Part 4 – What does the Spirit do for the Christian? The Spirit leads us The New Creation Part 4 – What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He enables us to be like Christ When Jesus walked in the flesh, He consisted of body, soul, and spirit, just as we do His body hung on the cross, His soul descended to Hades, and His Spirit He commended to the Father Who is the Spirit of Jesus? (Acts 16:6,7) The Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Christ What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He enables us to be like Christ The Spirit who has come to live in our bodies has lived in flesh once before In Jesus’ body He proved what He can do “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7) The Spirit of power that resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem and that zealously cleansed the temple now lives in us What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He enables us to be like Christ The same Spirit of love who said, “Father, forgive them” now lives in us The same Spirit of discipline who never let His flesh control His actions now lives in us Is He any less capable in our bodies than He was in His? What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He enables us to be like Christ “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ ” (Romans 8:15) Fear no longer has any grip on us As God’s sons, we are free to press on to perfection What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He helps us crucify the flesh “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Galatians 5:17) It is clear that we have a war going on within us The opposing armies are the forces of the flesh against the forces of the Spirit What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He helps us crucify the flesh If the flesh wins, we will experience eternal death; if the spirit wins, we will experience eternal life (Romans 8:5-8) In such a war, it is important that we have little tests by which we can gauge the present state of the battle “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are…” (Galatians 5:19-21) What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He helps us crucify the flesh “those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21) If the deeds of the flesh are our practice, then the flesh is winning the war Only strong measures of repentance from a sincere heart will turn the tide What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He helps us crucify the flesh In contrast to the deeds of the flesh, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22,23) Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control All of these attributes are commanded by our Lord Those who live by the Spirit will walk by the Spirit What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He helps us crucify the flesh It is important to understand the word picture used by the Holy Spirit – fruit An apple tree blossoms in the spring; it doesn’t bear fruit until the fall After a person is born again, it takes some time for the Christian to bear the fruit of the Spirit The “perfect law, the law of liberty” helps us be patient with ourselves What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? He helps us crucify the flesh “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24) By helping us bear good fruit, the Spirit helps us to crucify the flesh with its passions What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? The Spirit leads us “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14) 1) The primary way in which the Spirit leads us is through the Bible. “… the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63) “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35) “All Scripture is inspired by God…” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) The Spirit leads us What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? The Spirit lead us 2)The second way in which the Spirit leads us is through our consciences “keep a good conscience” (2 Timothy 1:19) We are not to wound the conscience of a brother (1 Corinthians 8:12) Some have “seared their consciences” (1 Timothy 4:2) The conscience is not a totally reliable guide – see 1 Corinthians 4:4 What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? The Spirit leads us 3) The Spirit leads us through events over which we have no control Paul was prevented by the Spirit from preaching in Asia or Bythinia – see Acts 16:6-8 God places each of us in the body just as He desires – 1 Corinthians 12:18 The Christian shouldn’t rely too heavily upon 2) and 3) listed above God expects us to be diligent in studying His word and relying upon that Spiritual guidance What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

What does the Spirit do for the Christian? The Spirit intercedes for us “And in the same way the Spirit helps our weakness… He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27) Example of Mr. Wilson’s icy road experience “I pray, Father, I pray!” The officer said “it was a miracle you didn’t roll” What does the Spirit do for the Christian?

Part 5 – Exhortations from the Spirit The New Creation Part 5 – Exhortations from the Spirit