate but there are a lot of preachers and people in the world that “think they are righteous” but are actually completely ignorant of God’s word and are in reality, working for Satan.

2 Corinthians 11:14–15 NKJV

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

This is why we cannot even have faith in God without getting into the holy writ.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

But once our faith or trust in God develops through study (Hebrews 11:1) it leads us to an undeniable conclusion that we have already discussed, we are no better than filthy rags in our sin and in need of God’s mercy and grace, which means we have a decision to make.

Luke 14:25–27 NKJV

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:28–30 NKJV

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Luke 14:31–33 (NKJV)

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Luke 13:3 NKJV

3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

If we make the decision to willingly forsake all that we have to be Jesus’ disciple and are willing to strive to be “faithful to God” we must then make a public confession in front of others.

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Matthew 10:32–33 (NKJV)

32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Now, that we have done all the obedient work necessary according to God’s plan of salvation we must then submit and obey the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 (NKJV)

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection

It is at this point when we are regenerated and renewed of the Spirit.

Titus 3:4–7 NKJV

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This means…

Our sins that separated us from God have been washed away by the blood of Christ renewing us spiritually in the sight of God.

Acts 22:16 (NKJV)

16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Our spiritual self has been “made into a new creation” as one renewed spiritually in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

We now have a guaranteed inheritance in heaven due to being sealed as “one renewed spiritually” in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NKJV

22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Ephesians 1:11–12 NKJV

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13–14 NKJV

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Summary

Oh what a joy it is to have “hope” for humanity again and from God’s perspective his joy for the lost being found and redeemed is seeing so powerfully in Luke 15.

Luke 15:6–7 NKJV

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:9–10 NKJV

9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:20–24 NKJV

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Conclusion

Now brethren, how can any of us sit here this morning and not be ecstatic about having a God who loves us this much.

If you have been “renewed of the Spirit” and have not been faithful in your promise to “forsake all for your Messiah” now is the time to make that right!!!

If you haven’t yet decided to be clothed with Christ in obedience to him, now is the time to make that right!!!

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 NKJV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 NKJV

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.