Spiritual Life - How To Live For God

[0:00] Let us pray.

[0:30] The Word of God And it says in Romans 8 verse 1 that there is therefore now no condemnation.

[1:07] Friends, the Bible shows us how to live for God. The Bible calls us to be a spiritual people. And we call to be truly a spirit-filled people. We're going to look at a few verses along this line which show some of the marks of spiritual people.

[1:23] Here are some Bible hallmarks, if you like, about the characteristics of God's people. And what does the Bible say about people controlled by God's Spirit?

[1:34] So we're going to go to Romans 8. If you've got there the words in front of you, let's stand and just read these verses together. Romans 8 verses 1 and 2. Romans 8 verse 1 it says, Let's pray.

[2:07] Lord, we thank you for your Word as we gather unto it. Lord, for our gifts receive them. For our hearing, let it be that we'll receive your Word. Lord, that we'll receive without interference.

[2:20] That's a Word that will have a clear signal from heaven. From your Word as we hear it and live by it, we pray. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.

[2:31] Please be seated. Spiritual life, what does it look like? Firstly, there's freedom. There's freedom as we see in these verses here. There is therefore now no condemnation.

[2:43] No condemnation. A saved man or woman has been made free, truly free. There's a complete liberty and a release in Christ for the truly spiritual man or woman.

[2:55] And we're made to walk, it says, in nearness of life. We're made free to live a new life. And through the Bible we see a repeated series of themes of captivity and of release.

[3:08] We see situations where the people of God were all captives and then they were released. And it's a picture really for us spiritually so. That we as God's people, we've been set free.

[3:19] We've been made free. We've been given release. We were the ones that slays of Satan and sin are made servants of God and righteousness. It says for the spiritual believer that we'll walk after the Spirit.

[3:33] We'll walk after the Spirit. It's kind of noteworthy that sadly in some Bibles it cuts out the last part of this verse. Which is really quite a critical factor really.

[3:43] Not only do we have no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It goes on to say to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

[3:53] Some modern Bibles cut out that part which is I think a fundamental and vital part of the Bible. And we're called to walk after the Spirit.

[4:05] That our lives would be directed by the Holy Spirit. That our footsteps would be in accordance with His way. And friends, to say to have a freedom. There's no condemnation.

[4:16] But it's a freedom to walk in the Spirit. It isn't a freedom to walk in the flesh. These are contrary. And for all of us there's this conflict within.

[4:27] This struggle. The flesh and the Spirit. This battle within. The flesh and the Spirit. We are free to walk in the Spirit. Amen. We're free because we're saved.

[4:37] Because we have the Spirit. He makes us free. We're free in Christ. There's a wonderful liberty. And we're called it says to walk after the Spirit. So what does that mean?

[4:48] I believe it means that we're called to progress. To grow. To thrive. To increase. To go forward in the Christian life and walk.

[5:00] It means there's a liberty in the Spirit. Not a bondage. In the life of the flesh that we once had. There is bondage. There is weight. There's addiction. There's restriction. People who do not know the Savior.

[5:12] They're called captives. Enslaved. And they're such without even realising it. It's like when we are witnessing to some. We're knocking on the doors of dead people.

[5:26] They're dead. In trespasses and sins. No wonder they don't want to hear it. Most of them. But thank God. Some. God makes a lie. And that's true for us. Isn't it? That no him.

[5:36] We made a lie. We were once dead. We were once dead. In trespasses and sins. But in Christ's life. By the Spirit of God. There's life. There's release. There's peace in Christ.

[5:48] And we've got a wonderful freedom. Amen. You that know the Savior. You have a wonderful freedom. Think of it. There's no prison. No chains. No weights. No burdens. They've been given over unto the Lord.

[6:00] And we receive his help. His setting free. And friends. The Bible talks about a glorious liberty. This is really a wonderful phrase. Isn't it? To think that you.

[6:11] As God's children. The Bible declares for you. That you have a glorious liberty. It says that here in Romans 8.21. It says that because the creature itself.

[6:22] Also shall be delivered. From the bondage of corruption. Into the glorious liberty. Of the children of God. Think of it. Friends today. You that are saved. You have a glorious liberty.

[6:34] With a freedom in Christ. Because he has set us truly free. And he set us free. To walk in the spirit. That is freedom. To walk in God. To walk in the spirit. He's delivered us from bondage.

[6:46] From sin's hold. And he's given us a glorious liberty. As his own children. There's so much to take in really. You know really. I would urge you. As your homework. If you like.

[6:57] To read Romans. Chapters 6. 7. And 8. There's just so much there. To unwrap. To unpack. The glorious liberty. Of the children of God.

[7:08] Once we were. In the bondage of corruption. And now we have a glorious liberty. In Christ. And yet. There is still. That fact. That we're still human. We still have.

[7:19] The inward. Compulsions. That. Meant to be put to death. Day by day. The great truth. Is that we can be made free. Free in Christ. It tells us further.

[7:30] In Romans 6. Verse 18. It says. Being then made free from sin. You became. The servants. Of righteousness. Righteousness. God wants us to be free from sin. Not to stay there.

[7:42] But to be servants. Of righteousness. And he calls us to that. As God's people. That we will not walk after the flesh. That our. Appetites and desires.

[7:52] Will be governed. By the spirit of God. Not by the flesh. And. So. It's that. Plea from the word. For all of us. To. To aspire to that.

[8:03] To seek God. To be truly spirit driven. Spirit controlled. To see what it is. The spirit of God wants for us. Not to be driven. Or motivated. By the flesh.

[8:14] What is it. That we walk after. It's a critical thought. To contemplate. To. To seek God for. What is it. That we. Aspire to. Are we living just after our own desires.

[8:26] Or do we walk after God's ways. God wants us to have. A heart. A love. A spirit. To be controlled by his spirit. To be led by his spirit. And he'll set us free.

[8:38] He takes us from out. From under that. Cloud of condemnation and guilt. That bondage of corruption. That. That. Serving of sin. To be free in Christ.

[8:49] By his spirit. To know that victory and peace. And that day by day walk with him. Now some dear people. Continually walk around. Like they have to be miserable. To be spiritual.

[9:00] That's not true either. You know. We don't have to flagellate ourselves. Or punish ourselves. As some. In the times past. Would. Would. Climb over. Stairs of broken glass.

[9:11] And flagellate themselves. Literally. As if somehow. That would gain them some credit. Um. But. Friends. We have. A glorious liberty.

[9:23] A glorious liberty in Christ. We've got a joy. And a victory. That he gives. And he sustains. That he. Has made for us. That victory. That is the cross. It's there.

[9:33] At the cross. That we have the victory. And we walk in the light of that. That finished work for us. Thank God we don't. Have to save ourselves. We actually can't.

[9:44] He is the saviour. Thank God. I believe many people are bound up in bitterness and bondage. Not knowing that they. In Christ they have been set free. They are truly free.

[9:55] Free indeed. And true freedom. Friends. True freedom. Comes by faith. It's by faith in Christ. That we can know the truth. That we can know the promise of God.

[10:06] That we can be set free. As our Lord talked about in John chapter 8. He says. If you then continue in my word. Then ye are my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth. And the truth shall make you free.

[10:20] There's full pardon. There's a gift. Received. There's a promise. That you can know. That you've been made free. And it's by the truth.

[10:30] Of his declaration. By his promise. As you trust him. You are made free. Another way people can lack freedom.

[10:41] In the spirit. Is because of unforgiveness. Now there's things that they've not let go. That have hurt or caused a wound.

[10:52] They're not able to forgive and forget. They've not released that chain breaking power. Of forgiveness in their lives. You know there's people that have done me very badly. But they're forgiven.

[11:04] I still. It still hurts. But. That's freedom. You know I've forgiven them. I'm not holding them at ransom. Because. Friends.

[11:15] Unforgiveness will cripple you. There's a bondage that's crippling. The spiritual life of some. Unforgiveness. It binds people. And restricts them.

[11:26] But think of the freedom you have in Christ. The freedom to forgive. The freedom to love. The freedom that can bring restoration. And healing in your life. In your relationships. Freedom from hurt and hate.

[11:38] There's a healing of all of that. In Christ. There's freedom. You're free. Truly free. And. Friends. God's. Deliverance. His saving. Breaks all the chains.

[11:49] It opens the prison doors. He will set the captives free. He promises that. God. An old time man of God. Who was renowned for his faith.

[12:01] His prayers. Of. Of. The wonderful provision of God. To George Mueller. He said this. There was a day when I died. Utterly died. To my opinions.

[12:12] Preferences. Tastes. And will. Died. To the world. It's approval. Or censure. Died to approval. Or blame. Even of my friends.

[12:23] And brethren. And since then. I've studied only. To show myself. Approved unto God. God. And there comes a place. Where we die. As a Christian.

[12:33] We die to self. We die to sin. We're dead to the world. We're dead to it. We're like a dead body to it. And. We come alive to God. He wants that for us.

[12:44] To have that daily victory. That walking in the spirit. That awakening unto God. And freedom is available. As we know the truth. As our Lord promises here. When you know him.

[12:54] When you know the one who is the truth. When you know his truth. When you know the truth of his saving. There's a wonderful freedom. A breaking of change. And as we trust in Christ. As we stop walking after the flesh.

[13:07] And we start walking after the spirit. There's a transformation. There's a turning. There's a change. There's a life change. There is no condemnation. We walk after the spirit now.

[13:18] There's a real freedom. And release from sin. And it's greed. And there's a saviour. A deliverer. Christ. Who set us free. We're talking about the marks.

[13:29] To spiritual people. We're God's people. These are truths we can know today. In this 21st century. We have freedom. Secondly.

[13:40] We have fruitfulness. That's God's will for us. God's plan. That we be fruitful. Amen. That we'll be Christians. We'll be fruitful. We'll bear fruit. It's his desire.

[13:50] That we will bear much fruit. And it's in contrast again to the flesh. When we know the spirit. When we're born of the spirit. When we're spiritually walking.

[14:02] When we're walking after the spirit. There is freedom. And secondly there is fruitfulness. Fruitfulness. Now we know the familiar passage of Galatians 5.

[14:13] Where it talks about the fruits of the spirit. Notice in the lead up to the mention of the fruit of the spirit. It talks about in contrast.

[14:24] The works of the flesh. Again there's this. This contrast. This. This distinct difference between the flesh and the spirit.

[14:36] They're contrasted again. As we read in Galatians 5. From verse 19. It first talks about the works of the flesh. And Paul writes to Galatians 5. Verse 19.

[14:46] Now the works of the flesh are manifest. Which are these. Adultery. Fornication. Uncleanness. Vesciviousness. Idolatry.

[14:58] Witchcraft. Hatred. Variance. Emulations. Wrath. Strife. Seditions. Heresies. Envyings. Murders. Drunkenness.

[15:09] Revelings. And such like. Of the which. I tell you. Before. As I have also told you in time past.

[15:20] For they which. Do such things. Shall not inherit. The kingdom of God. And then it contrasts. Here's the flip side. But. But the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit is.

[15:32] It says. Love. Joy. Peace. Longsuffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Faith. Meekness. Temperance. Against such.

[15:44] There is no law. And they that are Christ. Have crucified the flesh. With the affections and lust. If we live in the spirit. Let us also walk in the spirit. So friends.

[15:55] Here again. It's a telltale sign. Another mark here. Is fruit. God wants you. God's people. Saints of God. Men and women of God. To bear fruit.

[16:06] And this can mean character. Right living. Integrity. A brand new way of walking. Walking in the spirit. That's what it looks like. It's fruitful. There's a fruit here. There's the fruit of the spirit.

[16:17] Love. Joy. Peace. And etc. The love of God. Brings forth fruit. In our lives. And the flesh. Meantime is crucified. Put to death. Walking in the spirit.

[16:28] Means walking worthy. Of the Lord. And we read further of that. In Colossians 1. Verse 10. Where it says. Paul writes to the Colossians. Chapter 1. Verse 10.

[16:38] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord. Unto all pleasing. Being fruitful. There's that word fruitful. In every good work. And increasing in. The knowledge of God. So friends.

[16:49] We'll see fruit. In the life of a spiritual man or woman. Matthew 7. Verse 20. Paul. The Lord talks about. The false prophets. You'll know them by their fruits.

[17:00] You shall know them. Friends. There's a wonderful. Comfort we can have. That. We will be fruitful. God promises. To bear fruit. His word will bear fruit.

[17:11] In our life. Some would emphasize gifts. Or outward things. That people do. Spiritual talk. Or signs. Some churches. On the other hand.

[17:22] Are full of cold. Man made rituals. And not at all spiritual. But friends. The Bible talks about. A real spiritual fruit. The real fruit. Of the spirit. That will. His spirit will produce.

[17:34] In our life. The fruit. We will see some things. We will see love. We'll see joy. We'll see peace. Long suffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Faith.

[17:45] Meekness. Temperance. It will be evident. These will be the genuine signs. That will come forth. From our life. They'll show. In our daily interactions. And relations with others.

[17:57] Again it says. They that are Christ. Have crucified the flesh. With the affections and lusts. Friends. I believe that crucifixion. Has to happen. Day by day.

[18:08] Hour by hour. Even. That the flesh gets crucified. We see it. And we crucify it. We see it. And we lay it down. And nail it down. Friends. The flesh.

[18:19] And the affections and lusts of the flesh. Are to be crucified. What does that look like? It's a day by day walk with God. It's where those loves and lusts. That appeal to the lost.

[18:30] Have lost their attraction to us. We've got a different mind. We've got a mind of Christ. We've got a different spirit. We've got his spirit. We've got a different heart. That he puts within us. His heart. We don't watch the same programming.

[18:43] We don't have the same affections. For the. Whether it be a footy team. You name it. I mean. That pales into nothingness. To the same.

[18:54] Such things. We don't want to sing and dance. To the devil's music. There's a change in our heart. Our aspiration. Our soul. There's a transformation. There's a fruit.

[19:04] Fruit. And friends. That's. The word of God urges you. That a spiritual. The spiritual man or woman. That something dramatically different. Happens on the inside of you.

[19:15] That you'll walk with Christ. You'll walk in the spirit. It's a new walk. It's a higher walk. It's a deeper walk. And this fruit. We'll bear witness. It'll show. A testimony. It'll.

[19:27] Shine through. It'll show. That fruit. So. How's our fruit? Now someone gave me some lemons lately. And. And. And. It was just a little spot of mold on them.

[19:38] But. I know just a couple of days after we had them. The whole lemon was covered in mold. So I have to complain to that. That gift giver. But no. Sometimes the fruit gets moldy.

[19:49] Sometimes it's bad fruit. Friends. And we can bear fruit. Let's make sure it's good fruit. Amen. Let's. Let's bear fruit. Fruit that is good. That's. That's. Blessing. That's.

[19:59] That's God's fruit. Not the fruit of the flesh. But the fruit of the spirit. Amen. Not the works of the flesh. But the fruit of a godly life. And so. Be encouraged.

[20:10] The sunny scriptures again. Contrast the flesh and the spirit. Let's. Let's crucify the flesh. Recognize the flesh. Whenever it rears its ugly head. Let's nail it. Let's crucify it.

[20:21] Let's kill it. Let's put it to death. And let's be made alive in Christ. Let the spirit of God do his work. That he will walk with us. And talk with us. That he'll walk alongside of us.

[20:31] He'll work in our hearts. And he. Will produce fruit. It's the fruit of. The spirit. That's where it comes from. Doesn't come from you. It's his spirit. Let God to.

[20:42] Bear that fruit. In your life. He will produce that fruit. A fruit tree doesn't need to strive and strain. To produce a certain fruit. An apple tree naturally produces apples.

[20:53] A pear tree naturally produces pears. If you are spirit filled believer. You will produce the fruit of the spirit. It'll happen. Because he will make it happen.

[21:05] He will. He will make the fruit. Just let God. Bear fruit out of your life. Don't constrain his fruit. Let it flow. His fruit. Amen.

[21:15] It's a natural part of the life of a believer. It ought to be. It ought to be. Or didn't it? That it will be evident. That it will show. That the love of the Lord will flow out of you. That the joy filled life will be evident.

[21:29] That peaceful relationships will happen. That long suffering. Patient endurance. Those that get under your skin. Because you've got the fruit of the spirit. You have long suffering. He will make it happen.

[21:41] Because you have the fruit of the spirit. He will give you gentleness. He will give you kindness. Because you have the fruit of the spirit. You'll have goodness. There'll be truth and honesty that'll flow.

[21:52] That'll bear fruit out of your life. There will be faithfulness. There'll be a loyalty in you. There'll be a meekness. A submission to him. There'll be a temperance. A self-denial. All of these things will come out.

[22:04] As you live for Christ. He will make that fruit. He'll produce that fruit. And so. Are you showing the fruit. Of a spiritual life? You can. Let God release that fruit.

[22:16] Out of your life. Spirit. Spurgeon said. Be ye always glorifying Christ. Christians. From the rising of the sun. Unto the going down of the same. Always glorify Christ.

[22:30] Serve the master in all things. The fruit of the spirit. That's what we want. Isn't it? Don't you want to? And when it's not happening.

[22:41] Crucify the flesh. When you want to go contrary to the fruit of the spirit. Recognize that that is the flesh. And you've got to kill it.

[22:52] You've got to kill it. So friends. It's freedom. Those who walk in Christ. Will have no condemnation. They will walk after the spirit. Not walk after the flesh. There'll be freedom.

[23:03] There'll be fruit. If we walk in the spirit. There'll be a natural expression of his spirit. His fruit will be evident. In our day by day lives. And thirdly. We've seen freedom. We've seen fruit.

[23:13] The third mark is fervency. Friends. I believe. That you as God's people. He wants you to be free. He wants you to be fruitful. And he wants you to be fervent.

[23:24] He wants fervency. He wants that. His will is that you will be fervent. There's many references to fervency. As we read in Romans 12.

[23:35] Verses 10 through 11. Paul tells the Romans. Chapter 12. Verse 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another. With brotherly love. In honor of preferring one another. Not slothful in business.

[23:46] Fervent in spirit. Serving the Lord. What does it tell us here? Romans 12. 11. It says that the spiritual one. Will be fervent in spirit.

[23:57] It's another sign. Of Christ working in your life. Another sign of his spirit. Having his way. There will be a fervency within you. A fervency in you. A fervency in spirit.

[24:09] A fervency in service and fellowship. Pray for that fervency. God's spiritual people are called to have a brotherly spirit. To serve and bless others. A fervent love.

[24:20] We read. There's numbers of references. I'll just touch on some. To this term fervent. Fervent. There's a fervent love. We see here in 1 Peter 1.

[24:30] Verse 22. Peter writes 1 Peter 1. 22. Seeing you have purified your souls. In obeying the truth through the spirit. Unto unflamed love of the brethren.

[24:42] See that. You love one another. With a pure heart. Fervently. We should love one another. With a pure heart. Fervently. Amen.

[24:54] Can we do that? We need to do that. Don't we love one another. With a pure heart. Fervently. And it goes on. 1 Peter 4. Verse 8. Further. It talks about how fervent charity.

[25:07] Fervent. Charity. Among yourselves. Wow. A fervency of love. The fellowship of God's people. That we will recognize. We're brothers and sisters together. That you that are saved.

[25:19] That saved one in your family. That saved one in your fellowship. Is your brother. That saved one is your sister. And we should have that brotherly love. Brotherly kindness and fellowship.

[25:31] And such that we'll bear with one another. When someone is overtaken in a fault. It says you that are spiritual. What are you to do? Restore such a one. In the spirit of meekness.

[25:42] Friends. There's a meekness and a restoration. That even with the ones that are hard for us to manage. That even with the ones that might stumble and fail. That we should have meekness towards them.

[25:55] That we would seek to restore them. That we won't have hypocrisy or pride. But we'll have that spirit of meekness. Knowing that but for the grace of God. We would be needing correction ourselves.

[26:07] So there's a fervency of spirit. A spirit of zeal. And also it talks about a fervency of prayer. James 5 says confess your faults one to another.

[26:21] And pray one for another. That you may be healed. It says the effectual fervent prayer. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth most.

[26:31] So we need that don't we? Some fervency. Wouldn't that be good? Why are we not as spiritual as people as we should be? Maybe prayerfulness is lacking.

[26:44] Maybe prayerlessness is the problem. Do we lack prayer? We haven't got a prayer meeting. Don't forget that. Sometimes our prayer meeting is few in number.

[26:55] But that doesn't matter. I know we only have two people witnessing Saturday. So friends sometimes our numbers are low in certain things. But how is your prayer life?

[27:05] That's what matters. You might not be at the prayer meeting. But have you got a prayer life? That's what counts. Is our prayer life lacking? If so our spiritual life will be lacking. Friends we all need to get fervent in prayer.

[27:18] And victory is there. Victory is won in the place of prayer. To be a spiritual people we must be a praying people. Praying. And pray, what does it say? Pray fervently.

[27:30] Effectual fervent prayer. Let's that be our prayer. Someone has said prayer is the heartbeat of a spiritual life. And God wants to interrupt our routine. And to make determination to pray.

[27:44] Make a determined intent to pray. Often the church is fireless and prayerless. Friends we can have a lot of form. We can have a lot of the routine. But if we don't pray.

[27:57] It's vain. Isn't it? It's empty. It's less pleasing at times. Some churches might have all the razzmatazz. All the bells and whistles. But if they miss prayer.

[28:07] They miss the whole point. And we can be a quiet, reserved church. We can actually be closer to the throne. When there's a reverence and a fear of God. When there's a prayerfulness amongst us.

[28:19] But the point is that the ingredient that we must have is the power of prayer. And how often it's unrealised and untapped power.

[28:31] Fervent prayer. That's what we need. Friends, the church is not praying enough. Here's what someone said of the church. She has many organisers but only a few agonisers. Many players and payers but few prayers.

[28:45] Many fears but few tears. Much fashion but little passion. Many interferers but few intercessors. Many talkers but few walkers.

[28:59] So true, isn't it? The ministry of prayer. Friends, the ministry of prayer is a ministry every one of us can have. That's God's people. Where are the strivings and groanings?

[29:09] Where is the earnestness of prayer? Friends, the fervency of prayer. God commands fervent prayer. Sister, brother, fervent prayer.

[29:21] Travailing prayer. Selfless prayer. It's been said prayerlessness is the greatest sin of the church. Friends, it is, isn't it? To not pray. To pray weekly.

[29:34] As in W-E-A-K-L-Y. Friends, it said the church began in the upper room with prayer agonising. But today is in the supper room, organising.

[29:45] The church began in revival. We're ending in ritual. The church started virile. Today it is sterile. Friends, prayer. We must pray.

[29:57] How is your spiritual life? Is there a fervency there? A fervency of spirit. A fervency of love. A fervency of faith. A fervency of prayer. We need urgency in prayer.

[30:11] To storm the gates of hell. The strongholds of hell. Friends, there's strongholds all around us. I know I was talking with some in the past and they talked about how there's lots of witch's covens.

[30:23] There's lots of witch's covens in Elizabeth. They're praying. But are we praying? Or are we praying? To be fervent in prayer?

[30:34] Maybe our prayerlessness is the reason for our powerlessness. Prayerlessness. Really, when prayerlessness shows our lack of love for God.

[30:45] When we lack prayer, it shows our lack of dependence upon Him. Friends, it's either the flesh or the spirit. It's one or the other. If we want the spirit, pray. Amen?

[30:56] Pray and keep on praying. And beware of the flesh. Recognize it. Someone made a bit of a list of how the flesh manifests itself.

[31:06] It's quite a telling list. Think of these things and think, wow, is that in me? How does the flesh manifest itself? Hastiness of spirit.

[31:17] Hastiness of spirit. Not taking the time to pray. Not taking the time in prayer to be endued with power. To be equipped for the task. Hastiness. Anger.

[31:29] It's another one. Lack of love and an abundance of unforgiveness. Friends, that is the flesh. See it for what it is. Lack of love.

[31:41] Unforgiveness. That is the flesh, sister. That is the flesh, brother. Recognize it. Nail it down. Amen? Seeking to do our own will. That's the flesh. Backbiting.

[31:53] Doing religious service in order to please God without a heart for Him. We can be very religious. In our works. But without the heart for God, it's vain. Confidence in our own wisdom and power.

[32:06] That's the flesh. Overindulging in eating and pleasure. That's the flesh. You know? We could joke about that one, but. Overindulging.

[32:18] That's the problem, isn't it? Spending time watching the filth on television. Recognize what it is. It's the flesh. It's the flesh. It's the flesh. Raveling in the pleasures and sin of the world.

[32:30] It's the flesh. Spiritual apathy. It's the flesh. Spiritual insensitivity. It's the flesh. Prayerlessness. It's the flesh. The carnal life.

[32:41] The carnal life cannot walk in the Spirit of God. End quote. Friends, we've got to recognize all of those things, don't we? Go to God in prayer and ask Him to show you where the flesh has taken a place it should not in your life.

[32:59] Amen? And rather being in the Spirit. To be in the Spirit. God will help you to see that. That you'll have a fervency refreshed. That you'll see the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

[33:10] As you recognize the flesh and deal with it. And as you walk in the Spirit. And walk deeper. Walk more strongly. With the empowerment of God's Spirit. Friends, we need to be a Holy Spirit filled church.

[33:23] We must be that. And so we must recognize the flesh and renounce it. Is it religious activity? Or is it obedience to the Word of God?

[33:36] Sometimes we can miss that. We can have all kinds of religious activity but not be spiritual. We've got to get back to the altar. We've got to go God's way. Let the glory of God fill His church.

[33:48] Fill our hearts. Our vessels. How we need to be spiritual. Friends, I need to be spiritual. Don't lose your spiritual life. Refresh your spiritual life.

[33:58] And that means daily. Taking up your cross. Denying yourself. Putting the flesh to death. There's many dead churches. Dead preachers.

[34:10] Dead people. Dead Christians. They've lost something to spark. Friends, we've got to get back to what God wants for us.

[34:20] Because without the Spirit we're dead. Will we walk in the Spirit? Or will we walk in the flesh? So friends, we've talked about some things today. Talked about the freedom we have.

[34:31] Friends, this is not to put any yoke of condemnation or bondage upon you. There is glorious liberty. We're actually gloriously liberated. That liberation is that we walk in the Spirit.

[34:44] That's what the liberation is. And the fruit of the Spirit. That should be our lifestyle. The fruit of the Spirit. He should prompt it and grow it and sprout it and bear it.

[34:57] That fruit in your life and living. And that fervency is what He wants for you. For me. That we'll be fervent in the Spirit. It's what characterized the early church.

[35:09] The reformation. The revivals of old. Where there was a fervency for the things of God. Of faith. Of zeal. Of love for the truth. I started off by talking about.

[35:24] This is a plea to be a spiritual people. The Bible calls us to be a spiritual people. Not a fleshly people. But a spiritual people. The Lord calls us not to walk after the flesh.

[35:35] But after the Spirit. I'm closing shortly. Just another verse or two. Here in Romans 8 verse 5. It says. For they that are after the flesh.

[35:46] Do mind the things of the flesh. But they that are after the Spirit. The things of the Spirit. What's our mind wanting? What does our mind dwell upon?

[36:01] Romans 8 verse 6. For to be carnally minded. Carnally minded. Is death. But. To be spiritually minded. Is life and peace. Because the carnal mind.

[36:12] Is enmity. In other words. It's hateful. Against God. For it is not. Subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can be. So then. Those that are in the flesh.

[36:22] Cannot please God. Brother. Sister. If you're in the flesh. You cannot please God. Get out of the flesh. Amen. And get into the Spirit. If you want to please God.

[36:36] You cannot do it. You cannot do it in the flesh. It's very clear there. And just lastly. But ye are not in the flesh. But in the Spirit. If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

[36:47] Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ. He is not of his. Friends. There's an encouragement here. The flesh and the Spirit. Try it through the Word of God. Bondage and liberty.

[37:00] Try it through the Word of God. What do you want? Do you want the bondage of the flesh? Or do you want the liberation of the Spirit? It's a choice isn't it? And every moment of the day. We can determine.

[37:12] Are we going to be led by the Spirit? Just a final quote. Another preacher's quote here. It says this. If we did every act in the light of the judgment seat.

[37:24] If we spoke every word in the light of the judgment seat. If we worship God in the light of the judgment seat. If we prayed in the light of the judgment seat. If we obeyed in light of the judgment seat.

[37:36] If Prince just prepared every sermon with one eye on damned humanity. And the other on the judgment seat. Then we would have revival. That would shake the world. Friends.

[37:46] Judgment is coming. And believers. You're going to have a judgment. It's called the judgment seat of Christ. It's the judgment seat of Christ. Friends. Let us be fervent. Let's be militant.

[37:57] Let's rise up like an army. Let's be arising for a defense of the faith. Of the gospel. To be militant. Let's be compassionate. Let's be compassionate. In our love of our saviour.

[38:09] Let's be compassionate. In the love for souls. And fervent enough. If it be. Well. Let's be fervent enough to die to self.

[38:20] I'm not saying it's choice. I'm saying you should die to yourself. I'm saying you must die to yourself. It's not optional. You should die to yourself. You must die to yourself.

[38:31] You must die to yourself. If we don't die to the self, to the world and the devil, we'll be ineffective. Yeah, die to self, to selfishness, to the carnal, to the fleshly.

[38:47] If you don't die to self, you're not going to be an effective Christian. You're going to miss God's best. Friends, what will you do? Go in faith. Go led by the Spirit.

[38:58] Let's pray. Lord, we thank you that your word tells us we can know the truth and the truth shall make us free. And we know that saving truth is that your blood was given for us, that we can have eternal life.

[39:14] Lord, we pray each one might have that trust, that assurance, that faith, that knowledge by faith, that you can save the worst of us because you give the best of yourself as our substitute.

[39:28] Lord, we thank you that we have absolute freedom. Lord, we pray, refresh in us that fruitfulness that you want, that we'll always consider, what is my life bearing?

[39:40] What fruit does it bear? Let it be the fruit of the Spirit, we pray. And Lord, for fervency. Renew that fervency within, Lord, that first love, that refreshing of zeal, of urgency, of prayer.

[39:52] Lord, that our spiritual life would be as full and as strong and increasingly so as it can be. As we've laid down our life, we've died to the flesh, we kill the flesh, we crucify our flesh and the affections and lusts.

[40:10] And we are made alive by your Spirit. Lord, that wonderful fervency is what you want for each one. And we pray each believer might reflect personally, Lord, each one of us, how can we be more fervent in our faith, in our love, in our zeal?

[40:27] Lord, for your praise. We pray for every family, every heart, every home, that you would be the centre of it. Lord, we pray, be glorified in your church.

[40:37] Lord, help us to die to the flesh, to die daily, to crucify the flesh and to be made alive, to be made spiritually alive by your Holy Spirit, that we would be truly a spiritual people.

[40:53] And not for our praise or any credit we can claim, but all to you, all to you, all glory, all glory to you, the Lamb that was slain.

[41:04] In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Amen. Amen.

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