Romans 8
Controlled by the Spirit
Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature
but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
We all know what it is like to be in a crowded room
And not hear the person talking to us
Stay in the places where you can hear the still small voice of God
Remember spirits lead us with thoughts and ideas, so be careful what you listen to
Remember Jesus gave you the Holy Spirit to bring to remembrance
So make sure you are reading and studying God’s Word
So when the time comes and you need it
The Holy Spirit can bring it back to your remembrance John 14:26
The Spirit of God is real
But His control in your life
Comes as your spirit receives the testimony (evidence) of God’s Spirit
Controlled by the Spirit
Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not
by the sinful nature but by the Spirit,
if the Spirit of God lives in you.
It was October 29, 2021, when I was writing this devotional
In many neighborhoods you will find
spirits and ghosts in people’s front yards.
The choices of movies about spirits
increases on every network.
And on Halloween kids and adults
will dress up like ghosts.
This holiday has become a time of laughter and fun
as people deal with fears of spirits.
It is the time of “Trick or Treat”.
The trick is to make someone afraid
and the treat is a bag full of candy.
Haunted houses are a big event for many
who want to show they are not afraid of anything.
But to others,
they would never go to them
because of fear.
In many ways, our image of spirits
is shaped by this holiday.
So, what is a spirit?
The Greek definition defines a spirit
as a comparison or figuratively as current of air,
like a breath or a breeze.
The human spirit as the rational soul,
vital principle or mental disposition.
It is also defined from a superhuman point of view
as an angel, demon or divine God.
The King James Version of the Bible,
uses the word ghost, life, mind
for the Greek word pneuma.
The Dictionary defines spirit this way,…
The nonphysical part of a person which is
the seat of emotions and character; the soul.
Spirits are the thoughts and ideas of something.
John in 1 John 4:1 tells us…
To “test the spirits”.
What does he mean…
Test the thoughts and ideas of what people are saying,
do the thoughts and ideas acknowledge
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh?
There is the spirit of antichrist,
thoughts and ideas that do not agree
with the Spirit of God.
The test is…
What did Jesus Christ say
when He came in the flesh?
Paul in Romans 8 says…
We are to be controlled by the Spirit of God
in contrast to being controlled by the sinful nature.
Romans 8:9…
You, however,
are controlled not by the sinful nature
but by the Spirit,
if the Spirit of God lives in you.
Flip Wilson was famous for saying…
“The devil made me do it.”
Whatever Flip Wilson did
wasn’t because he was physically forced,
control has to be given,
given to thoughts and ideas.
It is the thoughts and ideas that define a spirit.
You and I cannot draw a picture of a spirit
or the Spirit of God…
But we can identify the spirit
by the thoughts and ideas.
Even when we see people walking or driving their cars,
we know nothing about their spirit unless
we have the time to know their thoughts and ideas.
So, what is the point?
We become God’s children
by the Holy Spirit living in us.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Romans 8:16
What does that look like?
because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:14
The Spirit of God leads us
with the thoughts and ideas of God.
These thoughts and ideas always
agree with God’s Word in the Bible.
It is when we believe the Spirit of God,
the thoughts and ideas, and act on them,
that we are controlled by the Spirit of God.
We have a mental choice.
We are not possessed in a way we have no control.
No matter how strong the control of
the sinful nature is working in us…
We can give the control to the Spirit of God.
Philippians 4:13 says…
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Our strength to overcome situations in life,
where our sinful nature might become proud
because we have much or might steal because
we have too little are overcome…
By the power of believing the Spirit of God inside of us.
If we listen…
To the thoughts and ideas of the Spirit of God
and believe them in our heart
than He will lead us through our situation.
Having the Spirit of God in you
and being God’s child will not mean
we escape the hardships of life.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs —
heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,
if indeed we share in his sufferings
in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:16
We want Christ’s Glory…
But to share in the inheritance,
we will also need to share in His sufferings.
We should not take this lightly.
So, if you think you are standing firm,
be careful that you don't fall!
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Our escape is found…
By the leading of the Spirit of God
testifying (giving evidence) to our spirit
to the direction that brings life.
For our spirit to hear the Spirit of God…
Our spirit needs to be in a place of no distraction.
We all know what it is like to be in a crowded room
and not hear the person talking to us.
Stay in the places
where you can hear the still small voice of God.
Remember spirits lead us with thoughts and ideas,
so be careful what you listen to.
Remember Jesus gave you the Holy Spirit
to bring to remembrance.
So make sure you are reading and studying God’s Word
so when the time comes and you need it
the Holy Spirit can bring it back to your remembrance.
John 14:26
The Spirit of God is real.
But His control in your life comes as your spirit
receives the testimony (evidence) of God’s Spirit.
Scripture Reading
Romans 8 NIV
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