ROMANS 8: THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

Introduction

Today we are going to look at the the changes that occur in us when we receive the Holy Spirit in our lives having accepted Jesus

ILLUSTRATION: THE NEWSPAPERS ONLY CALLED HIM, BABY PAUL, the youngest recipient of a heart transplant in modern history. He received his new heart when he was 2 and a half … hr’s old… even before he was born the doctors determent, his heart was defective, and he would need a new heart to live… because he would die… so a team of 20dr’s 20 nurses and technicians worked to give him a new heart and once that heart was beeting the lead surgeon said there was electricity in the air when they realized what they were doing…

THIS IS TOO GOOD OF AN ANALOGY TO PASS UP( A CHILD OF GOD WITH A HEADT THAT WAS DYING BY ELECTRICITYM IN AIR HE HAS A NEW HAERT

WE KNOW BY WHAT Ezekiel the prophets said (in Ezekiel 36:26) was that God PROMISED he would take hearts of stone DEAD AND DEFECTIVE and give us a heart of flesh and he would make that transformation by the Holy Spirit.

HE WILL PUT A NEW SPIRIT IN YOU SO THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE

THE MEDICAL TEAM PUTTING THE NEW HEART IN THIS CHILD is like God putting a new heart in us. THE TRINITY IN ACTION THE FATHER DETERMINING WHAT WE NEED, JESUS THE SON PERFORMING THE WORK OF SALVATION AND THE HOLY SPIRIT THE INSTRUMENT OF GOD’S POWER IN OUR HEARTS AND LIVES to bring about the change in us

IT’S A GREAT ANALOGIE, BUT WE DON’T just WANT ANALOGIES WE NEED ACTUALLITY and reality

WE NEED TO KNOW IN REAL LIFE WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DO?

What ACTULLY happens when we get the Holy Spirit do we grow a Sixth TOW, SPEAK IN TOUNGS… DO WE TURN BLUE OR GREEN

THE HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRMS NEW SPIRITUAL LIFE IN US (VS 16)

The New International Version Chapter 8

The Spirit himself testifies with our spiritn that we are God’s children.

How dose God confirm new life in us??

WHAT IS THE EVEDENCE OF NEW SPIRITUELL LIFE?

· ILLUSTRATION: think about baby paul for a moment when he received his new heart a new baby with a new heart now is getting lovely pink skin, toes are twitching,

· Eyes are starting to blink; he can breathe, he has a life.. he starts to drink milk… new blood flow.. there is evidence of life…

The First real and tangible evedence of Change that Paul lists in Romans 8:5-8 is a Change of Mindset

This change of mindset is what we think upon.

The New International Version Chapter 8

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;s but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.t

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death,u but the mind governed by the Spirit is lifev and peace.

7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;w it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

8 Those who are in the realm of the fleshx cannot please God.

(VS 5 OF ROMANS 8)

So the Spirit brings a change of mindset so that we are able to focus on what God wants for us and what pleases God

EXAMPLE 1

My testimony of traveling for money and glory to settling down for Gods glory and service my MINDSET WENT FROM WRONG TO WRIGHT Among other things

Having given us a change in mindset the the Second real and tangible change that the Holy Spirit makes in us is a

change in desire and direction

When the Holy Spirit Changes our mindset from following the flesh to following God the next thing he does is to change our desires and the direction we are heading in

These Changes occur because when we understand how deeply God has loved us and sacrificed for us through Jesus we want to please him by following his ways.

The ways of the spirit and not the ways of the flesh

Paul describes this in verse 7

The New International Version Chapter 8

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;w it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

8 Those who are in the realm of the fleshx cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the fleshy but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.

He works in us to change not only our mindset but also our desires and our direction.

there is a change in the things we want to do and say THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO THE PLACE WE GO, HABITS WE FORM

ILLUSTRATION

Have you ever been doing something or had a choice to make and your going in the wrong direction and you feel convicted to do the opposite? That’s the Holy Spirit speaking and convicting you to listen to him instead of the flesh

WE ARE NOW GOING IN A DIFRENT DIRECTION WE HAVE GONE FROM DEATH TO LIFE.

WE ARE NO LONGER WALKING TOWARDS CONDEMNATION WE ARE NO LONGER WALKING TOWARDS HELL

WE ARE GOING TO LIFE NOT JUST ETERNEL LIFE BUT LIFE HERE AND NOW A LIFE THAT IS NOT FRUITLESS AND EMPTY BUT A LIFE FULL OF LOVE AND POWER

The Third Real and Tangible Change which is closely linked to the change of desire and direction is the

change of new actions and abilities

Not only does the Holy Spirit change our desires but he empowers us to live out those new desires with new actions and new abilites that he empowers

The New International Version Chapter 8

But if Christ is in you,b then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives lifed because of righteousness.

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the deadc is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodiesd because ofe his Spirit who lives in you.

YOU NOW HAVE RESSUSRECTION POWER

Think of baby paul again pink skin life is here and now for us not just for eternity but now we have the abilitie to change.

Change of habits

change of sin is all possible because we are no longe Enslaved to sin.

satan wants to tell you difent but the spirit of God tells us that we can

HOW DO WE ASSESS THAT WE HAVE THESE NEW ABILLITIES ???

THE VITAL SINGES OF THE SPIRIT BEGIN TO SHOW THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

GALATIANS SAYS THAT WE HAVE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT THAT GROWES LOVE piece PATIENCE KINDNESS ECT.

BUT IT DON’T GROW OVERNIGHT IT TAKES TIME IT TAKES WATERING AT TAKES THE WORD OF GOD IT TAKES THE HOLY SPIRIT THE RIVER OF LIVING WATER

EXAMPLE AND ILLUSTRATION

THINK ABOUT BABY PAUL NOW, HE IS ALIVE HE HAS A NEW HEART AND NOW OVER TIME HE BEGINS TO GROW

IF HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD OVERNIGHT THAT WOULD MEAN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG.

WE DON’T EXPECT TO GROW FROM BABY PAUL TO THE APOSTLE PAUL OVERNIGHT

At first HE DRINKS MILK and then his mother puts him on early solids and then in time moves him to meat

At first YOU WILL MATURE AS YOU DRINK MILK READ THE BIBLE PRAY AND FCELOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTAINS and then in time you will grow into solids and meatier ways

WE WILL GROW WITH THE FRUIT OF THE SPRIT OVER TIME IN THE CHURCH NOT IN ONE DAY

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO EVALUATE AND ASK THE QuESTION AM I GROWING

DO I HAVE THESE VITAL SINGES OF THE SPIRIT??

LOVE PIECE PATIANCE ETC IF WE RAE NOT SEING EVEDENCE THEN WE NEED TO ASK SOME TUFF QESTIONS

DO YOU NEED TO REPENT?

DO YOU NEED to the Spirit greater freedom to work in you

BUT WE NEED TO SAY THAT THIS IS GROWTH PROSESS

AGAIN THINK ABOUT BABY PAUL HE HAD RELY ON THE SURGEONS TO KICK START A NEW LIFE IN HIM

HE HAD TO HAVE REGULAR CHECKUPS TO MAKE SURE HE IS GROWING, HIS HEART IS GROWING. AND IF THERE IS ANY TROUBLE THR DR’S GIVE HIME A MEAL PLAN( (PRAYER) (WORD)

THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US ALL THESE THINGS WE HAVE COVERD BUT ANOTHER THING HE gives us IS

DEVINE INTERSESSION.(PRAYER)

THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS YOU/US IN ‘PRAYER’ THROGH DEVINE INTERSESSION

The New International Version Chapter 8

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spiritf himself intercedes for usg through wordless groans.

27 And he who searches our heartsh knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesi for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

“IM PLEASED AND APOSTLE WROTE THAT”

YOU HERE PEPOLE SAY I NEED TO PRAY ACORDING TO GODS WILL BUT I DON’T KNOW GODS WILL I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY FOR BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT DOSE KNOW WHAT TO PRAY FOR

1. You here of Jesus interceding on our behalf but you never hear about the Holy Spirit interceding on our behalf.

Paul says that one of the ways that the Holy Spirit changes us and empowers us to new abilities is in prayer. Paul says in vers 26 that the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses When we do not know how to pray that he intercedes for us in wordless groans. And he searches our hearts and intercedes for us in accordance with the will of God

Illustration over Christmas you might have been baking a cakes, anyone, well my cake baking skills are bad you think about getting the cake mix and putting in the piping thing putting the icing on and its ruff AND NASTY BUT THEN YOU GET THE CAKE BAKER WHO TAKES THE CAKE AND DECORATED IT AND PUTS BUTYFULL FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE CAKE. AND THAT’S WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIKE HE TAKES OUR PRAYERS AND MAKES THEM BUTTYFULL MAKES THEM WORTHY WE CAN DO NOTHING ALOn

Another real and tangible change the Spirit makes for us, and is closly linked to the fact that he afirms new life in us is that of identity

new identity.

Throughout Romans 8 Paul has spoken of us as slaves. Before the Spirit took up residence in our hearts we wewre slaves to sin, slaves to guilt, slaves to death but in verse 15 he points out clearly that this is not what the Spirit does. The Holy Spirit frees us from the flesh by giving us a new mindset, a new desire, new actions and abilites and a new identity.

New Living Translation Chapter 8

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.* Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”*

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

Our new identity is of adopted sons and daughters.

We have been called the children of God who can affectionately call out Abba Father which means dad or daddy

GOD IS NOW YOUR FATHER YOUR HEART NOW CRIES OUT FOR GOD

NOW HOSTILITY HAS TURNED TO AFFECTION and LOVE FOR GOD

When I sin do I hate it?

Am I convicted by sin?

We just want to commune with God

How are you going with all this?? we need to do an assessment of our changes ??

THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US CONFIDENCE THROUGH SUFERING

HOW?? BECUSE OF OUR INHERITANCE

The New International Version Chapter 8

The Spirit himself testifies with our spiritn that we are God’s children.o

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirsp—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferingsq in order that we may also share in his glory.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR INHERITANCE AND WHAT HEAVEN IS SO WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENC NOW FOR NOW IN THIS LIFE

WE HAVE A BLESSED CONFIDENC IN THIS LIFE BECAUSE WE STAND WITH JESUS CHRIST AND HIS INHERITANCE WICH INCLUDES BOTH BLESSING AND SUFFERING GROANING AND GLORY!!!

HEAVEN IS EARTH MADE PERFECT NO MORE TEARS NO MORE PAIN NO MORE SUFFERING A PERFECT WORLD WITH THE BEST OF EVERYTHING IMAGNABLE

In verses 18 to 25 Paul makes a point that there will be suffering but that the suffering we face will not compare to what God has planned for us both now and in the future.

In fact all of creation awaits the future God has planned when he will make all things new.

And so although there is suffering we have a new confidence as we wait for all that God is going to do in us in oru future and in eternity

The New International Version Chapter 8

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.s

19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of Godt to be revealed.

ILLUSTRATION!!!

EXAMPLE THINK ABOUT BABY [PAUL AND HIS PARENTS] THE DOCTOR SAYS the operation went well he is going to live he will be ok, but the problem is he will have exceedingly fear skin when he becomes teenager he will; get acne and have a lot of spots he might need to come for a check-up once a year for the next ten years

What do you think his parents will say

“ I DON’T Care !!They will say so I can endure that because he is alive !!!!!!!

IM NOT GOING TO COMPEAR THAT LITTLE BIT OF PAIN FOR THE GLORY OF HIM BEING ALIVE AND HEALTHY

(John 15;18;20) JESUS SAID WE WOULD SUFFER PURSUCUTION

We don’t have to go and look for suffering in this world we will get suffering because we live in a fallen, broken world that needs Jesus

that needs Gods Kingdom to come

that needs a praying people that pray for the kingdom of God to come.

· We will suffer just because we have broken ranks with evil in this world.

· Suffering tells us we are on the right road a man once wrote “f.b myer stated in his book called Christ in Isaiah’( if I am told there is a rocky bit of road between here and my destination I know that every jolt along the way is a reminder that I a am on the right road.

“LISTEN PEOPLE”; “THERE IS NO VICTORY WITHOUT A FIGHT, AND THERE IS NO BATTLE WITHOUT WOUNDS”!!!!!!!!!!!

THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS:; PAUL DECLARED THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUALLY AFFIRMS THE BELIEVERS PLACE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD;(8;16)

THERE IS A FUTURE HOPE

WE HAVE A REAL ENEMY THAT IS TRYING TO MAKE LIFE HARD EVERY DAY FOR YOU

“suffering, including things such as

· illness,

· bereavement,

· hunger,

· financial reverses,

· and death itself.

1. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO CHRIST, THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT ALL THERE TROUBLES GO AWAY

2. THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT THEY WILL HAVE NO MORE FINANCIAL TROUBLE

3. THEY SEEM TO THINK THEY WILL BE NO MORE SUFFERING

4. BUT JESUS SAID IF YOU FOLLOW ME YOU WILL BE PERSECUTED IN THIS LIFE

5. BUT BY THE POWER AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT I HOPE WE CAN GET 2020 LONG RANGE VISSION AND INVEST AND LOOK AT ETERNITY

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HEAVEN IS AND WHAT OUR FURTUE INHERETECE IS TOGETHER IN ORDER TO HAVE CONFIDENCE NOW FOR THIS LIFE

THE WORLD WILL NOT ALWAYS BE THIS WAY

6. There was a pastor in the us who has a baby girl with tarets syndrome.

7. that is when they say things they don’t want to

8. and have fits when they don’t want to

9. and twitch when they don’t want to

10. One time they went to McDonalds and she took one of her attacks.

11. When they went back into the car, her older brother said mommy amey always going to be this way??

12. So when she got home, she told her husband, and he said what did you say??

13. I said I don’t know maybe you said what

14. She is not always going to be this way because I have God his name is Jesus and when SHE WILL BE HEALED SHE WILL BE WHOLE SHE WILL BE PERFECT SHE WILL NOT ALWAYS BE THIS WAY. Thier will be the renewal of Gods pepole

heaven will invaded earth there will be glory

15. I can only imagine what these verses mean for children that are handicapped healed

16. For special needs parents for special needs kids for heald

17. People that re riddled with cancer healed

18. What does this mean for you?

19. There will come a day when there will be no more teres.

20. No more problems

21. No more pain

22. No more suffering

23. No more sin

no more coronavirus

24. Heaven is coming to earth

WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF SUFFERING AND HURTING REST ASSURE THAT THE JOY WILL BE GREATER WHEN THE TRIAL END!!!!!!! I CAN THINK OF SOME JOY COMING SOME PEOPLES WAY NOW!!! THEREFORE, ENDURE WITH HOPE!!!!!!!!

CONLCLUSION

allow THE SPIRIT access to the rooms of YOUR hearts

WEAR DOSE THE SPIRIT NEED TO WORK CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE?

IS YOUR MINDSET CHANGING?

THINK AND PRAY ABOUT THE PARTS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT NEEDS TO WORK THIS WEEK.

HOW IS YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD AT THE MOMENT? IN THIS CURRENT PANDEMIC?

DO YOU HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE NOW THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT WORTH COMPEARING TO THE FUTURE GLORY THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU? HOW IS YOIR FAITH IN THAT PROMIS GOING?

HOW IS YOUR CONFIDENCE GOING?

THIS WEEK PRAY ABOUT THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IB YOUR LIFE

INVERTATION FOR JESUS TO COME

Prayer