Living With Confidence From Romans 8Sample

“I owe so much to him.”

“We couldn’t have done it without her.”

“He’s given us belief that we didn’t have.”

In some sports the role of the coach is given a high degree of importance. For a Christian the work of the Spirit in the heart of the believer is even more essential.

We have already seen in Romans 8 that the one who trusts in Jesus no longer faces any condemnation from God. The work of the Spirit is one of liberation and the Christian has been released from captivity. Jesus’ death has paid it all and the Spirit’s work has enabled it all for every believer.

Now the Spirit’s work in the heart of every Christian is to empower and enable a different way of living.We’re called to go and live in the power that the Spirit gives.

The Spirit changes the believers’ desires

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." (Romans 8:5)

Paul uses the word “mind” to describe the control centre of the whole body.

As a sports person you know how important it is to set your mind towards something.

You gear yourself up at the prospect of a tough training session or your focus is set when in pursuit of a new Personal Best. Setting your mind towards something means that you’re going to pursue it with great intent.

Today, we would probably use the words mind and heart interchangeably. When your mind (and heart) are set on something your behaviour follows. Your actions are guided by your control centre - your mind/heart.

Before we met Jesus our lives are controlled by the flesh, (that’s the sinful state), because our minds and hearts are set on what the flesh desires.

But, for those who have been set free from the captivity of the flesh and have the Spirit, their desires have been changed. Your heart is now set on pleasing God and living for him.

It’s worth stopping to let this sink in. Your desires have been fundamentally changed - they really have!

But, now the Christian has a raging battle going on inside. The heart has been transformed and the desires changed but there’s still a strong pull of the flesh to come back to old ways.

The Spirit enables you to put sin to death

"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)

It is only the Christian who now can fight against sin. Instead of living according to the sinful nature, we are to go to war against it. The language that Paul uses is one of absolute ruthlessness. It’s not passive. It’s not about setting up a flimsy resistance or giving a token effort. Now you have been empowered by the Spirit to slay sin.

Let’s ground this in our sport.What sin continues to easily entangle you?A bad habit, involvement in enticing gossip, a pursuit of a feeling, a recognition, an acceptance?

The Spirit gives you everything you need to put this sin to death and to keep doing so every time it raises its ugly head. Paul says keep slaying sin, don’t be content with it in your life, fight it and you will really know what it is to truly live.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you that through the Spirit you have changed my desires to live for you.

Please help me to put sin to death by the help of your Spirit.

In your name,

Amen