What It Means To Be A Child Of God - [Romans 8:14]

Bethlehem Bible Church iconBethlehem Bible Church

0 views

0 comments

00:00
Message this morning. I just need to make an announcement from last week's message if you were here after them after the message as I was standing out in the lobby someone came to me one of the young folks and And I really do appreciate this they said brother
00:15
Dave good message And I got a lot a lot out of that but I just want to let you know there was just just a little thing that was off in the message and I was
00:24
I was reminded that if you remember the message. I said that the Lord Jesus Spoke to the
00:31
Roman soldiers and said that they ought to be content with their wages, and it wasn't the Lord Jesus It was
00:36
John the Baptist that made that statement I thought I would clarify that it's a good thing to do and if you ever hear anything that isn't correct
00:44
It's a good thing to come to somebody and it could have just been like in that case I didn't go back and look at it
00:50
I should have gone to the to the reference and look it up But I just wanted to clarify that For any of you now you can pull out your notes from last week those of you that have it and you can make that That adjustment in your notes there secondly
01:02
I just want to let you know that the many of the seed thoughts for the message that I am going to preach this morning
01:09
Come from something that I had read that Dr.. Martin Lloyd -jones had preached many years ago, and I had read many years ago
01:17
And some of the thoughts for this morning's message are going to going to come from that and then thirdly before we are take and open our
01:25
Bibles I Was thinking before this message was preached it would sure be nice to be able to sing blessed assurance 345 and I said, but I think if I'm not mistaken.
01:39
I think I requested that last week so we really can't sing it again, or it seems to me like it was just sung recently and Sure enough there.
01:47
It was in the bulletin, and I was Tremendously blessed just the confirmation from that if you would open your
01:54
Bibles Please to Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8
02:12
I'll begin reading if you would follow along with me in verse 1 Romans chapter 8 and in verse 1
02:22
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Who walked not after the flesh, but after the spirit?
02:31
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death but what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh
02:41
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh
02:47
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit
02:54
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh But they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit for to be carnally minded is death
03:03
But to be spiritually minded is life and peace Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be
03:14
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God But you're not in the flesh
03:19
But in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the
03:24
Spirit of Christ He is none of his and if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin
03:29
But the Spirit is life because of righteousness But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you
03:36
He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you
03:43
Therefore brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if you live after the flesh you shall die
03:50
But if you through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body you shall live For as many as are led by the
03:57
Spirit of God. They are the sons of God We have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear
04:03
But you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry of a father the spirit itself
04:09
Beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and if children that heirs heirs of God and join heirs with Christ If so be that we suffer with him that we may also
04:20
That we may be also glorified together This morning's message will be coming from particularly verse 14 where the
04:29
Word of God says For as many as are led or being led by the Spirit of God.
04:34
They are the sons of God Let's go to the Lord our
04:40
Father in heaven. We now come to the portion of the worship service where We have already sung and praise and adoration to our great
04:51
God and Savior and we thank you for the privilege of being able to sing unto the Lord we've already given that which you've given to us and in the hopes that that which was
05:01
Which was freely given could be used for the furtherance of the gospel and for the maintenance of the church
05:07
Lord we've been able to fellowship and shake one another's hands and and just be so grateful to be here worshipping together
05:15
And now we come to your word and we pray Oh Lord God that you may give us ears to hear
05:22
And hearts to receive this word gladly so that when we leave this place We would desire the purpose with all of our hearts to do that which you've taught us
05:32
So, please keep this Lord and may the will of the Lord be done in our lives and may Jesus Christ be glorified
05:39
We ask it in his precious name Verse 14 is the text and before I get there
05:49
Romans chapter 8 was written by the Apostle Paul And one of the purposes that I see that he has written this chapter is to afford or to grant or to give assurance to believers
06:03
There are many things that he does in the chapter and many truths that he addresses to To help give assurance to believers and I'll just give you some
06:13
In passing for those of you that are taking notes, you can look at this afterwards in verse 1 He says there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ So there's no condemnation to the to those that are found in Christ in verses 9 and 10
06:27
He says that the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of God dwells in us in verse 11
06:32
He speaks of our resurrection in verse 15. He speaks about the fact that we've been spiritually adopted into God's family
06:41
These things bring assurance to us and a help and a comfort to us in in verse 17
06:48
He says that we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ in verse 18
06:53
He speaks of the hope of eternal glory in verse 26 He speaks of the intercession of the
07:00
Holy Spirit on our behalf 28 to 30 that great passage with we have that unbreakable chain
07:07
The links in that chain cannot be broken concerning God's Purposes towards his people can never be thwarted in verse 31
07:16
God is for us who can be against us in verse 32 God's promise to come through for us in all things taking care of us and then that great
07:26
Section at the end of this chapter where the Word of God assures us that nothing
07:31
Can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Many many truths in this in this chapter over 19 times in this chapter
07:41
The Holy Spirit is mentioned in the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives and particularly this morning
07:47
We're going to look at verse 14 Because what I want to zero in on this morning for as far as for comfort and for assurance is
07:54
Considering the fact of who we are Who we are and in that verse the the
07:59
Word of God says for as many as are led by the Spirit of God They are the sons of God sons of God think about that Is it possible for someone to become a child of God?
08:12
Well, of course it is the Word of God speaks to this to this subject looking at it from a negative perspective
08:18
Not all are the sons of God. How do we know this? Well the verse contains a conditional statement
08:26
It says for as many as are led or many as are being led by the
08:31
Spirit of God they Are the sons of God they and only they it implies that some folks are not the sons of God But they and no one else what does this tell us?
08:44
Well as I said already not everyone is a son of God by sons Paul means children of God children of the
08:52
Father Children in the family those who have a personal relationship with God and are now his children
08:59
Not all are saved Some people are saved and many are not saved this division of Being saved and not saved runs throughout all of God's Word But here we see that there are those in the category of being sons of God Now on the other hand the
09:20
Lord Jesus speaks to people who were religious if you remember in John chapter 8 and in verse 44 he said of those religious leaders that you are of your father the devil
09:33
They're not in this group. They're a different group You also remember that in Jesus's high priestly prayer of John chapter 17
09:41
He was praying for his people and not for the world
09:47
There is this distinction. There is this separation of peoples Christ also warned in Matthew chapter 25 at the end of that chapter that there would be a final separation in judgment of all mankind and His people or his sheep
10:05
The believers would be put on his right hand and they would be allowed to enter into the reward of eternal life in heaven
10:13
While the unbelievers or pictured not as the sheep But as the goats would be at his left hand and be sent away into eternal damnation or what
10:22
Jesus called everlasting punishment Now this truth about those being saved and those not being saved completely
10:32
Smashes the idea to pieces that everyone will be saved just recently
10:37
I was speaking to somebody and they held to that truth They believe that no matter what everyone is going to be saved
10:45
Well, there is no such thing as universal salvation in Scripture Some churches teach this but it is completely false and is not supported in the
10:54
Bible though God is the creator of all men and though he is benevolent to all in that he he causes the
11:05
Sun to rise and The rain to fall on the just or on the the good or on the evil or the unjust
11:14
Yet the teaching of a universal redemptive fatherhood of God and The universal redemptive brotherhood of man is not supporting supported in the teachings of the counsel of the
11:29
Word of God So here is the real picture This morning as you sit in your seat and as you listen to my voice
11:37
You are either saved this morning or you are lost You are either alive in God or you are dead to God You are either in the spirit or you are in the flesh
11:51
You are either redeemed or not redeemed Either you are either walking in the light of God's Holy Word or you are walking in darkness
12:02
You and In walking in darkness not knowing where you are stumbling as the proverb says consider this you are either in Christ or As much as I can say this with fervency for my heart.
12:17
You are either in Christ or you are in trouble Because the wrath of God abides upon you
12:26
You have either received Christ as Lord and Savior or you have refused his mercies and rejected the only
12:33
Savior of sinners Jesus Christ the Lord Now the purpose of Paul's teaching as I said here in Romans 8 is to give assurance to the believer
12:44
He is laboring to show how can a person know they are a son or a daughter of God a child of God If you could know that if you could know that you were a child of God Then that would afford assurance that would give assurance
13:02
So he uses the word they they are the sons of God if we can find out who the they are and what it is characteristics about the about this they in this verse
13:12
And that's what I'm hoping through the probing of the message that we can do then we can know who the sons of God are
13:18
What does he say about them? Well here it is in the verse It says that they are the ones that are led by the
13:26
Spirit of God or being led By the Spirit of God and I want us to examine that in our lives here this morning
13:33
Do we fit into the definition? scripturally biblically in this verse of Being numbered among those who are being led by the
13:44
Spirit of God only those who are led by the Spirit Guided by the Spirit. These are the ones who are the sons of God Let's first consider before we get there about this terminology of the sons of God What does this term sonship imply?
14:01
Well first I would like to submit to you that it implies similarity It implies a likeness between father and son
14:10
This is true in the physical sense, isn't it? I mean you look in families and sometimes if you put if you put fathers and sons if you go to a men's breakfast where there's fathers and sons
14:20
Sometimes when the fathers and sons are separated you can put them together because there's similar features.
14:27
They're similar in appearance sometimes they're similar in the way that they speak or talk
14:33
I've had folks call our house and Caleb will answer the phone and they'll think that it's me because Because we sound the same there's a similarity there
14:44
Mannerisms can be the same and when God saves us and he adopts us into his family as it says in verse 15 of this
14:52
Chapter dealing with the spiritual Adoption we become the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
14:58
That's how we become the children of God Galatians 3 26 says for you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and Upon that faith becoming the child a child of God now some people some people teach that just because We are physically born
15:19
We are we are all the children of God. Have you heard that someone says that? Everybody is
15:25
God's children or or one of God's children. I'm sure you've heard that But when it comes to the to the
15:31
Bible really We don't become one of God's children not because of physical birth, but until we are born again upon this granting of the gift of God of repentance and faith and the
15:45
Spirit of God Regenerating us and by it and at that time God places us into his family and we become a child of God There was a time when we were not and we become a child of God where some people believe
15:58
Falsely believe that you always were a child of God and there's a difference and there is a distinction
16:03
Something must take place and it's got to be a heavenly transaction a miraculous work of God upon us
16:10
Bringing us this gift of repentance and faith and we become the children of God but when we do and we come into the family of God our
16:19
Relationship to God means there's going to be a similarity We are going to become more like our
16:25
God and Savior the Bible says in this chapter that God predestinated us in verse 29 to be
16:33
Conformed to the image of his son. We're going to become over time by the spectral grace of God Working in our lives more and more like the master
16:45
We're also not only as far as similarities. There will be a likeness in mind in our outlook
16:53
Seeing things from God's viewpoint in Ephesians. We read that the Christian has the mind of Christ We didn't have this before God came into our lives.
17:03
We thought our own way We thought our own way was best We we had it and wanted to pursue our own will and our minds went along with the mind of this world
17:15
Also, there was a similarity when it comes to behavior There should be when when we become one of the children of God not only in the way
17:25
We think not only in the way that we appear but the way that we behave the way that we act
17:31
It says in Philippians 2 verse 13 that God is in us
17:37
Working in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure God is working upon us by his grace so that we become people who will behave in such a way as it says in Titus 2 the grace of God is teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts
17:57
It's teaching us to say no to this world and the word and the grace of God teaches us to live
18:03
Soberly and righteously in this present world that we find ourselves our behavior will change
18:10
We will be like those that Jesus as he taught said now will be different and we will love our enemies or bless those
18:18
Who curse us and do good to those who hate us and pray for those who abuse us that?
18:24
Jesus taught in there in Matthew 5 45 that or in order that we might prove ourselves to be the children of God That's how
18:33
God's children behave themselves Paul said in Philippians 1 I believe it is in verse 27 that our behavior is like the gospel our conversation or a manner of living ought to be like like it becomes or it is as it were flattering to or Manifesting the gospel
18:53
That's how it ought to be. We show that we are sons of God also by being salt and light in this world
18:59
Our walk our conduct is to be like our Heavenly Fathers in Ephesians 5 verse 1
19:06
Pastor Mike has been teaching through there where it said Paul exhorts us to be therefore followers of God as what as Dear children you see where to be followers of God as dear children and Paul statement
19:20
There means we are to imitate God because we are his children how many fathers how many parents here?
19:29
have seen your children imitate you They do don't they sometimes a little mannerism sometimes a little thing that you're doing and they you might raise your hand a certain way
19:40
And they and they do the same thing. They're following there. They're imitating and Paul's teaching there in Ephesians 5 1 says that that should be the effect of God's saving grace in our lives and Transforming us out of the kingdom in the realm of darkness and into the kingdom of his dear son
19:59
Giving us a new heart that our behavior would change There would be this similarity that as dear children.
20:05
We would follow in the master's footsteps now Here's something to deeply consider here this morning in our salvation
20:12
God has not only forgiven us and I'm not making light of that because that is a wonderful thing for God to forgive us of all of our sins through the finished work of Christ But we are in a relationship with him as this verse says in verse 14 we are in a relationship with God as God's children and I can almost be assured here this morning that there may be a few folks that really have not
20:38
Considered this fact that I am a child of God I am a son or a daughter of God and in so coming to that truth and grasping that truth this morning
20:49
I believe that it will encourage you I believe that it would help you as you go through and Slug it out in life in the in the trials and the difficulties come and you think about yourself and you think about the things
21:01
That you're doing or not doing But you can think on this that we are a child of God that that would greatly
21:08
Help us God loves us in a peculiar in special way as his dear children.
21:13
No matter what you have been taught God doesn't love all people all the same way
21:21
Because the there is the Jacob that God loves and there is the Esau that God hates difficult but true
21:31
God there is a there are common mercies and there is common grace Like I said earlier where God causes his son to shine on The just and on the unjust the rain to fall on the evil and on the good
21:44
God allows everybody to breathe his air and to drink his water and to eat his food and to live upon his earth
21:52
But he is particularly concerned about his children
21:58
We can approach him in prayer and he hears the prayer of the righteous his his ear is far from the wicked
22:04
But he hears the prayer of the righteous He is concerned about our situation
22:14
He has plans for us Plans that are good Purposes that are good for us in Ephesians 1 verses 4 through 6.
22:23
It says that in love That's the the motivating factor behind it in love
22:30
God Predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself
22:36
According to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace. Did you get that in love?
22:42
Because God's love motivated him to do so He predestinated us to be adopted into his family as his dear children
22:52
My wife and I Deb many many years ago adopted three children and they are dear to us
22:58
They are close as flesh and blood to us and that was a special transaction that happened
23:05
And and we see that physical in the physical realm, but God does this to the undeserving?
23:11
he does it to the filthy wretched the vile sinner God takes them to himself and Through the work of the
23:19
Holy Spirit their eyes are open to their need of a Savior and he grants repentance And they turn from sin
23:25
He grants the gift of faith and they believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and God says now you are my children
23:32
And he treats us as so and he thinks about us as children and he loves us like children and we are special to God just as His dear children and I just again,
23:44
I think sometimes we just don't think along along these lines He sets our future our whole life as a result of God's design and handiwork
23:52
We see that beginning in verse 20 with 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
23:59
God to them who are the called according to his purpose verse 29 for whom he did for know he also did
24:05
Predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren
24:11
Moreover whom he did predestinate them He also called whom he called them he also justified whom he justified them
24:18
He also glorified what shall we then say to these things if God before us who can be against us?
24:25
I'm almost wanting to do like what some of those preachers do can I get an amen? I mean that is so good if God is for us who can be against us he that spirit not his own son
24:34
But delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely? Give us all things who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect
24:43
It is God that justifies we see we see this purpose of God Not only to set his love upon and to predestinate to be conformed to Christ But he calls he justifies and he's any glorifies
24:57
His people this divine purpose of the Lord towards those whom are his own
25:05
He will work out his will in our lives here below and Afterwards bring all of his children to glory as it says in In verse 18
25:16
I believe it is in this chapter Yes For I reckon that the suffering of this present time The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us
25:29
We have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and as he walked we are to walk
25:36
Our behavior will be more and more like his and that's how there is another similarity, but one last similarity is as Children of the
25:46
Lord and like with our children if we love our children as the Proverbs tell us We will discipline our children
25:53
We will correct our children for the desire that we would have To save as it says in Proverbs their souls from hell and that they may come to the truth of the knowledge in Christ So we apply the rod of correction to the seat of disobedience.
26:09
Don't we we love them We're concerned about them Well the similarity with the children of God in the spiritual realm or in the family of God is that if we are stubborn?
26:19
He chastens us We can't get away with disobedience
26:25
Hebrews 12 tells us that God as our father will punish us for our profit or for our benefit
26:31
It will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness and this is good We see his loving hand behind the rod
26:37
It will drive the foolishness from us and make us partakers of his holiness as it says there it will make us wiser
26:46
Even in the pain of chastisement. We see the proof of sonship I mean sometimes
26:52
I don't know some of you are not parents will learn this one day and those of us that are parents with Children are still trying to learn and are in the process of learning
27:01
But sometimes children will will push the envelope They will just go against the boundaries the rules are set
27:09
But they'll push against them and one of the reasons why I believe that they do that is because they want to see if mom
27:16
And dad are really there If they're really going to do what they said they're going to do and if they can have that sense of security and that sense
27:23
That my parent is really there And when it comes to chastening There is a proof of sonship for who the
27:30
Lord loves he chastens and as it were he spanks every child He receives he deals with all of his children to keep them walking in the right way
27:38
And if we are not chastened, then we are not the children of God. I mean the scripture says that read
27:43
Rome Hebrews chapter 12 That's not a welcome statement and helpful for self -esteem and the message that's preached today
27:53
But it's true now take note of this if you would please
27:59
Paul wants us to focus on who we are
28:05
Who are we? sons of God Children of God see the problem today in Christian circles is is we spend too much time thinking about What we are doing or what we are not doing or how good we feel or how bad we feel
28:23
What kind of performance have we done today and make that the dipstick to measure?
28:29
The the reality or the genuineness of our relationship with God The fact of the matter is is that when
28:37
God saves us we become the children of God Now when God truly saves you your behavior will change or my behavior will change
28:46
Old things are passed away behold all things become new and in our lives will take on Different characteristics the things that we loved before become things that we look at hey
28:59
I don't love that anymore, but I love the things that I hate it now. It's kind of a flip -flop. That's repentance
29:04
It's a it's a turning in the other direction But the problem that we the problem that we have is we focus upon whoops
29:12
What did I just say or what did I just do? Oh because of that? God is so grieved with me and maybe because of that I'm not going to be a child of God anymore, and he's going to kick me out of out of the family well
29:24
The Bible speaks of eternal security Once a son or once a child of God always a child of God we've received eternal life
29:33
And we've we have this spirit of adoption that God has given to us to whereby we can cry
29:39
Abba father or in the dearest terms like daddy like we can cry out to God because he is our father
29:45
Never to be negated never to be plucked out of his hands never to be reversed never to be undone
29:51
Eternal life never to be ungiven. It's eternal But you understand what
29:57
I'm saying is that so many times We we put the dipstick into the day of our lives based upon what we did or what we didn't do how much we read
30:05
I'm what you didn't read and I'm not saying that those things aren't important, but for the The idea behind all the the message this morning the comfort that comes is is in the fact that we are eternally
30:17
The children of God it's an eternal redemption We have an internal inheritance and when
30:24
God grants this special Gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, and when
30:29
God adopts us into his family we are forever the children of the
30:36
Lord We get snagged by the subjective
30:46
What we're doing and we're not encouraged as much as we should with the written
30:52
Objective truth in the Word of God concerning who we are the sons of God the children of God Hold your place here.
30:58
If you would if you'd like to turn with me The first John chapter 3 near the end of the Bible I'd like to read a couple of verses that are just so encouraging and fit in To this message this morning,
31:11
I mean we know that we are children of God as it says in in Galatians 3 in verse 26 by faith in Christ Jesus And we know in our text this morning in Romans chapter 8 and verse 14
31:24
That we are the sons of God and we're going to get into it as it says because God is doing something in our life
31:30
There's something particularly unique about us But I want to just look here in 1st John chapter 3 in verse 1
31:38
Notice this great text behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us
31:45
That we should be members of community. I mean of the whole church of Bethlehem Bible Church That's why we that's the love
31:54
God showed us and we should be so excited Because we are Americans, isn't that what it says in there?
32:01
It says behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God What a great privilege and what a great outworking and a demonstration of the love of God this the manner of the love of God Therefore the world knows us not but it knew him not because it knew him not notice in verse 2
32:23
Beloved now are we the sons of God you notice that there? It doesn't say it can be taken away or maybe or you're waiting upon that, but it's our present state
32:34
We are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is because of his great love
32:46
We've been privileged with this with this name to be called
32:53
The sons of God a son or a daughter of God Oh, if we could only grasp this more deeply this morning the fact that we are sons and daughters of God I believe that it that it would totally
33:04
Transform our days and our outlooks as far as our Christian living I wonder if you've grasped this really if you've really thought about this and if not, maybe if anything you can just go home
33:14
Well brother Dave was there ranting and raving again, and he's repeating himself over and over again He says the same thing about the sons of God and the daughters of God Well go home and think about that really think about and meditate upon the fact.
33:26
I am a child of Now Paul says in Romans 8 14 in the text that those who are the sons of God They are led by the
33:38
Spirit of God or they are being led may say in your translation I want to look at that and I want to consider that How can we be sure that we are the sons of God?
33:48
Well, he says If we are led by God's Spirit We can be sure
33:55
Let me try to illustrate by looking on the example in the Old Testament You can go back to Romans 8 and we're done in 1st
34:01
John in the Old Testament Israel as a nation was led by God We look at that in the history and we see that in the book of Exodus Well, it says there if you remember that when they had the tabernacle this place of worship there was a cloud by day that was over the tabernacle to the tent and there was a pillar of fire that appeared at night and This was none other than the presence of God with his people
34:34
When the cloud moved the people took down the tabernacle and they move now get this principle
34:41
Their lives were governed by the movement of God Is your life governed by the movement of God, that's it they were being led out of Egypt's captivity through the wilderness and to the promised land and so today
34:57
God leads us in the same way he leads us out of captivity of sin and To and towards heaven from a life of bondage and sin to a life of deliverance in Christ We are being led by the
35:10
Spirit of God out of Egypt or this present evil perverse crooked twisted world
35:16
To our heavenly Jerusalem in the Old Testament the children of Israel Even though they were going when they were going through the wilderness.
35:24
They had many problems many difficulties enemies no food, no water poisonous snakes hard journeys fatigue and so on but God led them still and God protected them and God provided for them
35:38
The same is true for the child of God today. We are in a wilderness We are in a barren world away from our heavenly home and you can see that all around you this crooked world has nothing that Satisfies our souls and God's Spirit is leading us through it like like Christian and faithful on the way to the celestial city in Bunyan's pilgrims progress and they have to go through that that horrible city called
36:04
Vanity Fair It all of its temptations and all of its allurements and all of the language in the in the entertainment that was there
36:12
Well this earth in which we live in is Vanity Fair and we're going through it But God is there leading us through and God is taking us through it and to glory and Paul says in this verse 14
36:25
But as many as are led the verb tense here is being led.
36:30
Like I said a little earlier It's an ongoing verb tense. It's daily.
36:35
It's continual. This is the tenor of our life We are being led by the Spirit of God.
36:41
How does this happen? Well, the Spirit leads us in one way by the Word of God He persuades us.
36:48
He doesn't force us. No, he persuades our will to do the will of God He makes us willing in the in the dip in the in our lives as we read the
36:57
Word of God taking the truth and Applying it to us. He enlightens us by teaching us the principles and precepts of God's divine truth and It's done in love.
37:07
Jesus said about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in John 14 26 He shall teach you all things
37:15
The Spirit of God is teaching us the spiritual truths of the Word of God to help us
37:20
So that we know we will know how then to treat people or we will know how to make wise choices
37:27
We will know how to make good decisions how we ought to speak how we ought to live in relationships with others how we ought to carry on our duties and responsibilities as mothers and fathers and children and workers and students and church members and Citizens and so on how to act and how to react the
37:47
Spirit takes the objective truth in God's Word and illuminates it Revealing it to us and this is how we are led by him
37:55
We are not led in this way and I'll turn to the book of Of the
38:01
Psalms and just read you a couple of verses. We're not to be led this way where it says in Psalm 32
38:08
I get the right book here
38:15
Psalm 32 those of you that take a notes or may want to look at it Psalm 32 in verse 8 this is how the
38:23
Spirit of God teaches us where the Word of God says I will instruct thee and Teach thee in the way, which thou shalt go
38:30
Now in the past we went our way Proverbs says there is a way that seems right on the man, but the end thereof is the way of death
38:38
It's the wrong way our way according to our wisdom and our counsel and our knowledge But God will teach us in the way that we should go and guide and he said
38:47
I will guide thee with mine eye So we're not to be this way Like it says in Psalm 32 9 be not as the horse or as the mule
38:54
Which have no understanding whose mouth must be held with in with bit and bridle lest they come near unto thee
39:02
The Spirit of God instructs us and teaches us lessons He leads us in God's way the way that God would have his people go in the way of sanctification
39:14
Progressively in the way of holiness in the way of godliness Paul writing to Timothy, I believe he said to flee youthful lusts
39:23
But follow righteousness and faith and charity and peace with them that call on the
39:29
Lord out of a pure heart in chapter 2 1st Timothy chapter 2 not led with bit and bridle not like a stubborn mule
39:36
This it is a persuasion into the way of God's Holy Word And this being led is a ministry and a work of the
39:43
Holy Spirit Someone is leading us and it is God himself
39:49
He shows us the things of Christ his ministry is to lead and teach and bring to our remembrance
39:56
The very words of the Lord so to be led by the Spirit means we are guided We are directed by the
40:03
Spirit and this is true of every Christian the Holy Spirit Knows the will of God for our lives and he leads us into it, especially when it comes to the
40:13
Word of God Of course, he shows us the right way. He puts the truth before us
40:19
He'll set up roadblocks also Doors opening and closing you'll remember in the book of Acts Paul and his desire for the gospel to go into the world being obedient to the to the
40:31
Holy Spirit's prompting and in Acts chapter 13 being being sent out and It says when he wanted to go in a certain place the
40:40
Spirit of God forbid him to go there He could not go there And I believe at one point because of all that he ends up in Philippi last week's message the gospel going to Macedonia in Philippi He prompts us the
40:54
Spirit of God empowers us enables us to do the will of God He guides us into God's plan and plain path and this is so important for us to get graphs
41:03
When it comes to the Spirit's leading We will never be led
41:10
Contrary to the Word of God, I want to say that again We will never be led contrary to where the
41:15
Word of God so many times in the past I have been so grieved with folks who will come for counsel and usually it's a little bit late
41:24
The decision has already been made It's already fixed and firm in their mind what the folks want to do and then they're going to come to the pastor or somebody else to try to get a stamp of approval and this is just a little side note if you're going through a major decision and First and foremost pray about it
41:42
Consider the scriptures and get good counsel Before you cast that decision before you that decision is put in concrete
41:51
I have I have spoken to folks in the past and as far as this just to illustrate this truth that will never be led contrary to the
41:59
Word of God a Young person will come to me and say they they are interested in someone else
42:05
They're a believer. They are a believer and they're interested in having a relationship with someone else, but that other person is not a
42:11
Christian Now the scriptures speak clearly and plainly about that in 2nd Corinthians 6 chapter 6 that we should not be unequally yoked with an
42:21
Yoke with unbelievers and you give that counsel, but it's not taken BC because there is this desire to do
42:28
The own will but when it comes to jobs a job situation I've had folks come to me and say well,
42:34
I'm going to take a job and it's it's out in this state and I'll say well
42:41
Out there. Is there a church out there? No, there's not a church within 50 miles of where we're going to be living And I don't believe that that's a correct statement because we're as it says in Hebrews 10 25
42:52
Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the day approaching were to be in fellowship with other believers and if we're gonna
43:01
We're gonna make a move in a job We ought to search out the area first and find out is there a good solid
43:08
Christ honoring Church? preaching and teaching the Word of God there and then It gives credence to the to the idea of wanting to move to that to that area when it comes to anything
43:23
Relationships as I said when it comes to jobs when it comes to these relocations When it comes to any decision that you make the
43:31
Spirit of God does not lead contrary to the Word of God That is what he uses and it will result in glorifying the
43:38
Lord now Let me just take and shift gears a little bit. I've been speaking to the Christian. But what about those?
43:44
Who are outside of Christ? This is not true for the non -christian if the Christian is led by God's Spirit then the non
43:53
Believer or the person who is lost is led by some other spirit the unholy spirit there is there is another influence that is working upon them as Jesus said of those religious leaders in John chapter 8 and in verse 44
44:11
He said you are of your father the devil and I don't know if you ever really have paid attention
44:16
I've always usually just focused on that part of the verse But the point the fact of the matter right after that in this in the same sentence
44:24
Jesus said you are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father you will do
44:31
Captured by the cords of sin of their sin and It is this spirit that now works in the children of disobedience that Paul spoke of in Ephesians chapter 2
44:42
That is working in their lives. They're not led by the Spirit Someone or something else is leaving the unsaved person.
44:49
They are led by their own desires They see something and they want it. They pursue it. They feel like they're Like doing something and they do it they live without reference to God and how dangerous that is
45:00
They have different a different hunger and it's not a hunger after righteousness They have earthly thirst so they drink from broken cisterns and not
45:10
From the Living Fountain they have impulses and they respond it's not spiritual at all
45:17
It's being led by physical carnal and fleshly impulses. And if I could put it plainly and crudely
45:24
It's animalistic instincts. And how do how would I say that that they directed in this way?
45:29
Look with me in in chapter 8 and in verse 5 Paul says this For they that are after the flesh or your translation might say they that are according to the flesh something about according to the flesh
45:43
Do mind the things of the flesh or they set their minds on the things of the flesh?
45:49
But they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit you see the difference in there they that are after or according in the
45:56
Greek That word has something to do with being habitually dominated by The folks that are outside of Christ are after the flooding to the flesh there are dominated
46:13
Habitually dominated daily dominated forced pressed to do or to mind the things of the flesh
46:22
That word mind in the Greek means to interest oneself or to to concern oneself or to focus
46:29
Your attention upon or to set your mind upon what the flesh he says there when someone gets to Encroaching into our lives.
46:39
What do we tell them mind your own business? They're too interested in something
46:44
They ought not to be and here is this idea is is that if a person is not after the Spirit or habitually as I said earlier
46:52
Dominated by the leading of the Spirit they are dominated By the flesh the carnal mind thinks on natural things
47:02
Fleshly things earthly things temporal things man -centered things corruptible things whereas the opposite is
47:09
The spiritual mind or the spiritual interest is after spiritual things heavenly things eternal things
47:16
God -centered things incorruptible things There is a great great difference here the lost person follows the fads
47:26
They don't think for themselves For the most part you think about the fads, you know folks that want to be out from underneath I Will not have this man rule over me
47:37
I don't want to do what the Bible says because you're all doing you're all doing the same thing Y 'all look alike
47:42
Y 'all y 'all talk like with this spiritual language and you like to go to that church and sing those songs
47:48
But when it comes to the fleshly realm when it comes to the lost condition
47:53
Do they do they not all look the same? Don't they wear the same Hairstyle the same clothing the same earrings the same the same music you see where we're wired in such a way that we we desire
48:07
Fellowship we desire to be with other people and you see that's going to happen either in the realm of the flesh or in the
48:13
Realm of the Spirit being led by the Spirit of God or not Without the spirit of the spirits power
48:22
They rely upon their own so -called willpower or strength or abilities But that's not enough to combat
48:29
Satan's influence and it says in 1st Timothy chapter 2 When Paul is instructing the the servant
48:35
Timothy on how it is that he ought to deal with other people He says that you should you should go to them and you should be ready to teach them
48:43
You should have the right heart and the right attitude and hopefully God would grant repentance To those people that you're ministering to Who and he describes them are taken captive at his will or by the will of Satan?
48:56
you see people are either led by the Spirit and capture cap in the captivity to the
49:02
Spirit of God and born slaves of Jesus Christ or they are held captive by Satan they are in Satan's prison and held by the cords of their sins
49:15
And not being led by the Lord well back to the Christian Entirely different situation the believer is not led by any of these things previously mentioned
49:25
They have the mind of Christ and a new heart and a new life And these are the things that we should rejoice in this morning brethren
49:32
God is resident in them the Holy Spirit is leading them along God himself leads us
49:42
And he puts us in his way, this is a bad illustration I usually come up with these every once in a while, but it's free and you can take it anyways have you ever been bowling?
49:52
Yes, and you know how it's how you can go bowling and get a good score It's like how the little guys get the ball you ever see it when they put those bumper pads in there
50:00
And they fill up the gutter And then when they throw the ball down no matter what they get something down usually at least one pin will go down That ball is directed
50:09
There's no way it's going to go in the gutter and when it comes to the life of the child of God It is inevitable that the
50:17
Spirit of God will lead us in God's plain path And we will go in the way of God and our lives will be such that it says
50:24
That when he works in us Philippians 2 as I quoted earlier it will be to the pleasure of God That's the purpose for which were created
50:32
Revelation 4 12 11 12 says for his for for his pleasure and for his glory where we're created and The Spirit of God will work that out in our lives.
50:44
Just like that ball going down It's not going into the gutter, and I was thinking of Jude at the end of that great book
50:50
It says now unto him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory
50:57
With exceeding joy to the only wise God our Savior the glory and majesty dominion and power both now and ever a man
51:04
God is able to keep us from falling though We fall the psalmist said though we fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the
51:11
Lord upholdeth him with his hand That's what God does the Spirit of God leading us in that way not perfect No, I'm not saying that we're we're perfect But we are being perfected by the powerful working of God's effectual grace as dear children being led by the
51:28
Spirit of God Being conformed to the image of God's Son verse 29 God is working on his children children helping them maturing them making them profitable servants
51:39
Restoring their hearts and lives and though they are not perfect. He is still leading them
51:45
There is this there is something very noticeable. It is this is something that's very noticeable in this life in their lives
51:52
It is very obvious that the main thrust of the life of the
51:57
Son or the daughter of God Is that they are being directed and guided by God's Holy Spirit?
52:04
Let me leave you with this question As I begin to close the message Can you say in your life and in my life that your thought life?
52:19
your will your actions your words
52:27
Everything about you when you wake up in the morning The psalmist said when I awake
52:32
I am still with thee Where can I go from the person I go up into heaven you are there?
52:40
By going to hell thou art there if I take the wings Of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea even there you are
52:49
He goes on to say later in Psalm 139 when I wake up. I am still with thee
52:55
Not able to get away from the presence of the Lord and thankful for that as we remember last week
53:01
God never leaving us nor forsaking us, but we are completely aware in our lives that God The Holy Spirit is leading us.
53:12
We are being led every day. That's the characteristic That's the the tendency the thrust the driving force
53:20
Can you say that the driving force and principle of my life is that I am now being led by the
53:26
Spirit of God? led away from sin led away from self led away from this present evil world and led unto
53:35
God and Led unto a life that is devoted to the Lord led into the
53:40
Word of God the Spirit of God Revealing I think of that hymn sing them over again to me wonderful words of life
53:47
Let me more of their beauty see wonderful words of life. This is so very important We cannot miss this this morning
53:55
Paul tells us in Romans 8 14 that if we can say this about ourselves I am led by the
54:00
Spirit of God. Then we are the sons of God. Can you say that is the main direction of your life?
54:09
Determined by the Holy Spirit or is it determined by you or the world or something else? If you're not being led by the
54:15
Spirit that I must carefully warn you you are not a Christian I will say that again if you are not being led
54:23
Daily by the Spirit of God you are not after the Spirit as it says there in verse 5
54:30
Habitually dominated by the Spirit's hand and teaching and guiding and leading then you are not a Christian You are not a child of God and I can say this not based upon my authority
54:39
But the authority of the Word of God those that are led are the sons of God Tells us then implies to us that those that are not are not the sons of God You are a sinner in need of a
54:50
Savior and you need to repent turn to Jesus Christ and Receive him as the one who is your substitute upon Calvary his death for your sins him being made sin for you
55:02
Who knew no sin that you might be made the righteousness of God in him? Death and burial and resurrection on your behalf and you believe upon him and you call upon the
55:13
Lord to be saved If you do that God's Word declares something about becoming a child of God in John chapter 1 and in verse 12
55:23
John's gospel says but as many as received him speaking of Christ to them
55:29
Gave he power or to them gave he the right or to them gave he the authority
55:35
To become what the sons of God the children of God This is wonderful and this is yours
55:44
God's Word declares you are given the right to become the Son of God if you believe upon Christ If you are not led by the
55:51
Spirit you have no reason this morning to be glad you are in danger of judgment You're on the devil's path and and not
55:58
God's path and you are being tricked and you are being fooled And I beg you call upon the
56:04
Lord to be saved But if you are being led by the
56:11
Spirit of God as I close If this is the tendency of your life and you know it you're being led by the
56:19
Spirit of God Then you have every reason to rejoice in the Lord this morning my brethren
56:24
Amen, you have every reason to rejoice if you are being led because God is doing this
56:31
It doesn't say anything in that verse that we are the sons of God based upon what we're doing
56:37
It's not our merit. It's not our effort. It's not by works of righteousness, which we've done but according to his mercy
56:43
He saves us and when he saves us, it's the Spirit of God that's working. You see it's God centered here
56:49
It's a it's a focus that God is doing something in our lives and we can rejoice in that you can be glad Why because of the proof?
56:58
The assurance that we are the sons of God is in the fact that we are now being led by the Spirit of God At a seminary at my seminary classes.
57:06
We do book reviews. We have to read a book Analytically we have to write the purpose.
57:12
Why did the author what was his intent in writing this book? And then we have to support that with what what kind of a job did he do in?
57:19
Supporting his theme getting it across that he was he strong or was he weak?
57:25
I want to tell you this morning through the Spirit's work. Of course Paul gets an a plus plus a hundred plus Because we are assured this morning his intent in writing
57:34
Romans chapter 8 I believe is to strengthen us believers by teaching us the truth about sonship, which gives us security
57:46
Teaching us about sonship so that we are secure sonship so that we get assurance
57:52
So stand in this truth my friends Rest in Christ rest in who you are in Christ You're a son or daughter if you are being led by the
58:02
Spirit and yield to him go on in the faith Live for him who died for you
58:09
Listen to his voice his leading and respond with yes, Lord. I'm here. I'm here
58:14
Lord What will you have me to do today and one day? one glorious day
58:19
It will be worth it all I Trust that that truth in that verse and maybe you can meditate upon it along with me today the truth of that verse