Intro:
Say it in a sentence: I have the desire to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out.
1. The exhausting Christian life (Rom 7:15-19)
- the Christian life is more than just trying harder; precepts with power, laws without life. This results in carnal Christian living, stop trying to go on in the Lord, just accept grace.
- Major Ian Thomas founded Torch Bearers; Charles Price was the President, wrote Christ For Real
- Living this way is like sticking a knife in the heart of Jesus Christ, He both died for my sin AND rose for my ultimate victory both here today and eternity
- The saving life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas, it’s about living in the presence of the Lord
2. The exchanged life (Rom 7:24-25)
- Who will deliver me from this body of death? Jesus Christ our Lord
- until we stop trying to live the Christian life and start letting Christ live through us, we will be exhausted
- you were never intended to live the Christian life, Christ can only live Hs life though me (Rom 5:8-10, Gal 2:20, 1 Thes 5:14-24)
3. The empowered life (Rom 8:1-13)
- the word Spirit is used 20 times in Romans 8
- those that are in the flesh cannot please God, ministering in my own flesh
- Acts 1 has the disciples waiting to be filled by the Spirit; all believers have the Holy Spirit at conversion
- Eph 5:18
A. Spirit filling defined. Greek “plarustef” to be thoroughly filled, taken over, overcome by a power greater than my own, etc. there isn’t anything else, just this. Let that become the essence of all that you are.
B. Spirit filing analyzed. ”all of you, be being filled” in the Greek; one baptism/conversion, many fillings of the Holy Spirit
C. Spirit filing illustrated. Drunkenness is a negative example of being filled, they have lost control of body, mind, tongue, emotions, etc
4. Proof of the Holy Spirit Filling (Rom 8:14-17)
A. Lead by the Spirit (v 14)
B. Confidence, not afraid (v 15a)
C. Intimacy with the Father (v 15b)
D. Security in my standing before God (v 16)
5. Hindrances to Spirit filling
A. Grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30) - lupeto in the Greek; do things we shouldn’t
B. Quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) - not doing the things we should be doing
6. How to be filled with the Spirit
A. Confess all known sin (1 John 1:19)
B. Ask (Luke 11:9-13)
C. Believe that you will receive it (Mark 11:24)
The Power Source from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.
