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The ‘benefits’ of walking in the Spirit… (3 points) vs. 14-28
When we walk in the Spirit – in the end – we see everything works out for our goods
1st – We are Children of God… vs. 14-17
Born of the Spirit…
John 3:3 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again… born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Everyone was ‘born of the flesh’ – referring to physical birth – the day you were born…
But those who were only born once – are children of satan – Matthew 12:30
Those who are only ‘born of the flesh’ – die twice – physical death & spiritual death…
When we received salvation by faith in Jesus – we were ‘born again’ – born of the Spirit
Where we had been children of satan – we were born again as children of God!
Because we were born twice – the flesh then the Spirit – we only die once (physical)
We get to go to heaven and live forever with the Lord!
You did not receive the spirit of bondage – again – to fear…
Before we knew Jesus – we were in bondage to fear – the fear of death…
We did not want to talk about death – we did not even like to think about death…
Death meant judgment – when we would stand before God accountable for our actions
But you received the Spirit of adoption…
In Roman culture – adoption was a very common practice – 3 consequences…
1st – The adopted child lost all ties to their former family…
We are no longer belong to this world – we have been set free…
The new life we have in Jesus means satan & world no longer have control over us
We no longer have to follow/obey the example of the world – do what they do
2nd – The adopted child became an heir of his new Father…
We have become heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus Christ!
That means God desires to give us EVERYTHING – His KINGDOM – Luke 12:32
To the extent we will even sit on Jesus throne with Him – Revelation 3:21
Often times we are left to wonder if God can/will take care of our needs…
God does not just want to provide for our needs – we are heirs to His Kingdom!
3rd – The adopted child’s past was forgotten…
Whatever mistakes – sins – we committed before – are forgiven / forgotten…
Psalms 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west…”
No matter how far ‘East’ you go you will never meet ‘west’ – completely forgiven!
As far as God is concerned we have no past – all our sins are gone in Jesus!
Philippians 3:13 – “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to… Christ Jesus.”
We like to hold onto our past – our mistakes our failures…
God says the one thing we need to do is forget our past – and press on towards Jesus!
We cry out – Abba father…
Abba – the Aramaic word for ‘father’ – 3 times in the NT – here, Galatians 5:6, and…
Mark 14:36 – “[Jesus] said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You…’”
It is a word of deep personal intimacy – e.g – ‘papa’ / ‘daddy’…
If a stranger wanted to come and talk to you – you might/or might not take the time
If you son wanted to talk to you – no matter what – you would make the time…
Our ‘papa’ in Heaven is always there for us – at any time we can cry out to Him…
He will ALWAYS make the time to be there for us – be there to help us…
The proof of our adoption – the Holy Spirit…
Ephesians 1:13-14 – “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
If you are going to buy a property – but don’t yet have the money – you leave a deposit
It is the guarantee that you will for sure be back to finish what you started…
Jesus bought and paid for us with the cross – I Corinthians 6:20
And He has gave us His Holy Spirit – as a ‘down payment’
It’s His guarantee He will be back for us to finish the work of ‘adopting’ us as His kids!
Until the adoption is complete – and we are in heaven – He ‘seals’ us with His Spirit…
It is the same ‘seal’ God uses to bind satan for 1000 years – Revelation 20:3
Meaning we’re sealed God – safe & sound – till the day we arrive in heaven as God’s kids!
2nd – We have hope in suffering… vs. 18-25
We are heirs with Jesus – ‘if indeed’ – we suffer with Jesus… vs. 17
Being a child of God – means the being an enemy of this world…
John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”
The world hates Jesus because he convicts the world of sin and righteousness
If it weren’t for Jesus men could do whatever they wanted without consequence
John 3:19-20 – “This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
Like a light shining in the darkness – Jesus reveals sin
Because men LOVE sin they hate the light that reveals their sinfulness…
We have Jesus in us – so because they hate Jesus – they also hate the light of Jesus in us!
Therefore do not be surprised when the attacks come…
When people make fun of you – attack you with cutting words – because of Jesus…
Because you want to go to Bible studies – because you don’t want to live in sin
Because you don’t do the things the world does – convicting the world of their sin
Then you know you are a child of God – because the world hated Jesus first!
But nothing that happens here – is comparable to what God has planned for us… vs. 18
It can be tough listening to the comments – the cutting words people say…
As we desire to live and stand for Jesus – and feel the brunt of the world’s hate
But no trial – no comment – nothing here can compare with what’s to come…
II Corinthians 4:17-18 – “Our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”
How many of us have worked hard – ‘suffered’ – only to get paid a small wage…
And the money we did receive did not even last very long – we had to work again…
How much better to ‘suffer’ for a little while – but get an eternal / everlasting reward!
20, 30, even 40 years of trials – are nothing compared to an eternity in Heaven!
I Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
The excitement of what’s to come… vs. 19-23
A fallen world – the whole of creation – waits to be redeemed…
Before the sin of Adam & Eve – the world was perfect – there was no death…
After the sin – death entered the world – the whole of creation fell into decay…
All animals die – trees die – the very world itself began to slowly decay and die
But the world waits for the day it will be redeemed from the curse of sin…
Just as we also wait to be redeemed…
We still live here on earth – we still live in our sinful (flesh) bodies…
Like the creation – we groan – we can’t wait till the day we get to go to heaven…
No more death, no more trials, no more tears, no more suffering…
To be able to see Jesus face to face and spend eternity with Him – VERY exciting!
We eagerly wait for the day of our ‘adoption’ – the day we are ‘redeemed’…
When Jesus completes what He started – making us God’s children!
This is what we hope for… vs. 24-25
We were saved by faith – hoping God would adopt us and bring us to heaven… but…
If we could see what God was going to do – it wouldn’t be faith – it wouldn’t be hope
If someone told you they would give you 100P – you might hope it was true…
If you knew the person was faithful – you might have faith they would give it…
But if you saw the 100P – there would no longer be a need for faith or hope
But since our adoption is not yet complete – since we are in heaven yet…
We have faith and hope that these are the things God is going to do for us…
That hope gives us the confidence to endure any hardships life brings our way!
3rd – We have help in weakness… vs. 26-28
The Holy Spirit is there to help us in tough times… vs. 26-27
When we have those REALY tough days – the Holy Spirit is there to lend a helping hand…
When we are simply overwhelmed – broken – disheartened – by circumstances…
When we do not know what we are supposed to do – which way to go…
When we are weak – overwhelmed by sin – unable to stand for Jesus…
When we have those days when we don’t know what to pray / or even want to pray…
God who knows what is in our heart…
Psalms 103:14 – “God understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust.”
God is not surprised when we make mistakes – struggle to follow Him…
He choose us knowing we were the ‘foolish’ things of the world – I Corinthians 1:26
If you were picking a basketball team – and you choose the slowest guys…
Would you be surprised when they were slow – needed help – needed a good coach
God choose us knowing we needed His help – knowing we were weak against sin…
He gives us His Holy Spirit to stir up in us His desires in us / His will for our life…
John 14:26 – “But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.”
Bottom line – walking in the Spirit – All things work together for good… vs. 28
One of the most important verses in the Bible – ALL THINGS…
God does not say the good things that happen – work for our good…
All things that happen – good or bad – work together for the good of those who love God!
When we struggle with sin – and through that learn we cannot trust ourselves…
When we have nothing – and learn our God is the God who provides all our needs…
When other make fun of us – and we with confidence realize we are God’s kids…
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