This video is a read-aloud of this devotion.
Highland, let us continue to live according to the Spirit. As we do so, we demonstrate our love for the Lord and, also, a growing maturity of our faith in Him. Today’s devotion helps us know what it means to live according to the Spirit. We start our journey through God’s Word in Romans, chapter eight.
“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Seeing that the law could not satisfy God’s disapproval of sin and sins’ affects in us, God sends His son, Jesus, to become a sin-offering for us. The cross of Christ crucifies condemnation! My punishment and your punishment for sin were satisfied in the cross of Christ!
To be condemned is to stand before a judge and to be found as offensive, therefore guilty. If we are condemned before God, then we are found guilty of our sinful offenses. Jesus willingly laid down His life as our sin-offering. He bore our offenses on what should have been our cross, crucifying all condemnation for those who are repentant of their sin, declaring Him as Lord. When we do so, the Holy Spirit then fills us, helping us to know and honor our Lord and holding us, securely, until the day of His return.
DISCUSS
Have you personally experienced being set free from condemnation (the guilt and punishment of sin)?
If so, can you describe a time in your life when you felt freedom from the guilt of sin?
How does the Holy Spirit help us to do what is right in the eyes of God?
Knowing that Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death, we now are freed from the requirements of the law as we walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh (Read Galatians 5:16-25 for more info about the flesh and the spirit). In this next verse, Paul tells us how we know if we are walking according to the flesh or the spirit:
“For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit.”
Highland family, we think about the things that we love. If we love the “fruits of the flesh”, then we think about the things of the flesh. If we love the fruits of the Spirit, then we think about the fruits of the spirit. When we desire something and we constantly find ourselves thinking about that thing we desire, that is called “dwelling.” In short, we dwell when our mind and our heart love something at the same time.
When I was 7 years old, I remember seeing “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” I was captivated. I instantly fell in love with the movie and it was all I could think about for months! I hummed the theme-song and I pretended to be Luke Skywalker all the time. For my birthday, my parents bought me a Darth Vader Faced Watch - I cherished it. I still have it to this day. The things we dwell upon shape our time, our beliefs, ultimately, our lives. So then, if we are to live according to the Spirit, we must train our minds to dwell upon the things of the Spirit.
DISCUSS
Give an example of how dwelling on Scripture has helped to shape your thought-life.
Our minds often drift. When we receive the Holy Spirit, one fruit that comes from Him is self-control. Describe how self-control helps you to dwell on the Lord, as opposed to drifting all over the place in your mind.
“For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so.”
Our mind-set is formed by what we dwell upon over time. The decisions we make and the deeds that we do flow out of what we dwell upon. So, as people, if we set our minds on the things of the flesh, then the decisions that we make and deeds that we do will be of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance — as I told you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). The work of sin through the flesh destroys life and leads to death.
As repentant sinners, our mind-set must remain submissive to the Holy Spirit’s convictions and counsel. This results in the Holy Spirit being able to grow and cultivate shalom (see our Family Devotion from last Sunday) in our thought-life. As we remain tempted by the enemy to sin, we must learn how to battle against Satan, who wants to find a stronghold for himself in our thought-life! We have to cast down every sinful thought that comes into our mind!
We cannot allow sinful thoughts to build our mindsets. If we allow distorted, sinful thinking to be the material that we use to build our mindsets, Satan will make that his fortress of attack against us! If this is happening in your life, repent! Submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit, asking Him to tear down this stronghold. Then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, stand firm and guard your hearts and thoughts against sin by dwelling on God’s word. If we are to guard our hearts and our minds then we must learn to fill our hearts and mind with the truth of God’s word. Paul tells us exactly how to do that in Philippians 4:6. Paul tell us to dwell on (let your mind set upon) ‘what is true’ - “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:6).
DISCUSS
What is one scripture that you dwell upon in order to keep your mind and heart focused on what is true?
What is one area of your life that Satan tries to trick you into believing a lie?
How has learning to meditate on God’s word proven itself to be a defense for your mind and heart in that area?
Side-note: The way that I started training my mind was to ask the Lord for wisdom. I asked Him to help me fall in love with His Word (He sent me Carrie who helped me!). I then began to read Scripture. I read through the New Testament over time, each night. In the mornings, I read through Psalm 119 - a portion each morning - until I completed the Psalm. The Lord took over from there.
Our series just for kids continues. The Series is called: The Bible in Four Weeks. Click the button below to see part four of this series:
Highland, we are blessed to have you in our lives.
We love you,
Rob & Carrie