Sermon for 6/5/22 "Power for Holy Living" 12 Minutes

Romans 8:14-17

This morning I'll be reading Romans chapter 8 verses 14 through 17. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Romans 8:14-17 Romans was a letter from Paul,,, simply addressed,,, “to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Rom. 1:7); he did not address it to “the church in Rome.” We are able to look at these words and learn from them today. Romans 8:14–17 (HCSB) 14 All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs —heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Last Sunday we looked at John 17:20-26 and “God’s Available Love” that is available to all of us,,, and everyone,,, that needs,,, that love.

And it seems that we have so many that need to know about God’s love and it’s our job as a church to be sure that we are getting that message out to all that need it,,, especially in light of all of the shootings that are continuing today.

If the church was doing the job the way that we should,,, everyone would know the love of God,,, and,,, more importantly,,, would feel that “Love” each and every day.

And spreading that message about “God’s Available Love” would help so much!

It’s hard to be angry when people are helping you to live out your life in a loving way.

It’s hard to be angry when the people you know truly care about you and show it by the love that they have for you!

It’s hard to be angry when you are being helped with anything that is bothering you!

It’s hard to be angry when you know that you are “Loved”!

And no-one,,, “Loves” you more than God!

That’s the message that we as a church need to be telling others about,,, every where that we go,,, and to all that will listen!

Today is Pentecost Sunday,,, and when the Holy Spirit became available,,, it was very important in the lives of the early Christians,,, and so important to our daily life as well.

In these verses that we will look at this morning,,, Paul is giving the Christians in Rome advice about God’s “Power for Holy Living” and the way that it will help them going forward.

Let’s begin,,, as we see how this will help us in our walk with God this week.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 14 says: 14 All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior,,, we have the ability to be led by God’s Spirit as children of God.

This enables us to live a life that is sin free,,, the problem we have,,, though,,, is we don’t pay attention to God’s voice that tries to guide us as we go through our day to day activities.

We tend to shut that voice off after church on Sunday,,, or turn the volume down where we can ignore it until next Sunday,,, and then we turn the volume back up so that we can make an effort to attend church.

But if we would take advantage of it,,, God has given us the power that we need to live a sin free life,,, and be led by His Spirit,,, every day,,, of the year.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 15 says: 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

When we sin,,, we sometimes think,,, I’ve really made a mess of my life and I have nowhere to turn,,, but,,, that is Satan's way of keeping you down.

Paul says that we didn’t receive a spirit of slavery,,, meaning that we aren’t bound by the master of sin,,, we are free,,, Satan doesn’t have it’s hold on us any longer,,, we are able to cry out,,, Abba, Father,,, we have the ability to speak to God and know that He will be there to help us with anything that we need,,, because we have been adopted into the family of God!

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 16 says: 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

Once we become Christians,,, there is a spiritual instinct in us as a newborn believer,,, that we are a child of God.

The Holy Spirit tells us that it is so.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our personal spirit,,, that we are a member of God’s family.

He does it primarily through the word of God.

As we read the Bible,,, the Spirit confirms the truth that,,, because we have trusted the Savior,,, we are now,,, a child of God.

And the more that we read and study,,, the more that we are assured of that fact.

It’s during the times when we allow ourselves to get complacent,,, and we don’t spend time with Gods word like we should,,, that Satan uses this time to his advantage,,, to make us think otherwise!

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 17 says: 17 and if children, also heirs —heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Membership in God’s family brings privileges that can boggle the mind.

All God’s children are heirs of God.

An heir,,, of course,,, eventually inherits his father’s estate.

That is just what is meant here.

All that the Father has,,, is ours.

We haven’t taken possession and enjoyment of all of it,,, but nothing can prevent us from doing so in the future.

And we are joint heirs with Christ.

When Jesus returns to take control of the world,,, and set everything right that has been made wrong,,, we will share with Him in all of God’s wealth.

When Paul adds,,, seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. ,,, he is not making heroic suffering a condition for salvation.

And he’s not describing some elite inner circle of overcomers who have endured great afflictions.

Instead,,, he sees all Christians as being co-sufferers,,, and all Christians as glorified,,, with Christ.

Of course,,, there are some who suffer more than others as they live a Christ-like life,,, and this will result in differing degrees of reward and glory.

But all who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior,,, are seen here as incurring the hostility of the world,,, with all of the worlds shame and reproach.

----------------------------------------------------------- Our road isn’t going to be easier just because we are Christians.

If anything,,, it becomes harder because Satan will do everything that he can to steer us in the wrong direction,,, keep us on the wide road,,, the way of the world,,, and off the narrow path where Jesus has told us to stay.

And it’s so easy to give in when Satan tells us,,, we are terrible Christians,,, we make to many mistakes,,, fall short too many times,,, have sinned in the worst kind of way,,, or sinned too much,,, God can never love us because of all of this,,, and on and on,,, with all of the negative thoughts that plague us day after day,,, and Satan wants us to believe,,, this,,,

But,,, we know,,, that God has prepared for us,,, a way going forward,,, and given us “Power for Holy Living”,,, that Satan can never get around,,, if we will just learn to lean on God going forward,,, instead of trying to lean on our own strength.

We can’t live the life that God has planned for us,,, we can’t stay on the narrow road that Jesus guides us to,,, without the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit along the way.

----------------------------------------------------------- So as Christians,,, we must continue to do the things that strengthen our relationship,,, spending time reading Gods word,,, prayer,,, coming to church,,, Sunday school,,, all of the things that help us along the way.

Because God has made it possible for us,,, if we just use the Holy Spirit,,, His “Power for Holy Living”,,, that He gave us,,, so many years,,, ago!

----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------