GOD'S POWER IN EVERY DAY LIFE

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them: Materialism, Pride Self-centeredness, Laziness, Anger/Bitterness, Sexual lust, Envy, Gluttony, Lying. The survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent).

If we are honest with ourselves in some way don’t we all struggle with sin on a daily basis? Sin of all kinds? We feel guilty when we sin, so we confess and repent but after a while we go back to sinning again. Does that ever happen to any one? It happens to me from time to time. Why is it heard to break the power of sin in our lives?
D.L Moody illustrated how to have victory over Sin “Speaking to a large audience, Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a sin here and there," but by being filled with the Holy Spirit.

How I wish we experience God’s power in our every day lives? Is there such a power in the first place? If so how can we receive that life transforming power? Is it only available for a few selected Christians or to every believer? How does the Holy Spirit’s power work in a believer’s life?

During the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus promised his disciples that he was returning to his father and he will send them another Counselor or comforter to be with them forever. John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” He also promised, Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

According to that promise on the day of Pentecost i.e fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, the Holy Spirit came in power upon a group of 120 frightened and dejected disciples, transforming them into world changers. They went out and preached the message of the gospel fearlessly. The same power transformed a hardcore murderer Saul into Paul on the road of Damascus. After he was transformed he became a missionary to the Gentile world. Paul while writing to Romans shares how the power of the Holy Spirit works in the life of a believer aiding him in his struggle against sin. Let’s read Romans 8:5-16.

I Sin controlled life:” (Romans 8:5-8)
“Those who live according to the sinful nature (the flesh) have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

Paul warned the Romans about the dangers of a flesh(old nature/sinful nature) controlled life. If we live by the flesh our minds are set on what that nature desires. What the flesh desires is often contrary to God’s laws. The flesh rebels against God because it doesn’t submit to God. If we are obsessed with sinful passions however pleasant and appealing they may be initially, in the end we will be consumed by those very passions. Let me illustrate.

Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. " First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. "Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder the wolf licks the blade in the arctic night. So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his OWN warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more--until the dawn finds him dead in the snow!"

It is a fearful thing that people can be "consumed by their own lusts." Only God's Spirit keeps us from the wolf's fate. Our life doesn’t have to end in tragedy. There is a much better way to live that is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

II. The Spirit Controlled life: (Romans 8:9-11)
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”

After explaining the dangers of a life that is controlled by the flesh Paul reminds the Roman believers that they however were not controlled by the flesh but by the Spirit if only they let the Spirit of God live in them. When a sinner believes, his sins are forgiven; he is made righteous and henceforth, sin is not imputed to him. According to Romans 6: 6-7 “ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin, because any one who has died has been freed from sin.” What it means is that the believer is to reckon himself “to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Sin is no more his master and the believer becomes the servant of righteousness. But should the believer become unwatchful i.e the old nature immediately manifests its presence and takes control.

We must keep this tension in balance that “we know what to do, yet we don’t do it. What would stop the flesh from gaining control over us again? It is the power of the Holy Spirit. The power which raised Christ from the dead will give power to our mortal bodies by indwelling in us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

What does it mean to honor God with our bodies? How does this play out in our day to day life? When we realize that we are not our own but belong to Christ and the Holy Spirit is living in us, our whole outlook on life changes. We are careful in what we watch on the TV/Internet. We take care of our bodies we don’t abuse them by indulging in sinful passions. We will develop healthy eating habits. We will exercise regularly to keep ourselves fit for his service. We use our tongues to build and encourage others and not to gossip and tear others down even when we think we have reason to do so. We will have better worth ethics, whatever we put our hands to do we will do with excellence as if we are doing it onto the Lord. We stay committed to our spouses. We will be better husbands and love our wives as Christ loved the Church, and we respect and honor our husbands as the biblical women honored their husbands. We will obey our parents in the Lord. We conduct honest business and a host of other things we do that are pleasing to God.

III. Contrast between the flesh and the Spirit (8:12-15)
“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-- but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba Father

Paul laid out a vivid description of a life that is controlled by flesh and a life that is controlled by the Spirit. How could you tell whether you are living by the flesh or by the Spirit? There is a night and day difference between them. When I am operating by the flesh, I become self indulgent, irritated, fault finding, selfish, less tolerant, angry, grumpy and unpleasant to be around. When I operate by the Spirit I am the opposite. Usually the ones who are closer to you are able to tell the difference. If your wife, husband and children are not seeing the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in you then you are not probably living by the Spirit. It’s time to take a reality check

There are different ways to gauge whether you are living by the flesh or by the Spirit: Take a look at your habits are they God honoring? How is your spending? Are you a spend thrift? Are you a impulsive spender or a wise spender? When we go for shopping we pray and ask God to lead us to do wise shopping. How is your giving to Church and mission’s work? Do you regularly read God’s word? How is your prayer life? Are you excited to serve God? How much time do you spend watching TV? Are your growing in the fruit of the Spirit?

What is the fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Paul is consistent with his message to the believers both in Rome and in Galatia. He knows the devastating effects of sinful passions and desires and he also knows the blessings that are accompanied by living by the Spirit.

If we live by the flesh we experience death, death to our relationships, joy, health and eventually untimely death, where as when we live by the Spirit we experience peace, joy, and we love what is good and hate what is evil.

IV How to receive God’s transforming Power?
God’s power is available to all of his children. If you have not already become a child of God how can you become one? All you have to do is to believe that you are a sinner, Christ died for your sins, he was buried and after three days he rose again, then ask God to forgive your sins and invite him to come into your heart, when you do that you become the child of God and he becomes our father. What a powerful father we have.

God’s power has broken the power of sin and death 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. According, to Ephesians 1:19, “his incomparably great power is available for us who believe.” When such power is made available to each of his children isn’t it ironic that many of his children are living sin filled and defeated lives?

Are you sick and tired of sin in your life? You can tap in to the source of God’s power today. You may be asking how I can receive the power of the Holy Spirit? Jesus made it very clear to us how God’s children can receive the Holy Spirit by this analogy. Luke 11:11-13 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

“May the Lord save us through the washing of rebirth by pouring the Holy Spirit generously in us through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:5-7) Amen