INside | Romans 8:9–11

We will either be INDWELT by the spirit or ENSLAVED by the flesh.

The Spirit of God INDWELLS us (v. 9)

The first thing that Paul notes is the “if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you…you are not in the flesh...”

Notice what he says, if the Spirit of God dwells in you.

To Dwell comes from the Greek Word Oikeo - It means to make one's abode. That's not just a come and visit, but to dwell, a making one's home with, a setting up of permanent residence. It’s not something that happens and goes away, but it is the continual reality of those who are in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Notice the promise of God concerning the new covenant:

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Just as God dwelled in the tabernacle and later in the temple, God and his presence dwells in the hearts of his people.

The Spirit’s dwelling is: Personal

The Holy Spirit dwells in you. It’s a personal relationship. While the spirit does dwell in other believers, it’s not like the force, a power we can all tap into. The Holy Spirit is a person who dwells in us. The Holy Spirit has personality, he has purpose, and he is relational.

The Spirit’s dwelling is: Permanent

The Holy Spirit doesn’t come for a visit, but to dwell. He has set up his permanent residence in the hearts of his people.

The Spirit’s dwelling is: Partnership

The Holy Spirit is in community with us, but also brings us into community with the God-head, the Father and the Son.

As Daniel Hyde notes:

“Paul calls Him “the Spirit,” “the Spirit of God,” and “the Spirit of Christ.” His dwelling within us assures us because He brings us into communion and fellowship—community—with each member of the Holy Trinity. As Paul says at the conclusion of verse 9, the dwelling of the Spirit in us means, ultimately, that we belong to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father.”

The Spirit of God EMPOWERS us (v. 10-11)

Second, the of God invigorates or empowers us. Look at the words of v. 10

Romans 8:10 ESV

But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Genesis 1 gives us the glorious picture of God’s creative work.

Genesis 1:2 ESV

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Job 33:4 ESV

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Another work of the Spirit is the Spirit gives us life. We were dead in our trespasses and sins according

Colossians 2:13 ESV

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

The work of the Spirit is to give us life.

In Ezekiel 37, God brings Ezekiel and stands him before a battlefield of dry bones. And he asks him,

Ezekiel 37:3 ESV

And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”

Then listen to what God says:

Ezekiel 37:5–6 ESV

Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

The word for breath is Ruach. The word means breath, but it is also the word used to describe the Holy Spirit. In Hebrew, the Holy Spirit is (Hebrew: רוח הקודש, ruach ha-kodesh).

The Spirit of God, the ruach of God was breathed into Adam, and breathed into these dry bones. And it is this same spirit, as Paul describes it in verse 11 who gives life to our mortal bodies.

If we are in Christ, we have the spirit that breathes life inside of us, invigorating us. The word invigorate means to make strong. It is the Spirit of God who takes the dry bones of our lives and gives us life.

We as Christians should be Spirit filled and powerful!

We are Filled with the power to Live The Christian Life

Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t make the Christian life better, God makes the Christian life possible.

This means that our walking in him is empowered by the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:25 ESV

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Our Prayers are empowered by the Holy Spirit

Acts 4:31 ESV

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Our Witness is empowered by the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Christian, we must walk by the Spirit, this is God’s call on our lives. So...

How Do We Walk by the Spirit:

John Piper gives 5 Steps for walking by the Spirit

Realize

We must acknowledge our need for the Spirit.

Romans 7:18 ESV

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Pray

In acknowledging our need, we must request his leading.

Hebrews 13:21 ESV

equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

If it is God alone who works in us what is pleasing in his sight, then above all, we must pray. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Trust

We must have faith that the Spirit will lead us, that he will make us holy. I think we’ve allowed the enemy to convince us we can’t be used by the Spirit.

1 John 4:4 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

We can be led by the Spirit because our loving God calls us to be led by the Spirit.

Act

We must act. We can’t wait

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Thank

Finally we must thank God for his enabling. God works in us. We respond with praise.