Some Things the Holy Spirit Does in Our Lives
Romans 8:12-18
November 5, 2023
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction
A. Studying through Romans – at the halfway mark in this amazing Book in your Bible!
B. Some of the greatest truths ever written in chapters 1-7…
1. That we are sinful, separated from God by our old nature – a fact you need to know
2. But there is something greater than all our sin… God’s GRACE – unmerited kindness towards sinful people, ungodly people
3. And we, like Abraham, can access God’s GREAT grace, and be perfectly forgiven and declared righteous in the sight of God Almighty!
4. How? Just by believing that what Jesus did when He lived and died and rose again is enough to save a wretch like you and me!
C. And so, here in chapter 8, we discover…
1. There is NO condemnation, or damnation for the believer – can’t lose our salvation!
2. We are Free from the dominance of sin
3. We have all the help we will ever need, to live right, and godly in this present world
4. One day, this messed up, old, sinful body will be made brand new – called the glorious manifestation of the sons of God!
5. We are predestined to be like Jesus Christ – hallelujah!
6. We are more than conquerors! There are no losers in God’s kingdom, unless you want to be!
7. It is all because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!
II. Review
A. Believers are Spiritual People (Romans 8:1) – that is our NATURE Now
1. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. We are NOT just physical and emotional anymore
3. But we are ‘spiritual’
a. Something comes alive in you when you understand your sinfulness, and cry out to God to forgive you and save you from your sin!
b. You realise you are dead in your spirit
c. And when you believe the Gospel, your spirit comes alive, and you become a spiritual being, living a spiritual life (Romans 8:1)
d. A temple, where the Holy Spirit now lives!
B. We Have the Holy Spirit in Us
1. He is a gift to all who get born again
a. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
b. The gift of the third Person of the Trinity, IN you!
c. 1Corinthians 2:14,15 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
d. Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2. His very presence in us has changed us – made us spiritual in nature
3. And He IS changing us day after day – if only you would stop fighting Him!
C. We actually LIVE in a spiritual way, instead of just physically and emotionally
1. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. A Christ-follower follows Christ, not his or her old lusts anymore
a. When the Bible refers to me following after my flesh, it means I am usually choosing to do something that I already want to do.
1) It is something probably I enjoy doing.
2) It is something that I find easy and natural to do.
3) It's pleasant; I get pleasure out of doing what I want.
b. But if I walk in the Spirit, I'm following something that I mentally know is better, even though I physically, and emotionally want to do something else.
1) When I choose to NOT drink, or smoke, or get angry, or be lazy, I am showing integrity, willpower.
2) But a person who has a habitual addiction obviously has no ability to say no.
3) They've lost that ability somewhere along the line.
3. So here is the reason why Christianity is different when it comes to temptation, when it comes to battling temptation, battling the lust of the flesh, battling old nature…
a. Instead of it using willpower, a Christian uses a spiritual power. - the power of the Holy Spirit in them
b. Yielding to the Holy Spirit’s work and will
c. Knowing that the sin you are tempted by is not powerful anymore. The memory of the lust is still powerful, but the sin itself is not powerful.
d. I'll give you an example
1) Someone who had trauma.
2) And in the trauma, it affected their life. It bound them in fear, and sorrow and grief and depression.
3) For years after the event, there are things that trigger that same feeling again and all those memories again.
4) And immediately, the person is back there in the hurt, and is trapped there.
5) They are convinced that that trauma still is active.
6) A counsellor might say, “the person who hurt you is gone.” Or “the trauma is only a memory and you don’t need to fear”, but for the person who was hurt, the memory is still very real.
4. So what does Christianity offer?
a. What Christianity offers is a realization that the very thing that is remembering, not the memory itself, but the “rememberer”, the old you… is dead. (Romans 6:11)
1) When you believed, The old you died with Jesus on the cross
2) The person who hurt you is not dead, and the memory that haunts you is not dead, but YOU (the old you) are dead with Christ.
3) Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
4) Sins BY you, and all the sins AGAINST you in the past are dead and gone too!
b. You've got a new life now, and the new life is different than the person who experienced the trauma.
c. Do you understand?
1) The old you that sinned so wickedly against God and other people, and experienced such sorrows because of other people’s sins… is dead and gone!
2) And the new you that is spiritual, is alive forevermore, and does not sorrow like the world does anymore!
3) At least it doesn’t have to! Because of what the Holy Spirit does in your life
D. So this morning, Let’s clear up some confusion about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer! (John 4:24)
1. Because, if you are still only a blob of flesh and blood, with some mixed-in emotions, then you do not know God, and have never truly worshipped Him!
2. Because the only way to worship the God who made you, is by your spirit (John 4:24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
III. Message
A. We Are In Debt to Obeying the Holy Spirit, NOT to the Old Life (Romans 8:12)
1. Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
2. We usually live like metal to a magnet
a. Doing whatever everyone else is doing – following the spirit of this world
b. Doing what we have always done before
3. But since the Holy Spirit moved in, we are attracted to better things, spiritual things, eternal things, good things!
a. Like prayer – talking to God
b. Like soul-winning – driven to open our mouths and tell someone how to be saved
c. Like the Bible – we LOVE reading and leaning this Book!
d. Like preaching – we love it when someone declares the truth, no holding back!
e. Like serving other people, for free
4. We owe our lusts, our old nature, and our past NOTHING!
a. It all only brought us problems, and led to a grave and hell
5. Seriously, we owe it to God to follow the Holy Spirit’s influence over our lives – why?
a. Because HE Pursued us – when we was not looking for God
b. He Placed us in Jesus Christ when we believed
c. He Puts up with us - Indwells us – sealed inside of us
d. He has Purposed us – or rather RE-purposed us to bring glory and honour and attention to God by our lives! (1Cor 6:19,20). Every believer is now a PLACE of worship, instead of wicked darkness and sin!
6. So, the Apostle Paul repeats over and over that we need to live our new life following the Holy Spirit, instead of the flesh
B. We Are Victors BY the Spirit (Romans 8:13)
1. Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
2. As a Christian, you CAN overcome everything that used to bring death
3. You have GOT to believe this Christian
4. We have a power in us that is absolutely infinite (Ephesians 1:19,20)
a. Ephesians 1:19,20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places
b. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that enabled Him to walk on water
c. That enabled Him to endure beatings and whippings and slander and mockery when He was crucified
d. That rose Jesus up out of the grave
e. And it was the same power that resurrected your dead spirit inside you!
f. Giving you not just life, but life more abundant than you have ever imagined
5. The truth is, You now have the freedom to Mortify every temptation and sin that used to run your life
a. To actually enjoy defeating what used to defeat you!
b. Not by punishing yourself like old style catholicism – Martin Luther
c. Not by your human will power, or mind power
d. By THROUGH the Spirit – by the power of the Holy Spirit
e. Putting away any sinful behaviour, bad habits
f. By prayer, fasting, and by FAITH (believing you are free) and rising up and walking!!!
g. Not that they all melt away, but they do not control your lives
h. They WILL tempt you but will NOT control you anymore
6. You are ABLE to mortify the deeds of the flesh
a. You did it the day you asked Jesus Christ to wash away your sin
1) Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
b. And you can do it every time a bad habit, bad attitude, or some sinful lust pulls at you to get you to do what you know is wrong…
1) Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
2) Colossians 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
3) Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
4) Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
5) Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
6) Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
7. THAT is what a believer is – a Victor! A Conqueror!
a. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
b. 1John 5:4,5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
C. We Are Led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14)
1. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
2. That means: Being influenced, drawn (pulled), convicted (made to feel guilty), restrained, taught, encouraged, transformed, and even carried by Someone in you called the Holy Spirit of God!
3. Can you even TELL when the Holy Spirit is pulling on you? Tugging on your heart? Causing you to question your actions, your unkind words, your wandering eyes?
4. And are you prone to fight Him when he does, Instead always giving in to your own wants and feelings?
5. The priceless gift of the voice of the Holy Spirit, is so easily missed
a. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit (1Kings 19)
1) 1Kings 19:9 And he [ELIJAH] came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
2) 1Kings 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
3) 1Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
4) 1Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
b. So, the Holy Spirit does not use big, loud, demands and disasters…
1) But is a Still voice… not always moving around, figitting, but completely at rest
2) A Small voice… a very quiet voice
3) God’s Voice – not your own, or the world’s voice
4) You will know His voice when you listen to the words on every page of this Book!
5) THAT is how the Holy Spirit speaks to us!
6. But you have GOT to get rid of so much “noise” in your life
7. Or else you will never sense His voice, His leading, His wisdom
a. You have to BE quiet to hear Him, and know it is His voice
b. A quiet time – 30 minutes, every morning, reading through this Bible
c. While driving, walking – don’t be a zombie attached to your phone!!!
d. Ponder the words of the Bible
e. Pray for each other
f. Plead with God for His power in your life, and in your children’s life
g. Praise God, constantly
D. We Are Sons of God by the Spirit (Romans 8:14,15)
1. Romans 8:14,15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
2. By adoption – it means we are wanted by God
a. Made a child of God LEGALLY, not naturally
b. A spiritual birth (John 3) – a new life on the inside
c. John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
3. Not in bondage to fear of not being good enough
4. A closeness to God like an innocent child – Not just “God”, but Abba, Daddy, Father!
a. The Holy Spirit inside the believer cries out Oh Father, oh Abba
b. Just like Jesus did in Mark 14:33-36 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
E. We Are Assured by the Spirit (Romans 8:16)
1. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2. Our best efforts, good works, cannot assure us, and often condemn us
3. But God’s Spirit assures us of our standing with God
a. No longer as sinner
b. But a son
4. The Holy Spirit in us “bears witness” [AGREES] with our spirit… they both are in harmony
5. That we are born of God now – by the Holy Spirit! NOT OUR GOOD WORKS!
6. The Holy Spirit reassures us, reminds us that we are okay with God now!
7. If you constantly doubt your relationship with God and constantly wonder if you really ARE saved…
a. It is either because your own heart is condemning you, and you haven’t given up on yourself and your goodness, and just cried out to Christ to save you
b. Or, it is because you are spending too much time being confused by youtubes and a zillion spiritual advisors instead of just beliving the words of plain Scripture
F. Lastly, We Are Heirs of God by the Spirit (Romans 8:17,18)
1. Romans 8:17,18 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2. Think about this!
3. What does Jesus inherit as the Son of God? Everything that God the Father has
4. What does a Christian inherit?
a. Everything Jesus has
b. We are joint-heirs with Jesus, since we are in the family now
c. That includes:
1) Treasures in heaven
2) Crowns
3) Kingdom ruling in the future kingdom of Christ
5. But… our inheritance is conditioned on suffering for Jesus’ sake
6. Oh that is an entire message for us to explore sometime
7. But know this…
a. If you are ashamed of Christ, and refuse to suffer as a Christian, Jesus will be ashamed of you
b. If however, you gladly face persecutions, and hardships, and sorrows simply because you are following jesus Christ instead of the world…
c. Jesus WILL make up to you every tear and loss and trouble
d. Paul says in 8:18, whatever sufferings we may have to go through in this life believing the Bible, and living clean and godly lives, the trouble is not even worthy of being compared to the GLORY that God will put in us at the Judgment Seat of Christ one day!
IV.Conclusion
A. What Have we Learned? That if you are a Christ-follower…
1. Our Nature is Spiritual now. What we do is driven by the Spirit of God, and not by the world anymore
2. We owe it to follow the Holy Spirit, NOT the Old Life. We owe sinful lusts nothing
3. We Are Victors BY the Spirit. Yes will still sin, but we don’t live as sinners, but instead as sons
4. We Are Led by the Spirit – the greatest “life-coach” ever, is leading us!
5. We Are Sons of God by the Spirit. Brought into the family of God by Jesus!
6. We Are Assured by the Spirit. By His presence, and prods, and pulls, and
7. We Can Have an Inheritance in heaven because of the Spirit
B. I think all those things are a pretty good deal for the beliver, don’t you agree?
C. No one earns any amount of forgiveness with God – it is offered by GRACE to you, and is received by FAITH only
1. Have you actually talked to God and asked for such a gift as the Holy Spirit
2. You do know, this could be your only chance?
D. If you believe, then live like it!