Life in the Spirit

Opening Scripture and Prayer

The New King James Version Chapter 8

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How many of you realize that God’s greatest desire is for us to walk fully in His will, and operate in all of the Power, Authority, Provision, and Influence that He has made available to us in this life . How many of you realize that it’s primarily for the advancement of His Kingdom. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God does not will for any to perish. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. Salvation by receiving Jesus’ sacrifice, accepting Him as Lord and Savior gives us the ability to walk according to the spirit and it is the only way that we should live.

Message

The opening scripture for this message is the end of Romans 8 where Paul wrote about living free from sin by walking according to the spirit. He communicates the differences from a carnal life (flesh) and one of the spirit. He talks about sin and law a good bit in chapters 1-7 and continues his message here in chapter 8 to help us see what life looks like when we walk according to the spirit:

#1 There Is No Condemnation

Romans 8:1–8 NKJV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 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, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

No condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus (Therefore, being free from the law)

No condemnation to those that walk according to the spirit and not the flesh

To walk according to the flesh is to primarily perceive things by the flesh, operate by the flesh, and be guided by the flesh.

To walk according the spirit is to primarily perceive things by the spirit, operate by the spirit, and be guided by the spirit.

To condemn means to cast an adverse sentence, strong disapproval. You can also look at what it means to condemn something which essentially a label for something that is not fit for use.

To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

#2 You Are His and Have Life

Romans 8:9–11 NKJV

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

You are in the spirit

You are His. Being His is a symbol of ownership

You have life.

You have life in your mortal bodies. Not just in eternity but in this life as well.

#3 We are Sons and Daughters of God

Romans 8:12–17 NKJV

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

You don’t have to live by the flesh, which ends in death. If the Holy Spirit is in you then you have the power to put to death the deeds of the body and live. And in living you are called the child of God. Joint heirs with Christ.

Although we will suffer with Him we will reign with Him.

#4 Your Suffering Won’t Consume You

Romans 8:18–20 NKJV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

What we experience in this life cannot even be compared to the glory revealed in the end. Keep in mind that while we today are not experiencing much suffering of the faith, there is still some suffering that we experience. And it doesn’t matter what the suffering is or how bad it feels, it is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed.

#5 You Have the Holy Spirit to Intercede for You

Romans 8:24–27 NKJV

24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

#6 All Things Will Work for Your Good

Romans 8:28–30 NKJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

ALL THINGS work together for good to those that: 1. Love God and 2. Are called according to His purpose. Not some things, or many things.

This good is God’s will. And it is good for you. The things that happen aren’t necessarily always good but they work together for good. And it’s not limited to your personal life.

Whom God foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His son.

Whom he predestined, He called, whom He called, He justified, whom He justified He also glorified.

Closing

Don’t think for a moment that God has forgotten about you because of what you may be experiencing or even witnessing in this world. Regardless of what we experience and witness we can be assured that God still loves us. This chapter ends with Paul’s assurance of God’s continuous love for us.

The New King James Version Chapter 8

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.