Posted: 4/16/2012 9:33:17 PM EDT
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Good stuff from Pastor Colin Smith
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. Romans 8:5 Do you ever wonder why God sends the Holy Spirit to take up residence in every Christian believer? God's rescue means not only that sin's penalty is removed, but also that sin's power is broken. When God rescues you, He sends His Holy Spirit into your heart, giving you the power to live a new life in the Spirit. Paul is not saying that there are two kinds of Christians-some Christians who live according to the flesh and some Christians who live according to the Spirit. He is saying that if you are in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in you, and if the Holy Spirit lives in you, you live according to the Spirit. What does that mean? Life according to the Spirit Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5 When Karen and I were first married, she took a job as a teacher. The school was run down, under-funded, and in a really tough neighborhood in North London. The school had been without a principal for some time. Morale among the staff was low. A few months after Karen began, a new principal was appointed. When she arrived, she called the staff together for a meeting. "This school," she said, "has the reputation of being the worst in the area. I intend to make it the best!" You can imagine the reaction: Some of the staff had been there through years of decline. They didn't like what she was saying, even though they must have known it was true. Karen had just arrived, and inside she was cheering. Here was someone who would make a difference! Over the next few years, the new principal was as good as her word. With extraordinary energy, she set about fund raising-new books appeared, equipment was donated, classrooms were painted, carpet was laid, morale was lifted, and children's grades improved. She swept through that school like a whirlwind. The whole environment was transformed under her leadership. Reflect the glory of Jesus Christ Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. Romans 8:29 That's what God's rescue looks like. The Holy Spirit puts your life under new management. When God, the Holy Spirit, moves into your life, He moves in to take over, and if you have seen your need, that will be your greatest joy. A good principal coming to a bad school has desires, a plan, and a vision for what that school will become, and she throws herself into making it happen. Do you think the Holy Spirit of God would do less? When the Holy Spirit enters your life, He does not sit passively in an office somewhere. He comes to do a massive renovation project. He has desires. He has a plan and He gets to work. His plan for you is that you should reflect the glory of Jesus Christ. And when you are given new life in Christ, you have your mind set on what the Spirit desires. |