Text: Romans 8:1-15

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 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;  but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.   6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;  but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 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.

Wednesday, 19^th June 2024  

THE HOLY SPIRIT TRANSFORMS US

Text: Romans 8:1-15

Memory verse: Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Not one of us can overcome sins and its shortcomings without God's help. And God makes that help available to us through the Holy Spirit. Even if we could by our own will alter our actions, only God can change our hearts. Apostle Paul appealed to members of the church in Rome not to "conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind" this is possible through the power of God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." To be considered God's children, we must be led by the Spirit of God.

Apostle Paul described his new outlook on life in Galatians 2:20 when he said, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me". Buried with Jesus in the watery grave of baptism, Paul now lived a life that was no longer his own. He described his transformed life as allowing Christ to live again within him. This is how we please God, by emulating His Son. He urged us to "imitate him, just as he also imitates Christ". He said, "let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5.

However, we cannot succeed at living a converted life strictly through our own efforts. We succeed by God's power and help rather than through our own efforts. Therefore, the glory and credit are to God. To imitate Christ, we must ask God for help, through His Spirit, so we can bring our thoughts, attitudes, and actions in line with His. We must allow His Spirit to become the guiding force in our lives to produce the qualities of true Christianity. We must ask ourselves whether we are truly led by God's Spirit or resisting Him.

In Romans 8:9 Apostle Paul uncompromisingly states that if you do not have God's Spirit dwelling in you, you are "not His." This is why it is important that we repent and be baptized, so we can surrender our lives to God and receive the gift of His Spirit. In Colossians 1:27 Apostle Paul said that you have "Christ in you" if you are a Christian. It is through the power and influence of God's Spirit that we allow Christ to live in us.

CGDS HYMN 28: SS&S 190:

 COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME

1. Come, Holy Spirit, come;

Let Thy bright beams arise,

Dispel the darkness from our minds,

And open all our eyes.

2. Revive our drooping faith,

Our doubts and fears remove,

And kindle in our breasts the flame

Of never-dying love.

3. Convince us of our sin,

Then lead to Jesus' blood,

And to our wondering view reveal

The secret love of God.

4. ‘Tis Thine to cleanse the heart,

To sanctify the soul,

To pour fresh life in every part,

And new-create the whole.

5. Dwell therefore in our hearts,

Our minds from bondage free ;

Then we shall know, and praise, and love

The Father, Son, and Thee !  

 Prayers 

1.  Holy Spirit, change my life from the inside out in Jesus’ name.

2.  LORD God Almighty, open my eyes to see Your glory and transform me by the Spirit into the same image, from glory to glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.