SCRIPTURE: Romans (NIV) 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
OBSERVATION: One of the great changes in a person’s life when they accept Jesus as Lord is the way they think. Their perception changes and continues to change the more they grow in Christ Jesus..
As believers, the control of our lives is now under the authority and power of the Holy Spirit indwelling our lives. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that is the essence of the new birth. Birth has to do with life, and the life received when we are born again is the Spirit. If we do not have the Spirit, we are not born again. If we are born again, we do have the Spirit of Christ. In John’s letters he emphasizes that we can know. It is impossible to have the Holy Spirit move inside us and we not know it. It is impossible for others not to know it either! It is impossible for there to be a new manager on the inside of one’s life and it does not show in some way on the outside!
APPLICATION: Instead of filling our thoughts with the things pertaining to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—as born-again believers we should train our minds to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. A mind so controlled is concerned about the things of God, considering all things in the light of our knowledge of God. It is a mind full of life and at peace!
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, you now dwell inside my life. Speak to me and show me how I can express my appreciation to the Heavenly Father for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Help me live each day in ways that honor Him. Amen
Pastor Leon
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