The Indwelling Spirit

Scripture Text

 Romans 8:9-14

Intro: The apostle Paul makes a statement in Romans 8:8 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” In today's scripture we pick up with a very clear statement in Romans 8:9 of how we can tell if we are in the flesh or in the Spirit of God.

I. The Spirit dwells within the believer. Romans 8:9 (NKJV) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 
Ask God, does Your Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ live in me? If the Spirit does not confirm yes to your question, you need to get saved today!

  a.The Spirit of Christ removes a person from being "in" the flesh. The Holy Spirit is the One who takes us out of the flesh and baptizes us into the body of Christ. The "Spirit of Christ" is said to indwell the believer the same as the "Spirit of God." Both are said to be equally within the believer. Galatians 4:6 (NKJV) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

By the Spirit's presence within the believer, he is no longer positioned "in" the flesh: not in God's eyes. The believer no longer lives his life controlled by his sinful nature. He is no longer comfortable with the things of the flesh. The old fleshly man is dead because he was crucified with Christ at the time of salvation and made a new creation in Christ. [2Cor. 5:10]

Since the Holy Spirit positions a Christian "in" Christ, to not have the Spirit of Christ within means to not be a Christian.

II. The Spirit gives life to the spirit of the believer. Romans 8:10-11 (NKJV) ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 

  a. We have received Christ, He lives in us and has given us eternal life at the moment of salvation. Our fleshly bodies however are still infected by sin brought into the world by Adam's disobedience and will eventually die because (1 Cor. 15:50)“Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit in-corruption” Sin has been defeated by Christ, and even though our bodies will die, Yet in these bodies we are alive spiritually because of Christ's righteousness and can live by the Spirit’s guidance.

b. The Spirit will make alive our mortal bodies. (Romans 8:11b above) In addition to eternal spiritual life, we are also promised the physical resurrection of our bodies into eternal life. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our corruptible dying bodies.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV) ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

III. We Believers are debtors to the Spirit. Romans 8:12 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. Because of all that Christ has done and is going to do for us, we are debtors to the Holy Spirit of God, who brought us eternal life. We are under no obligation whatsoever to do what the sinful nature urges us to do. We are to refuse the thoughts and desires of our crucified sinful nature, and say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. The old way of life brings nothing good, only misery, death, and destruction. Remember we have been saved from sin's control over us. In verse 6 of this chapter it says to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace. SO,

IV. Believers determine their own fate: Death or life. Romans 8:13 (NKJV) 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. Our sinful nature shows itself through the way we think, act, and live. Therefore, we must turn from following the sinful nature and its evil deeds, the practices and habitual responses of the sinful nature that leads to death. This is an action to be done, a moral decision to be made. Every day we are to turn away from the desires that draw us away from God. 2 John 1:8 (NKJV) Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. The Jews considered themselves to be children of God because of their heritage; but Paul explains that the True children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God as evidenced in their lifestyle. In Eph.4:30 we are told to “Not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” May each of us God's children invite the Holy Spirit to lead us in our daily lives .

Invitation: As we close, I would like to ask each of you, Does the Holy Spirit of God and Christ live in you? Have you confessed your sins to Christ and asked Him to forgive you and come into your life by His Spirit and save you? If not, now is the time! If you have been born again by the Spirit of God, are you being led by Him each day? Does He make your decisions for you or does someone else? Surrender to the Spirit of God who lives in you and live the abundant, blessed life! 

Endued With Power

Intro: All Christians have been endued with power from on high for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and His salvation throughout the earth.

I. Jesus instructs His disciples. Luke 24:45-49 (NKJV) ⁴⁵ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And you are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (anointed) with power from on high."

 Jesus instructs His disciples to take His message of salvation to all nations. Jesus promised The Holy Spirit and power would be sent to help them. As the disciples went forth witnessing, they would be given the wonderful promise of the Holy Spirit and power of the Father. The disciples would to be equipped for witnessing. They were to receive the promise of the Father which was the Holy Spirit. They were to receive the Spirit and be filled with His power. The source of the spirit and power was God. Christ was to send the promise. The promise was "of the Father." God gave the promise. Believers had to tarry, that is, wait upon the Lord and pray for the promise. The Spirit could not come till Jesus was resurrected. The promise of the Holy Spirit was to come from "on high." God Himself is the Source of the Holy Spirit and power for all evangelism. Jesus' command is for us today. Our responsibility is to reach as many for Christ as we can.

II. The last recorded statement of Christ on earth. Acts 1:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

This last statement of Jesus was final, authoritative, and of utmost importance. The dates of the restoration of the Kingdom were not the disciples’ business Jesus said. These are set by the Father. What should concern and consume the disciples, however, was the loaded statement that follows. They were to receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The Holy Spirit is a major theme in Luke and Acts and is the major point of continuity between the life of Jesus and the ministry of the church.

Who is the Holy Spirit? God is three persons in one—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God became a man in Jesus so that Jesus could die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to offer salvation to all people through spiritual renewal and rebirth. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his physical presence left the earth, but he promised to send the Holy Spirit so that his spiritual presence would be in mankind as He promised in Luke 24:49) above. The Holy Spirit first became available to all believers at Pentecost (Acts 2). Whereas in Old Testament days the Holy Spirit empowered specific individuals for specific purposes, now all believers have the power of the Holy Spirit available to them because He comes into our lives at the moment of salvation.

When the Spirit comes Jesus said, you will receive power. Receive power to do what? To tell people about him. They were to start right there in Jerusalem (1:4). Judea was the region surrounding Jerusalem. Samaria was Judea’s hostile next-door neighbor, a more difficult but equally important place to take the gospel. The ends of the earth may have referred to the Roman Empire, the world power at that time. The direction was of primary importance: Beginning from where you are at this moment, take the message of Christ outward, like ripples caused by a pebble thrown into a pond, not stopping at just your city or state but moving on beyond regional influence to the very “ends” of the earth. In other words, reach it all!

The disciples took Jesus at his word and went about their task exactly as he directed: they began in Jerusalem, spread to Judea and Samaria, then filtered out across the known world at that time. We are to follow that same pattern and this “Reach Texas” mission offering was created to help us do just that.

Conclusion: Turning people to Christ and His salvation is the only way to save our state, our nation and be obedient to Christ's command to share the gospel with those who are lost. may we obedient to Christ's command!

Invitation: What is your relationship to Christ? Is He you personal Savior and Lord? If not now is the time to confess your sins to Him and ask Jesus to forgive you and save you for Heaven when this life is over. Invite Him into your life to take charge of you and your affairs. Then publicly confess Him by being baptized! You will be so thankful that you did. You will never regret it and you will have a home in Heaven!