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Romans 8:6 - HOLY SPIRIT LIVING!!!Romans 8:6 (NLT) So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.INTRODUCTION Paul divides people into two categories: those who are dominated by their sinful nature and those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit. All of us would be in the first category if Jesus hadn't offered us a way out. Once we have said yes to Jesus, we will want to continue following him because his way brings life and peace. Daily we must consciously choose to center our lives on God. Use the Bible to discover God's guidelines, and then follow them. In every perplexing situation, ask yourself, What does Jesus want me to do? When the Holy Spirit points out what God wants you to do, do it eagerly. [Life Application SB 2019] Have you ever worried about whether you really are a Christian? If you have sincerely trusted Jesus Christ for your salvation and acknowledged him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit lives within you and you are a Christian. You can be assured that you have the Holy Spirit because Jesus promised that he would send him. Since you now believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and that eternal life comes through him alone (1 John 4:9), you will begin to act as Christ directs (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:22-23); you will find help in your daily problems and in your praying (Romans 8:26-27); you will be empowered to serve God and do his will (Acts 1:8; Romans 12:6-21); and you will become part of God's plan to build up his church (Ephesians 4:12-13). [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. The Saviour said, "Except a man be born from above," unless he shall receive a new heart, new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a new life, "he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3, margin. {SC 18} COMMENTARY "In times of peace, prepare for war:" said ancient Roman writer Publius Vegetius Renatus. However cynical, his words reflect a profound reality about a planet that has not had a single year in known history without a war. That is, not a year with peace. But not just for nations. What do we see all around us: men and women at peace with themselves, with each other, and with the world? It doesn't seem that way. And no wonder. Read the text for today: "To be carnally minded is death: The word for "carnally" is from the Greek sarks, "flesh," and out of it comes "sarcophagus." These were the tombs in the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman world. Death, indeed. Our world is consumed by the flesh. And though, unlike the ancient Greeks, who deemed the flesh itself as bad, as evil - that's not the biblical view. God created humans as fleshly bodies, and those fleshly bodies were part of a creation deemed "very good" (Genesis 1:31). It was only since the fall that our flesh has been used for evil, which leads to suffering, guilt, and death. But through faith in Jesus, you have the promise that you don't need to be dominated by the flesh - and then by the guilt, the turmoil, and the pain that inevitably follows. Jesus won the victory over the flesh, and you can have that victory for yourself, as well as the peace that comes from not being "carnally minded." And, also, because of what Jesus did at the cross, you can rest in the peace that arises from not being condemned when, at times, you do fall into sin (1 John 2:1). No wonder it's called "the Good News." Lord Jesus, keep my mind on things of the Spirit, and not on the flesh. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts] ILLUSTRATION AND EXCELLENT VIDEO One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 wolves. "One is Evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." [Excellent 4" Video Of This Parable Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8CHjX8HauA&feature=related.] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Romans 8:6 - HOLY SPIRIT LIVING ! ! ! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20241204-1513.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230331-0855.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230212-0908.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220613-1114.html Ephesians 4:22-24 - Putting on the New Nature. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240620-0855.html Colossians 3:5 - Dying To Our Fallen Nature. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20231005-1023.html Colossians 3:10 - Putting On The New Nature. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250616-1358.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |