THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 9 of 30 " . . . but if ye through the Spirit" (KJV), "But if through the power of the Holy Spirit." (NLT) – Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
Those in Christ Jesus have a challenging assignment set before them. However, they also have access to a power sufficient for the task. The Holy Spirit is mentioned nineteen times in this eighth chapter. All of them point out His pivotal role in the matter of salvation.
1. MANNER OF LIFE – Walking after the Spirit (8:1).
2. FREEDOM – The Spirit of life has freed us (8:2).
3. MANNER OF LIFE – Walking after the Spirit (8:4).
4. DIRECTION – Those who live according to the Spirit (8:5a).
5. TRUTH – The things of the Spirit (8:5b).
6. CONTRASTED WITH FLESH – Not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (8:9a).
7. INDWELLING – The Spirit dwelling in us (8:9b).
8. POSSESSED – Those who do not have the Spirit of Christ do not belong to Him (8:9c).
9. LIFE – The Spirit is life (8:10).
10. INDWELLING – The Spirit dwells in us (8:11a).
11. QUICKENING – God enlivens our mortal bodies by the indwelling Spirit (8:11b).
12. SUBDUING SIN – Through the Spirit, we put to death the deeds of the body (8:13).
13. LEADING – Those led by the Spirit of God are God's sons (8:14).
14. ADOPTION – We have received the Spirit of adoption (8:15).
15. INNER WITNESS – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit (8:16).
16. PRODUCTIVITY – We have the firstfuits of the Spirit (8:23).
17. HELP – The Spirit helps our weaknesses (8:26a).
18. INTERCESSION – The Spirit makes intercession for us (8:26b).
19. MIND – God knows the mind of the Spirit, who intercedes for us according to God's will (8:27).
In all of these references, the Spirit is presented as working within and together with the saints of God. He is the empowering One from heaven, given to assist us in making it safely from earth to glory. The text clearly implies the necessity of the Spirit's working within the believer: " . . . but if ye through the Spirit . . . "
The responsibility set before us cannot be accomplished independently of the Holy Spirit. No law, however clearly stated and rigid, can accomplish this appointed work. Further, this is not something that is optional.
The involvement of the Holy Spirit in our salvation is extensive.
1. GOD'S LOVE – The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts "by the Holy Spirit" (Rom 5:5).
2. ACCEPTANCE – The offering up of the Gentiles is made acceptable "by the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15:16).
3. ENABLEMENT – We are enabled to keep what is committed to us "by the Holy Spirit" (2 Tim 1:14).
4. SCRIPTURE – Holy men of God wrote the Scripture as they were moved "by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet 1:21).
5. PARTICIPATION – Righteousness, peace, and joy are "in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17).
6. RENEWAL – We are washed, sanctified, and justified "by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor 6:11).
7. GIFTS – Various gifts are dispensed to the church "by the Spirit" (1 Cor 12:8).
8. CHANGE – Believers are being changed from one stage of glory to another "by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor 3:18).
9. REVELATION – The message and implications of salvation have been revealed to God's holy Apostles and prophets "by the Spirit" (Eph 3:5).
10. EFFECTIVENESS – The Word of the Gospel is effective in those who believe because of the working of "the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess 1:5).
We can build ourselves up in the most holy faith by praying "in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20). It should not surprise us, therefore, that the requirements of spiritual life depend upon the working of the Holy Spirit. The work set before us is not sensational, or appealing to the flesh. It is a necessary work, not an optional one.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus I thank You for the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit, and His effective ministry to me.