The Refreshing Power of the Spirit-Filled Life: Calling on God

Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith is trying harder to hold all the holy spirit. We all have us. We know that all too well today Pastor Greg Laurie points out, we need the help of someone more powerful stops trying to be good, you will fail because your God is give you the strength to live the life just called you a child needs a little too were trying to climb a tree.

Sometimes you just can't quite make it on his own remittitur not. We often need help from our heavenly father we try to live a righteous life still have a sin nature is when we need to rely on our God Pastor Greg Laurie hope to see how to call on his part to look at together. Romans eight Romans eight is one of my favorite chapters that all of the Bible and I for got this message. It might become one of your favorite chapters as well.

I love Romans it because it's a one stop shopping destination for hope we discover how to live. This spirit filled life that starts. Of course the Holy Spirit himself. Let's read Romans eight verses 1 to 4. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is may be freed from the law of sin and death for the what the law could not that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh of the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us, do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit.

So what we learn here about living. This spirit filled life. The refreshing power of the Spirit filled life.

If you're taking notes here is point number one Aspira blood believer lives. A condemnation free life. Let me say that again this spirit filled believer, a spirit led believer lives. A condemnation free life.

Romans eight starts with no condemnation and then ends with no separation does not say W no failures does not see the being no inconsistencies in our life. What it does say is there's no condemnation here is a classic story as a woman was caught in the act of adultery.

She was drug thrown at the feet of Jesus by some religious rulers and they said the law says this woman should be condemned to death. What you say I want to what was a man he somehow got away Scott free. Didn't. Here's this woman caught in the act of sin. She should be stoned what you say, we read that Jesus looked at the crowd. He stooped down and wrote in the sand.

Then he stood up and he said let him that is without sin cast the first stone that cleared the room out really quickly. You wonder what of the rightness that I don't think he was playing tic-tac-toe. He probably looked at one of those men. Joshua maybe wrote down the number of the commandment he was breaking. I'm not sure whatever he did cause him to come under conviction and they all left. Then he turns of the woman he says woman, where are your accusers, it's interesting. There were uses several woman as a term of respect, almost as though he was saying lady or man should probably not been call that a long time she'd been called a lot of other things ma'am lady, where are your accusers.

She says I have none Lord. He says neither do I condemn you go and sin no more. You say, but wait she was caught in the act of sin.

How could he treat her that way.

Listen to what you said in response to his question of where your accusers.

She said I have none, Lord was at that moment she believed in Jesus all she believed. Therefore there was no condemnation because there's no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, you're a new person Bible says of any men be in Christ is altogether different kind of person the old things have passed away. Behold, everything becomes fresh and new. No spirit led people are spiritually minded people spirit led people are spiritually minded person verse five. Romans eight. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think only about sinful things, but those were controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit comes on what to think about this is command central, so I thought we been at so and act reap a habit.

So a habit, reap a character so a character, reap a destiny protects your mind think about things that please the holy spirit will what things please the Holy Spirit. Paul identifies him for us here in Romans eight Romans 814 says those that are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God. Think about that God wants to lead US is son or his daughter. Romans 815 to 16 tells us God removes the spirit of rejection and assures us that were God's children.

It says God is not giving you a spirit of bondage again to fear, but one of adoption, whereby you cry all the father which is the affectionate cry of the Hebrew child. Kind of like a little boy or girl seen daddy and then finally Romans 826 and 27 tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us confidence as we approach God in prayer to listen. These are things that the Holy Spirit cares about, and these are things that we should care about.

Remember your adopted by God. Your love by God, you're welcome to buy God. Think about these things because they please. The holy spirit. Think about the fact that you are loved by God in your lives are in his control because we can be devastated by our worry and forget the simple truth is that we need to be reminded up over and over again in my first message in this series I talked about the fact that Peter says I want to remind you of these things or refresh your memories and it's a refreshing thing to remember that I'm loved by God and that God is in control of my life.

Now the contrast of living spirit filled life is living a worldly one. Verse five. Romans eight says those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things. This is a person that just things about satisfying their impulses and the appetites of their flesh.

It can be a list of things like sex outside of marriage sex before marriage drugs, booze, parting things of that nature. It can be empty. Things like fame and fortune. Or it could simply be a person who only thinks about the physical and never think about the spiritual. Jesus talks about the nonbelievers will only worry about what they're going to eat what the Delaware want to get a drink.

He says don't be like those people but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you know you need to think about what you're going to wear.

You need to think about a roof over your head.

You need to think about what you're going to eat. Jesus is not saying don't think about it. He saying don't be obsessed with it. Don't make the entire focus of your life pursuing those things at the exclusion of pursuing God affect some people to think a little bit more about their parents because maybe they neglected.

You know, Paul says, bodily exercise profits, little but godliness is helpful for all things so people get out of shape in the be really overweight in the quote diverse well policy a profit so sweet you can go too far. Either way, there's a balance in all of these things, but what the Bible is saying this be preoccupied with these things up all his told us about here in Romans eight that were adopted by God were loved by God and were welcomed by God. Don't try to be righteous by trying harder. That's another form of living in the flesh admit you can't do it on your own and freight for that help of the holy spirit. Paul does that at the end of Romans seven he writes 00's. Who's gonna framing from this life that I am living under the power of sin. O wretched man that I am and then he gives the answer. It's in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Are you struggling with sin right now, cry out to God for God.

I can overcome this on my own strength. I'm coming to you and I'm asking for your help. I'm asking for the help of the holy spirit stop trying to be spiritual stops trying to be good, you will fail because your back, but God is good and he'll give you the strength to live the life is called to live your great glory will have the second half of his message just a moment. Whenever you send us an email, text or post a comment on social media. We read every word. Pastor Greg, I don't know if you ever seen this or not but I just wanted to say thank you for all you do. I was raised in the church and was seen in a very like a lot of folks who grew up in church, I fell away and one day I heard you on the radio and your message me I needed to get my life right, thank you so here changed lives through harvest ministries. If you have a story of how these studies have touched your life, that of a family member. I hope you'll contact us today. Email Pastor Craig great harvest on again. That's great harvest.org Pastor Greg's current series is called refresh every Christian needs to know.

Today's focus is on living a spirit filled life. Pastor Greg continues now. How can you tell if you're living a spirit controlled life.

The Holy Spirit is at home in the hearts of spirit led believers. I underline those two words at home. The Holy Spirit is at home in the hearts of spirit led believers first line of Romans eight you're in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you dwells in you know does not the Holy Spirit live in the heart of every Christian answer yes you become a Christian Holy Spirit seals. You and he indwells you.

But this word here that is used by Paul Birdwell needs to be at home. There's a dimmer switch or just being in a home and being at home to notice different homes have their own smells used to visit a home. I want say who's but always smelled of mothballs.

I think this person felt that you can never have enough mothballs and after you left at home you would smell like mothballs.

This is not a good sent people and then another lonely is a strange smell. It's like you just baking socks and the governor was going on in this house. What is this odd smell.

It doesn't make you want to stay there for very long with any going to home and there's some great home cooking, taking place. Maybe it's Italian for all. I love the smell of Italian food or Mexican food or barbecue the law. I like this place that I like just being in this room where I smell this incredible aroma well is only spirit at home in your heart. Is he comfortable in your life. I mentioned earlier that the Holy Spirit has a personality. Yes, he is God, but yes he can be sinned against specifically the Bible tells us the Holy Spirit can be insulted. He can be resisted any can be blasphemed and listen to this, the Holy Spirit can even be made sad. Have you ever done or said anything to someone that reduce them to tears so hard to look at someone crying because of something you just said something you just did.

Could we actually make God's Holy Spirit sad. The answer is yes. Ephesians 430 Paul writes don't bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit, by the way you live. Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you, so rage, anger, harsh words, slander, the make the Holy Spirit sad while mentioned we just went on in social media, especially twitter and decided to not use it to tear any person down. Don't denigrate anybody. What a different place. It would be because some people just live for that conflict and people seem to be getting so upset these days there's more road rage than ever that people don't even seem to know how to get on a plane and behave themselves arrests of disturbances and conflicts, and playing snow is gone up dramatically.

It's almost like out for this time of call vivid. We've all forgotten our manners and world filled with this pent-up rage that makes God's Holy Spirit sorrowful listen, you can hold a point of view and not be being about you can have a certain belief and not tear others down while you're talking about it that grieves the Holy Spirit of God that makes God's spirit said sorrowful and that is not living a spirit controlled life God wants you to be tenderhearted. He wants you to be kind. He wants you to be forgiving that pleases the holy spirit last point spirit led believers overcome the old life spirit led believers overcome the old life. Romans 813 says if you live according to the flash you will die. But if by this spiritual put to death the deeds of the body you show live another translation puts it this way. So, don't you see that you don't owe this old do-it-yourself life, one red cent. There's nothing in it for us. Nothing that all the best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go.

I like that translation you're living with the power of the spirit.

Just focus on walking with Jesus. When you are in love with Jesus these other things will fall away. Oh yeah, you'll get tempted. Oh yes you will said, but it won't be a pattern anymore. It won't be your lifestyle anymore it because you are preoccupied with other things and more specifically, you're preoccupied with Christ himself asking him to fill you with this Holy Spirit each and every day unless verse Romans 814 for as many as are led by the spirit. They are the sons of God, we ask you, are you a son of God, are you would daughter of God. You know, I mentioned that were adopted by God when we become Christians. I didn't ever know.

My biological father growing up on my mother married a man named Oscar Lori forgot my name Oscar note Lori and this guy was great.

He he adopted me formally.

He treated me as a father should treat the son he disciplined me when I went astray. He tried to teach me lessons in and do the best of the good in helping me to be a good boy but tragically, my mom loved him and I didn't see him for the rest of my childhood. But I did have the privilege of reconnecting with him as a young adult. After I become a Christian and started our church and I also had the privilege of leaving him to the Lord. That's another story for another time, but he adopted me and God is adopted you if you put your faith in Christ, for it says as many as are led by the spirit. They are the sons of God are you would son or a daughter of God. Are you a child of God that comes through believing in Jesus Christ he can pardon you if every sin you have ever committed. I mentioned that woman caught in the act of sexual sin. And Jesus said, go and sin no more. He forgave her right there on the spot and God can do that for you right here, right now you've messed up you big mistakes you said you don't have to be controlled by your past.

You don't have to be crippled by either you can put it behind you think you can be a new person in Jesus Christ we been talking about the Holy Spirit how you can lie to him. You can grieve him or make him sad or sorrowful. You can resist.

And finally, you can blaspheme him. Jesus described the unforgivable sin as the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, what is it mean to blaspheme the spirit as you feel like you know I've cursed God, that's a lot of things.

Maybe I blasphemed him understand. As I said earlier, the work of the Holy Spirit is to show you your need for Jesus show you that you need to come to him.

You can resist him and resist them and resist them and come to a point you've gone too far.

Just a point of no return that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The only unforgivable sin is the rejection of Jesus Christ for the Bible says, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation.

Should you say I don't want Jesus. I don't need Jesus.

I don't care about Jesus. I want to keep living my life the way I'm living it.

You have that choice. God given your free will know it's a wrong choice with God's Holy Spirit is a no come to him believing him your loved by him. And if you say no to the Holy Spirit and keep saying no yes. Your heart can become irreparably hard to let that happen might be someone I'm talking to you right now that is run from God for. Here's maybe even decades, maybe even most of their life.

This is your moment to come to him.

This is your moment to be forgiven by him. This is your moment to come into a relationship with the God who loves you he loves you so much. He sent his only son Jesus Christ to come in a rescue operation.

The planet Earth and dynamic cross for your sin, then Christ rose again from the dead. Now he stands at the door of your life and Enoch, and he says if you hear his voice and open the door will come in I would like to give you an opportunity to open your heart to a whole new life. Open your heart to radical change.

Open your heart to Jesus Christ himself will come and live inside of you and forgive you of all of your sin in a moment I'm going to pray a simple prayer. If you need Jesus in your life. Pray this prayer with me. You could even pray it out loud if you would like to, but this is your moment where everything can change for you.

Let me close with this thought, this is a yes or no proposition.

Jesus said here either for me or against me was those words that got the attention of a 17-year-old boy many years ago on this high school campus named Greg and he looked around at the Christians, and thoughtful. I'm not one of them does that mean I'm against Jesus Christ and I certainly didn't want to be. So I prayed and asked Christ to come in the my life I've never ever regretted that decision and you will not regret this decision, either. Jesus is ready to come in your life if you would like him to forgive you of your sin, pray this simple prayer with me right now.

Let's all pray just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner but I know that you are the Savior who died on the cross for my sin rose again from the dead. I turn from my sin. Now I choose to follow you from this moment phone Jesus name I pray.

Important day for so many who were making a decision for the Lord today. Pastor Greg Laurie leading listeners in prayer today on a new beginning. And if you just pray that prayer we want to be the first to welcome you into the family of God and that we want to help you as you take your first steps as a new believer, we want to send you our new believers gross packet. It's a free collection of resources designed to help answer your questions and help you build a solid foundation for your walk with the Lord. So ask for your new believers gross packet when you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime. Again, just dial 1-800-821-3300 Pastor Greg back when I was a young Christian contemporary Christian music, or as we called it.

Then Jesus music was sort of a soundtrack for my life and that I remember the very first Christian band I saw. I believe it was mustard seed faith. Yes at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa right do you remember the first Christian band you so yeah I would say it was probably love song, but I became friends of all the guys a love song just saw them recently course load and fun for mustard seed faith, a Louis McVeigh Pedro Buford than the other individuals work in the bent of the years but the great little band. I did a lot of ministry with them. Traveled a lot of places with them and I was amazed Dave had and how music kid open a crowd up. You know you get a crowd of people just ending around the bend gets up starts playing. What I would call anointed music music that God had his hand on you know you think of the story of Saul, the king of Israel who is being tormented by demons in the Bible tells us that David not yet the king still is shepherd boy would come in the play in the stringed instrument. Today we might call it an electric guitar and he would play his guitar and sing songs of praise to God, and it would bring temporary comfort to King Saul and to me that is the power of music that God has his hand on it can open the heart of a person. This is one of the reasons why, in our events and of course in our church. We we put a focus on really well done Christian music because I believe it's a great way to reach people and to build a bridge to people so I thought in its origins to the present day, and I would say this, Dave. I think Christian music is come so far that in many ways it surpasses secular music. I don't mean lyrically, I mean in the melodies and the production it's at least as good if not better. A lot of the secular stuff you're hearing out there right now, so maybe you've wondered how did this all start I have a book for you. It's called the Jesus music. It's brand-new and it's written by my friend Marshall Terrell Marshall and I have co-written three books together and were working on a Fort Marshall is a great researcher, an excellent writer.

So he takes us back to the very origins of Jesus music to the present day of what we call contemporary Christian music to get to get a little history on this music we listen to and you're going to learn more about some of the artists you've come to love.

These are not perfect people. These are flawed people that God is used. People like you and me you to be fascinated by this book called the Jesus music hardbound glossy pages. Lots of photographs interesting stories in history about this music that we have all come to love and will send you your own copy for your gift of any size and let me just say the reason we offer these quality resources is so we can just help you encourage you and bless you, but also it's a way for you to support our ministry because as you can imagine, it takes money to be on the radio and we want to continue to reach you in your area and going to new areas were not on yet. So when you order one of these resources like the Jesus music and you send a gift to us. We put that gift to work, but as a way of saying thanks we send you something of value like this book were sending this time called the Jesus music. So for your gift of any size you get your own copy, and I know it will be a blessing to you, really well. So get in touch today with your donation and be sure to ask for the Jesus music is the kind of book you will be able to put down and you might want to give a copy to a friend. Maybe you're looking for a good Christmas gift for a family member again is called the Jesus music ask for it when you send your contribution today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest God for what next time Pastor Greg explains how we often come closest to God in our times of great spiritual need, revealing study pastor Greg refresher. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible regularly and with Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org