Graduate to Romans 8

VERSE OF THE DAY: ~ Romans 7:25-8:2 “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. 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 has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

I often see in so many of the places I go, believers who have gotten themselves stuck in Romans chapter 7. Romans chapter 7 describes a man who is trying to use the law to get free from sin that is destroying him. This man is going through a mental battle because the written laws of moral code that are at war with the sinful nature of his flesh. The writer has found himself in what seems to be a hopeless state. This is the ‘sin conscious’ believer. I regret to admit that I spent too many years of my Christian life living in the same place and I can identify with the frustration, confusion and even hopelessness that this form of religious piety creates. But the good news of the gospel is that we don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle of pharisaical, law driven and self-condemning, religious despair. We are no longer servants but we have become sons/daughters of the living God! And as children of the living God, we are heirs of his righteousness.

Rather than focusing on the sinful behavior that opposes the laws and commandments, Romans chapter 8 offers us a better way. We can be free from the cycle of condemnation when we learn to walk according to the Spirit. But what does that mean?

Jesus declared “that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Romans 8:2 tells us that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the law of sin and death. Paul writes in Galatians 5 “walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” The idea here is that as we pursue the Holy Spirit led life, the ‘Spirit led’ believer walks in the richness and fullness of freedom that can only come through a Holy Spirit empowered life. We will inadvertently conquer the desires of the flesh when we become too busy in pursuit of doing the will of Holy Spirit. In fact, if we can learn to push into, press in to, hunger for, and desire a life that is Holy Spirit guided, we will become so focused in doing His will that the will of the flesh which wars against the law will fade away. This plan makes living the Christian life a lot more victorious. It gives us a lot more freedom and it brings us a lot more joy.

PRAYER: “Holy Spirit I seek to become acutely aware of You and Your leading of my life in Jesus name, come Holy Spirit fill me to overflowing with your presence and your glory, empower me to do the will of the Father. Jesus I thank you for granting me sonship in the kingdom of God. Thank you Jesus for breaking every stronghold of sin in the flesh, and for granting me access to the presence of Holy Spirit power, guidance and life. Holy Spirit increase my sensitivity to your presence and to your voice help me to know you intimately, minister through me I set my heart to live according to your purpose and plan. I set my mind and my heart to live in your presence and for your presence to live in me. Thank you Lord in Jesus name Amen!”

VERSE FOR FEARLESS LIVING!  ~  1 Chronicles 22:13 Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.