The Same Spirit

Spirit Filled Church

Mom’s high importance of a spirit filled church. SEARCH FOR A CHURCH IN COLLEGE

WHY?

BECAUSE LIFE IN THE SPIRIT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Brother’s and sisters we have a choice to make personally and as the church. Are we going to follow the flesh or are we going to be lead by the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead? The revival we pray and long for depends on that decision.

Life in the Spirit!

-Romans 8

To me is Paul’s mic drop moment in all of Romans. It is the culmination of his argument that begins back in Romans 3. That clearly outlines our human condition, our inability to fulfill the law on our own. Paul ends chapter 7 with:

Romans 7:24–25 NLT

24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Chapter 8 is Paul’s long answer to the question he raises in 7:24.

Paul begins his lengthy mic drop moment with words so profound, so amazing that it has the awesome feel of a death row inmate seeing the light of day seeing freedom for the first time. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” I was that death row inmate, but thanks be to God through the work of Christ the Spirit of God has freed me from the power of sin and death. Brothers and sisters look to someone this morning and say “I was that death row inmate, but thanks be to God his Spirit has set me free!”

Notice from initial salvation the Spirit of God makes the difference.

Hebrews 10:14–16 NLT

14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, 16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

Work of the Spirit Romans 8

1 The Spirit Sanctifies- vs 4

-Romans 8:3-4

Of our selves we can do nothing to make ourselves right with God. Christ sacrifice has made it possible for the indwelling Holy Spirit to do what the law could not. That is to sanctify us entirely. What does that mean? The short and sweet answer is the Spirit enables us to live as God has called his people to live. To love God with everything we have, and at the same time love our neighbors as we love our selves without exception. This is holiness unto the Lord, this is the fulfillment of all the law and prophets. Brothers and Sisters the only way we can live this out is through the continual transforming work of the Holy Spirit within us.

2. The Spirit Leads-vs 14

Romans 8:14 NLT

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

The Spirit leads the children of God. Jesus in Luke’s gospel tells a group of people they must deny themselves daily and follow him.

Luke 9:23 NLT

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Brothers and sisters we have a choice to make personally and collectively as this expression of the Body of Christ. Are we going to deny our flesh and follow with reckless abandon the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit? We cannot follow ourselves, our flesh, political ideas, agendas, or figures, and at the same time be led by the Spirit of God. We must turn, repent, from all that and follow the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

3. The Spirit Witnesses to-vs 16

The indwelling Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are no longer death row inmates, but children of God.

4. The Spirit Intercedes for believers-vs 26

The spirit of God within us intercedes for us. When we can’t put into words what we need the Holy Spirit within us brings what we need before God the father almighty. When all we can muster is a sigh, a groan, weep, the same spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead brings our request to God.

Finally the indwelling Holy Spirit brings life. The Holy Spirit enables us to walk into newness of life in Christ in the here and now, and that same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also bring life back into your mortal bodies.

The Spirit of God at work in us makes all the difference, from salvation, sanctification and til our Lord returns in Glory!

The Spirit of God must lead us because our lives depend on it.

Why was making sure I found a spirit filled church so important to my mother? Because the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit makes all the difference. I am thrilled that the same spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in me. That through that same spirit he has rescued this death row inmate.

Brothers and sisters we have a choice to make today personally and collectively as the body of Christ. Are we going to deny ourselves, and allow the same spirit that brought life back from the grave to lead us and his church? The church can no longer follow political ideas, agendas, and figures. The church can no longer follow the pulls of our ever changing culture. Brothers and sisters if we want the revival we pray for to break out we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us personally and collectively as the body of Christ. Why? Because the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the people of God makes all the difference.

THE SAME SPIRIT