Is The Spirit of God In You!

Sin nature no longer has power.

Romans 8:1–11 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

There is a lot in this passage and way more than I could preach on. But I love how this opens up with now there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.

Before Jesus came the law was what judged mankind. The problem with the law was that it condemned man because there was no way for man to fulfill what the law was saying. This passage says that the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Has anyone ever heard of the law of the Spirit of life? The "law of the Spirit of life" is a biblical concept that refers to the power of the Holy Spirit that frees believers from the "law of sin and death". It is a spiritual principle that provides power to overcome sin and live an abundant life through faith in Jesus Christ. The phrase "law" is used here to mean a power, principle, or authority, where the power of the Spirit brings life, and the power of sin leads to death.  I never thought that there was a law of the Spirit of Life. But truth be told thank God for the law of the Spirit. Because it is this law that sets men free. It is the answer to the law of sin and death. Whereas mankind could not fulfill the law Jesus came and redeemed mankind hence fulfilling the law. Now the Spirit of God comes and His law is that anyone who believes in Jesus is set free from the law of sin and death. That is why there now is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.

This passage does not say for those who believe in Jesus Christ but for those who are in Jesus Christ. What does it mean to be in Jesus Christ? To be "in Christ Jesus" means a spiritual and complete union with Jesus, where a believer is forgiven of sin, declared righteous, and adopted as a child of God. This union is a new identity where one's life is hidden in Christ, and all spiritual blessings are received through him. The Holy Spirit is the power that unites believers to Christ, allowing them to live a new life and have a guaranteed future with him.

Here is a good illustration I heard from AW Tozer. He said that in the burning bush that Mosses observed that the Busch was not consumed. Everything else was consumed but not the Busch. That means any bugs that were there, or any kind of other growth on the Busch was all burned away. What is interesting is that Tozer says that God showed Himself to Mosses as fire. The fire was in the Busch but the Busch was not on fire. Somebody will catch that. It is the same for us that we need to be in Jesus and Jesus in us.

By sending Jesus to die for us God our Father has done what the law could not do. It could not pardon mankind of sin. So our Father God sent Jesus as a payment for the balance of sin. Thus doing what the law could not do. But what is really crazy is that God gave man the law knowing that man could not fulfill it. That is why God gave man the sacrificial system to atone for sin. But that was a bandaid for the problem until Jesus could come. But let’s get it straight that by God giving man the law it was mercy and grace. The law identified what man was doing wrong. Before that man had no idea that he was an offense to God. The law identified and listed the things that man had in his heart. God’s answer to this is to give man a new heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

 This is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit, resulting in a new ability to love God and others, a changed motivation for life, and a new desire to live in obedience to Him. This is a supernatural occurrence that is happening.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

The only way we can be in Jesus is if we have the Holy Spirit abiding in us. Then everything I have spoken about happens in us through the Holy Spirit.

I have always had a love for the Holy Spirit. I know that the Spirit was with me before I was with the Spirit. I have shared with you how the Holy Spirit spoke to me when I was brushing my teeth long ago. What is interesting is that we can have the Holy Spirit abiding in us and not feel it or know it. When I first got saved I did not know anything about the Holy Spirit. Never mind Him dwelling in me. I had no idea that the things that I would say or do was the Spirit of God leading me. Now that I look back on my life the Holy Spirit has been a part of my life my entire life. I am sad about all the times I have grieved Him and not known it, or even the time when I knew that I had grieved Him. Lord I am sorry for not seeing you as I should. You are God and without you we have nothing.

Listen you can have all the head knowledge and you could have the entire bible memorized, but if you do not have the Holy Spirit in you it means nothing. The disciples walked with Jesus for three and one half years and did not know or understand all that He did until the Holy Spirit came and revealed it to them. The creation could not have been created had not the Holy Spirit been hovering over the face of the waters. The Holy Spirit was the conduit for Jesus to come. The Angel of God said that Mary would be overcome by the Spirit of God and she will become pregnant. It is the Holy Spirit which was the gift that Jesus sent when He went up to Heaven. So we should desire the Spirit of God in our lives. It is the Holy Spirit that moves in this service every week, It is the Holy Spirit that initiates the healing in our bodies. It will be the Holy Spirit who will testify against or for you before God our Father. The Holy Spirit of God is one of the God heads of the Trinity. He operates in accordance and alignment with Jesus and God the Father. He is the God that is with us.

Man I am excited to speak about the Holy Spirit this morning. Can we talk about the Spirit of God. Can we talk about how there was a price that had to paid for the Spirit of God. Can we talk about having the mind of the Spirit. Finally can we talk about how the Spirit of God is our identifier. It means everything that we have the Holy Spirit of God in us.

Why is it important to have the Spirit of God?

The Price for the Spirit:

Romans 8:1–11 ESV

By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

There was a cascade of blessing that came down from Heaven. There was a price that had to be paid for God our Father to redeem mankind from sin nature. Do you understand what was done for us? I mean that God sent Jesus to pay the price for us. It sounds easy right that God sent His only Son to die for mankind. But it was so much more complicated than that. That Jesus who was with the Father in Heaven (God) had to leave His Father and be born in human flesh in order to live like us and experience everything that we would experience. To live a life as a man. Then to be beaten and crucified for our sake. Is this sinking in? The price that was paid was far more than we can ever imagine. That is why I say there was a cascade of blessings that came down from Heaven. If this does not tell you how much your loved nothing will.

A young man bought a vintage guitar online, thinking he’d snagged a great deal. When it arrived, he noticed it had been played by a famous musician. He realized that sometimes the cost of an item reflects its true value. Just as he had to pay extra for that history, God paid the ultimate price—His Son—for our own redemption. The Spirit of God is a priceless gift, only accessible through the sacrifice of Jesus. We often underestimate the cost behind our blessings, but God calls us to appreciate the depth of what He has given us.

I am going to try to explain this as much as I can. But because I am excited about this I may rush through it, but I will try to slow down. One would think that God the Father could have just abolished the law and pardoned mankind. But this could not happen because in order for that to happen God would have to have been wrong or go against himself. Follow me for a minute. I need you to put your thinking caps on. So the law that was written was written for mankind as a mercy from God to identify sin. Is everybody with me? Now the Law was written for man by God. But the problem with the law was that mankind could not fulfill it. The only way that the law could be fulfilled is if we were perfect. The problem with that is sin natures stood in the way of our being perfect. This is about to be good. If I start running just run with me.

Now because sin nature came in the world through a man the law of sin and death was written. Now the only way that the law can be broken or fulfilled is by man. Man allowed sin natures to come into the world so man would have to be the one to break or fulfilled the law in order that freedom might come. So God our Father had to send a perfect human to fulfill the laws requirement and redeem mankind from the law of sin and death. Jesus was the perfect one who came down from Heaven to fulfill the laws requirement and break the stronghold of law of sin and death which had a hold on mankind. Here is where it gets even better. God our Father knew that the requirement was paid for the law of sin and death through Jesus Christ. But mankind could simply make the same mistake and find itself back in bondage. So God made a covenant with Himself.

1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

What is this new covenant that Jesus is referring to? The new covenant is a spiritual agreement between God and humanity established by Jesus, based on his sacrificial death and resurrection, which provides forgiveness of sins through grace.  Unlike the old covenant, which was based on the Law, the New Covenant is based on faith in Jesus, offers a new relationship with God, and involves the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which transforms hearts.

So you know how I keep saying it was a cascade of blessing from Heaven. Now that all of what I just said has come to pass. God was not going to let mankind get tricked again so He sent His Holy Spirit to come as a guardian and builder of mankind. So that mankind could not make the same mistake and once again be held in bondage. This is powerful beloved. We think that God sent His Son to die for us which He did, But there is so much more.

So now when we believe in Jesus as our Savior the requirement of the law is paid for you. The way that this works is it is like we are in prison, but God has paid the bail for you to get out. But it only applies to you when you accept Jesus as your Savior. So every time someone accepts Jesus as their Savior the requirement for the law is paid for that person. The finishing piece is that the Holy Spirit now comes and lives in you and the hold of sin nature over you is broken. You now have the power to overcome sin in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Can you see now that a huge price was paid for us?

Look at your neighbor and say neighbor I have a good God!

2. The Mind of the Spirit:

Romans 8:1–11 ESV

but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

In a well-known experiment, scientists divided subjects into two groups: one focused on positive thoughts, while the other dwelled on negative ones. The first group reported feeling happier and more at ease, while the second faced anxiety and stress. Just like setting our minds on the Spirit brings peace, allowing God’s presence to influence our thoughts cultivates a life of joy and fulfillment. What we focus on matters!

We have to have the mind of the Spirit. What does it mean to set the mind on the things of the Spirit? Setting the mind on the things of the Spirit means making a conscious choice to align your thoughts, desires, and actions with God's will through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, resulting in life and peace. It involves shifting your focus from worldly or sinful desires to spiritual ones, prioritizing spiritual growth and God's perspective on all aspects of life. This is an ongoing practice of redirecting thoughts and deliberately focusing on spiritual matters, leading to a mindset of inner peace and a closer relationship with God. The only way this happens is if you live according to the Spirit.

Here is the thing if your mind is not set on the things of the Spirit it will be set on the things of the flesh. If your mind is set on the things of the flesh that will lead to death. Because the person whose mind is set on the things of the flesh cannot please God. So can you see how God has planned to protect His investment? Our Father sends His Son to die for us. What a price to pay for our Father. So He sends His Spirit to protect His investment. But the way that the investment is protected is if we keep our mind now on the things of the Spirit. The things of the Spirit are the things of God. But even here we have help.

That is why Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

As we read the Word of God our mind is set on the things of the Spirit and our mind is renewed. By the mind being renewed we now have the ability to think on the things of the Spirit. Having the mind of the Spirit does not mean that I am thinking of the Spirit of God all the time. Now it means thinking on the things of Jesus. It means being obedient to the things that Jesus tells us to do. The awesome part is that the Holy Spirit is there with you helping you and leading you to be obedient. That is why the passage says that if you do not have the Spirit of God in you then you do not belong to God.

This is the part that we should all be alarmed about. Because truth be told there are those who say they are born again and that Jesus is their Savior but they do not have the Spirit of God in them. I know some may disagree with me and say if they are saved then the Spirit of God is in them. But if that was the case then this passage that I am preaching from would not have had to be written. Remember this is a letter to the Romans from Paul. This was a letter to the people of God. So there must have been those who display a form of Godliness but denied the power. That is what this scripture is saying.

2 Timothy 3:5 “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Showing a form of godliness" describes an outward appearance of religious behavior that lacks genuine, internal substance or transformation. This phrase, often quoted from the Bible, refers to people who may attend church, pray publicly, and follow religious rules, but whose lives are not truly changed by their faith. They may, in fact, deny the transformative power of their religion, which is replaced by a superficial religious observance.  In other words they do not have the Spirit of God in them. They do not belong to God. This is why many will hear I never knew you. I have told you before that the clear evidence of a person who has the Spirit of God in them is a changed life. You cannot profess being saved and have the Spirit of God in you and live the same life.

Now here is what I do believe. I believe that when we say the prayer or when we truly accept Jesus in our hearts as our Savior the Spirit of God moves in. But if we deny the Spirit of refuse to allow Him to lead us and transform us then He will leave. This is not something that we are entitled to. Our Father in Heaven has paid too big a price for Him to allow phony Christians to get a pass.

This is why we should have the mind of the Spirit and desire the Spirit of God to be in us. Then we will see the power of God working for us and through us.

It wasn’t until I started to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in my life that I started to see the power of God in my life. Beloved there is a real power that our Father has for us in the Spirit of God that most do not access. In order to see the power in your life we must have the mind of the Spirit. This way of thinking is not driven by your thoughts, but driven by the Holy Spirit. In reality we have the mind to think what God thinks. This does not mean that we are God, but that through the Holy Spirit we can have the mind of the Spirit. The mind of God. Listen I know it sound a bit crazy I mean it even does to me, but I have found that I at times have the ability to think from the perspective of God. His thoughts are so much higher than our but sometimes we get a glimpse of what God is thinking. The only way this happens is if we have the Holy Spirit living in us and we have the mind of the Spirit. To be honest with you this sermon is not something that I could think of on my own. Only though the Spirit of God can I preach anything.

Look at your neighbor and ask what are you thinking? Is it the mind of flesh or the mind of the Spirit.

3. The Spirit is the Identifier:

Romans 8:1–11 ESV

Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Here we see that if the Spirit is not in you then you do not belong to Jesus. There is something that is said in this passage that we can miss if we are not carful. It says that although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of Righteousness. There is a supernatural miracle at work in us. That the spirit of life can make a body live. The life I am referring to is the life that Jesus was speaking of when He said;

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Yes, Jesus said he came to give people life, both on earth and eternally. In John 10:10, he stated, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" or "abundantly". This "abundant life" on earth includes spiritual vitality, peace, and a life of victory and success, which is distinct from the world's definition of abundance based on material possessions. 

Spiritual life: Jesus's primary purpose was to provide spiritual life, or God's life, which is available through faith in him.

Abundant life: This abundant life on earth is not about wealth or worldly success but about a life of purpose, peace, and flourishing that has nothing to do with material pursuits.

Eternal life: Jesus also promised eternal life for those who believe in him.

This is amazing and should have the church jumping for joy. Listen with the Spirit of God in you it is God’s way of identifying who His children are. When the Spirit of God is in a child of God it is like a spotlight that shines into Heaven showing the location and status of the child who the Spirit resides in. It is also the reason why the atmosphere changes when you walk in a room. It is not because you’re there but because the Spirit of God is there. You now have a seal on your soul that tells Jesus that your His. Stamped for approval!

Man I tell you what this is incredible. Because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ our Father in Heaven has sent His Spirit that now lives in us. Because the Holy Spirit resides in us we have the power of God and the power of transformation. We also have a protector that prevents the law of sin and death to take hold of us again. Finally we have a seal that is an identifier for God of His children. Can somebody say thank you Lord!

I am a child saved by grace. This puts a whole new spin on what it means to be saved by grace.

Look at your neighbor and say I see the Spirit in you.

End with This:

Romans 8:1–11 ESV

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

So Paul in his letter to the Romans finishes this passage of with a promise. He said if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. Then He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Come on somebody here we see something special. That you thought you had life but really you were dead. But when the Spirit of life dwells in you then you become alive in the Spirit. Anyone like zombie movies? it is like those who do not know Jesus and do not have the Spirit of God in them are the zombies, because they are dead in their bodies. Those who know Jesus and have the Spirit dwelling in them are alive in Jesus and are the ones who live. But here is the a thing in those movies once a zombie always a zombie. But here we have a Holy Spirit who can bring zombies back to life. We have a Holy Spirit who can make dead men live. C.S. Lewis said that we are Pinocchio and one day we will be made into a real boy or girl. God is in the business of bringing dead things to life.

Thank God for Jesus! This is all because of Him and for Him. Jesus is the reason for the Spirit coming to us. He is the reason for forgiven sins. He is the reason we can be called sons and daughters of God. Jesus is our source and our guide. Listen before Jesus came the Spirit would come upon whom He chose. But because of the new covenant now those who believe and accept Jesus get to have the Holy Spirit come and live in them. Somebody give Jesus some praise.

I have two altar calls for this morning. First if you are here and have not accepted Jesus as your savior and want to do it now can you raise your hand so I can pray for you. The second altar calls is if your here and you want the Spirit of God in you come to the altar.