Spirit Led Life = Changed Life

As a Christian, a faithful follower of Jesus, Jesus gave an advantage that is better than having Him physically with you. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you have an advantage in this life! the Holy Spirit is our comforter & our helper. Hammer vs. the nail gun. They both do the same things, but one uses your power and the other uses a power source.

As christians we are called to live differently. There are things we should and should not do.

When I was first saved, I tried to make the changes. I kept working to be better, do better, and after week of working harder I got exhausted. Just like using a hammer to build a house, you will get exhausted faster and give up. But if you use a nail gun you will not overexert yourself and the house will be build faster and stronger.

Don’t be a hammer… BE A NAIL-GUN.

Francis Chan said this in his book Forgotten God.

“If I were Satan and my ultimate goal was to thwart God’s kingdom and purposes, one of my main strategies would be to get churchgoers to ignore the Holy Spirit...I believe that this missing something is actually a missing Someone—namely, the Holy Spirit. Without Him, people operate in their own strength and only accomplish human-size results. The world is not moved by love or actions that are of human creation. And the church is not empowered to live differently from any other gathering of people without the Holy Spirit. But when believers live in the power of the Spirit, the evidence in their lives is supernatural. The church cannot help but be different, and the world cannot help but notice,”

Paul tells us in Romans 8:11

Romans 8:11 (NLT)

11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Satan wants us to think, “if you change now how would people think of you? You wouldn’t be fun anymore. No one wants to hangout with you anymore. You can’t change.”

Ephesians 4:21–24 (NLT)

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

You’re right you can’t change… ON YOUR OWN! But with the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you. You can 100% change! And it is evident.

After believing in Jesus there comes a new way of living.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Theres a BIG word that the church uses to describe this “changed life” and that is sanctification.

Sanctification is a process to make a person holy or set apart.

It is allowing old, sinful ways to die rather than letting them hang around.

Colossians 3:9–10 (NLT)

9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

We fight against our sinful nature. Do we live life sinless? NO! But the goal is to resist willful sin.

The Holy Spirit changes you to be a witness to your world.

Our witness is not just telling people about Jesus, its more! It is how our life should look like. Empowered and be my witnesses. Thats hard work. But to God it is easy work.

A more powerful witness than simply telling someone about Jesus Christ is a believer living the life of Jesus Christ before them...When we talk about being a witness for Jesus Christ, we are talking about the life that bears witness for Jesus Christ. Often times, what we say is thoroughly discredited by what we are and by what we do.

2 Corinthians 6:3 (NLT)

3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.

Hypocrite is being one person in one moment, and a completely different person the next. Its a strong language but its one that needs to be addressed.

The Apostle Peter was like this and Paul called him. In one instance, he was eating with new believers who were gentiles. Then when other jews came with him he separated himself from the gentiles and wouldn’t eat with them, because he was afraid of criticism from his jewish friends.

Galatians 2:13 NLT

13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Don’t let your witness be damaged by how you treat others or by what you do.

Remember what Paul says.

Galatians 5:16 NLT

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Ephesians 5:1–2 NLT

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

We are constantly being changed to be more Christ-like.

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 (NLT)

16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.