“New Life in the Spirit”   Read Romans 8:1-11

“Spirit” is referenced eleven times in the above text, emphasizing the importance of the Spirit in the life of the Christ follower.

The bibles says that “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” - Gen.2:7

The KJV says “living soul.”  Breath in Hebrew is ‘Ruach’, same word for Spirit.  God created man by putting His ‘breath’, His Spirit, within him.

We are spiritual beings, we have souls, souls that are going last for eternity in one of two places, according to the Bible. The bible is very clear what humankind does with the person and work of Jesus Christ determines their eternal destiny.  Our walk with Christ is initiated by the Spirit and continues in the Spirit. Evil seems to be increasing in our culture, but we’ve read the book (The bible, God’s word. The full canon of scripture. Inspired word of God contained from Genesis to Revelation) - we WIN!  If you are in Christ you are on the winning side!  But make no mistake about it, we are still in a fight, a fight for the souls of men and women.  The bible is very clear that God is “not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to repentance” (cf. 2 Pet.3:9).  You see, the LORD God desires that ALL would come to Him, through Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” - John 14:6   The evil that is going on in our country and world is not a battle of the flesh but of the spirit, and can only be won in the spirit.  We must continue to pray and stand for truth, God’s truth.  God’s word is the greatest love letter of all time to mankind.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a gospel of hate but of love.  We must continue to love one another and pray for one another.  Jesus said, “…love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” - Matt.5:44

Jesus is not going to tell us to do something that He will not empower us to do, but we cannot do this in the flesh.  It takes the spirit of God is us to  fulfill what God wants to accomplish through us.  Just as we must take care of our physical body, we must take care of and guard our spiritual body via repentance, prayer, reading of God’s word, preaching of God’s word, assembling together to encourage one another.  Yes, we are on the winning side, but we must continue to do our part - “…glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (Cf. 1 Cor. 6:20).

Pastor Rodney (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14)