“Unstoppable”- Romans 8:14-17”
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Led, Loved, and Assured
Led, Loved, and Assured
I would like to again welcome you this morning and thank you for being here on Pentecost Sunday. We glean our beautiful red colors this morning, to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the very moment when God empowered His church to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
On that very first Pentecost, we are told that tongues descended and ordinary men and women became bold witnesses for Jesus. But the Holy Spirit’s work did not end there in Jerusalem. He continues to this day, transforming our heart, guiding our steps, and assuring us of our place in God’s family.
Today we are looking at Romans 8:14-17, which speaks directly to this. In a world filled with uncertainty, whether economic instability, shifts in culture, or personal struggles, this particular passage offers “unstoppable” encouragement. It remind us that we are not slaves to fear, but children of God, led by His Spirit, adopted to His family, and because of this, we are destined for glory with Christ.
Led by the Spirit
Paul begins, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (V14). To be led by the Spirit means that you and I as Christians are under His sovereign guidance. This isn’t a passive nudge; its the active., transforming work of God Himself.
Salvation is God’s work from start to finish. The Holy Spirit regenerates us, giving each of us new hearts. He sanctifies us, making us more like Christ, and He leads us daily, guiding our decisions, convicting us of sin, and empowers us to obey God’s Word.
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended to lead the apostles into all truth according to John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Peter a common fisherman, was able to preach with boldness because the Holy Spirit led him. And today, that same Spirit is leading you. In the workplace, raising children, battling personal sin, the Holy Spirit is our guide. God’s Spirit ensures we don’t stry from His paths.
But being led by the Spirit, means surrendering to His direction. In a world of self-reliance, this is countercultural. Are you seeking the Holy Spirits’ lead in your life? Are you leaning into prayer and Scripture or are you leaning on your own understanding, your own will?
Loved As God’s Children
Paul goes on, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba Father!’” (V15).
Before Christ we were slaves to sin, slave’s to the law’s demands, slaves to fear, to judgement. But through Christ’s resurrection, we have been set free.
No matter what you face, loss, rejection, or failure— God is your Father. You have been adopted, chosen, and we should have confidence in that relationship.
When doubts creep in, when the world tells you you’re not enough, the Spirit reminds you, you are God’s child. Nothing can change that.
Assured of Our Inheritance
Finally Paul writes, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (16,17) The Holy Spirit confirms our inheritance.
In our world here, our identity is questioned. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we are God’s, we are heirs, heirs of His promises, of eternal life, of new heavens a new earth. Alongside Jesus, we are fellow heirs, by and through grace.
“Provided we suffer with Him.” sounds like a sobering note. It’s a difficult concept for us to accept that suffering doesn’t mark an absence from God, but a union.
Our trials of course are persecution of our faith, the pain of a broken world, our struggle agains sin, these are our trials, our suffering we must endure. Here’s some assurance.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Hold fast to this assurance, and let it fuel your witness in a world desperate for hope.
As a nation love success stories. The rise of working class people like Andrew Caregie and John D. Rockefeller, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, maybe even Eli Musk or Warren Buffett.
From garage tinkerers and dorm room coders, these ideas turned into American Dream success stories.
We often fail to consider how the church in one year is nothing but a few laborers, some stay at home moms, a few fisherman, and even a tax collector in the middle of nowhere in the Roman Empire, and the next thing you know, churches began to spring up like mushrooms, all over the ancient Mediterranean. How could a few peasants accomplish all of this? Half the time the apostles misunderstood Jesus, and although close, denied and betrayed him. These real human being, from 12 to 70, a few hundred, all faiths, denominations, spreads like wildfire, to now some 2.4 billion Christians, the largest group of humans on earth. How could this possibly happen?
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:6
And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
“A sound like the rush of a violent wind”, fills the entire house where the apostles are gathered….and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then each goes out into a different far reaching corner of the world to share the Good News of Jesus, and the love of the Father.
And so they went…
Doubting Thomas sets out to preach the Gospel in India and founds the Church of St. Thomas. St. Peter goes to Antioch and Rome, spreading the gospel throughout Europe. St. Matthew goes to Syria, St. John to Turkey and Greece, and in a matter of years the church is born.
Maybe you’re thinking, sure if I’d been present on Pentecost, I too could have received a tongue of flame If I’d been filled with the Holy Spirit, if I too had that kind of intimacy with God, courage, ability… IF you have received Christ, Baptized in His name, you share in the same Pentecost. Its our receiving of the fullness of God, dwelling within us, transforming us.
Reconciling, healing, feeding His sheep. “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” We have the power of the Holy Spirit to ask, to reach out to understand, and take the offer of the Lord’s grace, and in Him we are capable of His works.
It’s not a magic genie bottle, we aren’t talking about asking for 10 cars or a billion dollars, or living to be 120. What we are talking about isn’t temporary and its a whole lot bigger. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control
In John 14, Jesus promises that God the Father will send an “Advocate,” the “Spirit of truth” to be with us forever. Likewise, in Acts 1, just before Jesus ascends to heaven, he promises the disciples the coming power of the Holy Spirit, a promise fulfilled in the miracle of Pentecost. In Romans 8, Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Christ,” saying that all who have the Spirit of Christ belong to God. In accordance with this biblical language, we confess the Holy Spirit is indeed the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ dwells in us and claims us eternally.
Pentecost Sunday reminds why the Holy Spirit’s work is so vital to the life of a follower of Jesus. He leads us, so we don’t walk alone. He assures us we are God’s beloved children, so we no longer live in fear. He confirms our inheritance, so we can endure whatever challenges or suffering this world might throw our way.
