Our Guide, His Glory
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· 5 viewsBeing led by the Spirit is putting sin to death and receiving our inheretiance from our adopted, heavenly Father
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
12 So then, brothers, 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 all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 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!” 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 fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Last week, we recognized the tension that lies in recognizing sin, living in a sinful world, and the need to keep our eyes on truth as we press on.
When we press on, we can’t walk and run aimlessly. There is a destination and a purpose identified in getting there...
So how do we live in this sinful world and continue to press on, knowing we are sinful and in need of a savior?
We are led by the Spirit.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
In order to be led by the Spirit, we must do three things...
1. We must recognize that we are not obligated to the flesh.
1. We must recognize that we are not obligated to the flesh.
We owe nothing to the sin that causes us trouble or results in our destruction.
All of this sin is a heart issue- not a physical issue.
This stuff reminds me of toxic relationships...
Some of us treat sin like we treat toxic relationships...
“I swear I’m over him..”
“Hold up, he called me let me answer.”
“We don’t even talk really… I am done with him!”
We treat sin like the relationships we have on snap chat… *Streak Game
Let’s deal with a heart issue tonight...
18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Sin expresses itself through the means of our physical body.
It is like a virus.
*Ugandan flu and parasite.
If this sin causes our death, then it must be terminated!
Now we have identified with Christ in His burial, death, and resurrection.
We have discussed our victory over sin.
But when led by the Spirit, we must play an active part of putting our sins to death!
So how is this accomplished? If we are no longer obligated, how do we free ourselves from this toxic relationship?
2. We must practice ongoing repentance.
2. We must practice ongoing repentance.
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.
There is a clear difference between putting sin to death and never sinning again.
On this side of heaven, we will always confront sin. Sin has been conquered for the sake of our eternal life so that we might not die, but live!
But when it comes to the ordinary every day life, we must fight to put our sins to death..
This is not necessarily what we reject and flee, but what we must pursue in return!
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Repentance doesn’t stop at the seeking of forgiveness, but at the turning and running from your sin!
It is easy to seek forgiveness when suffering the consequence of this sin, but the genuineness of our forgiveness is found in our response- do we flee from sin? Do we do whatever it takes to rid ourselves of that sin?
When we do this, we are then walking in the Spirit and being led by the Spirit...
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
And when we are being led by the Spirit, we are called sons and daughters of God!
3. We must accept our responsibility as a child of God.
3. We must accept our responsibility as a child of God.
Do people know this about you?
Are you seen as and obvious child of God?
*Chip seat at the table.
Responsible to love Caroline well, to serve Caroline well, and to offer Caroline my devotion.
When we are accepting this responsibility, we are taking into our own hands the initiative to pursue holiness, not to be an accomplished person of good standing and morals, but to rest in the life-giving purpose of the gospel!
We pursue the things of God because it brings life, we flee the things of sin because it ends in death!
So when we follow the lead of the Spirit… we have to ask the obvious question...
Where does the Spirit lead us?
15 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!”
When we dwell in the adoption as children of God, we get to partake in the inheritance of many things, mainly His character!
This process of becoming like Christ, a lifestyle that leads to life, is called sanctification.
When you are being sanctified, the Spirit will lead you...
Where will the Spirit Lead Us?
Where will the Spirit Lead Us?
He will lead us to repentance.
He will lead us to repentance.
He will lead us to think little of ourself and much of Jesus.
He will lead us to think little of ourself and much of Jesus.
He will lead us into truth.
He will lead us into truth.
He will lead us into love.
He will lead us into love.
He will lead us into holiness.
He will lead us into holiness.
He will lead us into usefulness.
He will lead us into usefulness.
We accept our responsibilities as children of God to love, to care for, to serve, to live truth, to seek repentance, and to ultimately be used for the expansion of the gospel!
This is not a spectacular series of instances involving divine guidance… It is simply centered around obedience.
God chose you as His son/daughter to give you life, and to give you a purpose...
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
We can know that we know because we know.
We can know that we know because we know.
There is an instinctive when we have been born again. There is no doubt!
The evidence of the presence of the Spirit is actually when we cry the cry of verse 15, “Abba, Father!”
If this is not a regular cry, then consider whether or not you have ever felt the presence of the Spirit-
Where is the assurance in whether or not we know we are filled with the Spirit and born again believers?
When we are changed by the hearing and the conviction of God’s word...
And when we are changed, when we become a part of God’s family, when we are a spirit led person… then we are...
17 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.
All the Father has is ours.
Victory over your sin.
Eternal life.
Life-giving purpose.
Satisfying identity.
We inherit it all… And we have yet to even experience and enjoy all of it… but we will!
Nothing can prevent that!
Now what does the verse mean by “provided we suffer?”
This doesn’t mean the struggle determines our experience.. But what it does mean is this...
God recognizes your struggle.
This is our sin. We must not fall into the the lie that God is tied to our sin.
He is perfect and holy.
Our sin is what brings our struggle.
But God meets us in our struggle… He saves us in our struggle… He provides the Spirit- our helper in the struggle.
Closing/Invitation
Closing/Invitation
Bring it in, and pray.