BOOK OF ROMANS (PART 17) – LIFE IN THE SPIRIT (PART 3)

▪ Life in the Spirit is a stress-free life.
▪ It is not something to be burnt out with. Ang bigay sa atin ng Panginoon ay kapahingahan.
▪ Jesus said, “Come to Me all who are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.”
▪ Walang suffering na nakalaan si Lord para sa ‘yo. Jesus already did all the sacrifice at the cross so you can rejoice! The battle has been won! Lalakaran na lang natin ang tagumpay ni Jesus.
▪ There is a saying: Look around and you will be distressed. Look inside and you will be depressed. Look to Jesus and you will be at rest!
▪ Siya ang gumawa ng lahat, lumaban, at ibinigay lang sa atin ang panalo.
▪ It’s not what we’ve done but what God has done.
▪ Romans 8:14-17

1. Life in the Spirit means: The Holy Spirit leads us.

▪ The Holy Spirit leads us, He does not force us or drag us, He does not drive us. He will just lead you.
▪ It is not a Spirit-driven life but a Spirit-led life.
▪ Pag ayaw mong sumunod, you have free will. Ikaw pa rin ang pipili.
▪ The Holy Spirit always leads us. Minsan lang ay nagpapadala tayo sa galit or emotions natin. But you can stop and think: Alin ba dito ang galing sa Holy Spirit?
▪ Be swift to hear, slow to speak – kaya dalawa ang ating tenga at isa lang ang bibig.
▪ How will you know if it’s the Holy Spirit? He is always gentle, comforting; His words are always good, noble, of God.
▪ Walang slavery sa Panginoon. Yan ang pagmamahal, hindi ka Niya pipilitin.
▪ Hindi ka binabawian ng Holy Spirit pag nakakalimot ka at nakakagawa ng mali. The Holy Spirit is permanently residing in you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
▪ What a blessing you are to everyone when you are led by the Holy Spirit!

2. Life in the Spirit means: We have received the Spirit of adoption who cries out Abba, Father.

▪ Adoption – there is nothing wrong with being adopted. It means pinili ka.
▪ What does it mean to be adopted when you are already a child of God? In the Jewish tradition, when a child reaches 12 or 13, they have Barmitzvah for a boy or a Batmitzvah for a girl. They are now called mature children and are now responsible for their actions. But at the same time, they are adopted by their own family. This time, chosen to be in their family, not by chance or by birth but now chosen to be in the family.
▪ Twice owned, twice chosen. You’re in the family not by chance but by choice.
▪ Pinili ka ng Diyos para sa pamilya Niya. Bawat isa sa atin, we are called by name.
▪ So life in the Spirit means you are a mature child in the family chosen by God Himself.
▪ And we get to call God Almighty – the creator of heaven and earth, the most powerful El Elyon Yahweh, we get to call Him the most endearing and most intimate call: Abba Father, Daddy God.
▪ Abba Father has chosen you! And once a child of God, always a child of God.

3. Life in the Spirit means: You are an heir of God and joint heirs with Christ.

▪ Set na ang future mo!
▪ This inheritance includes eternal life, a relationship with God, and all the spiritual blessings.
▪ Eternal life means you will never die; you are set for life forever!
▪ We have a relationship with the Father and all spiritual blessings which are already ours because of Jesus Christ. It includes material blessings which start in the spirit. You only need to speak it out and let it be in your life!
▪ There’s a clue in the parable of the prodigal son – the father said, “Everything I have is yours.”
▪ Declare: “Everything already belongs to me in Christ Jesus!”
▪ Namatay na si Hesus kaya sa ‘yo na ang mana mo! Pero hindi ko makita? Just hear and hear the Word. The Word is free, but it is not cheap. When you receive it, see how rich your heart and life will be.
▪ As heirs, we are assured of our place in God’s kingdom and the fullness of life that comes from being in Christ.
▪ Our position – seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
▪ Declare: “Tagapagmana ako ng Diyos!” Joint heir ka pa with Christ.
▪ In Jewish tradition, the eldest always gets the best/first-born blessings (Ex. Esau and Jacob). Since Jesus is the first among many brethren, hinatian pa Niya tayo ng mana Niya!
▪ This inheritance is not something we earn but is a gift of grace, secured by the finished work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection.

“If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” – Walang nakatakdang suffering for us. The world is fallen and it hates us. There will be trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world!
▪ God does not remove us from this world to protect us. Look at the prayer of Jesus for us in John 17:14-18. He did not pray that God takes us out from this world. But gave us His Word.
▪ Do not be afraid, God keeps you from the evil one.
▪ Sanctify – separate them. What sanctifies us is the Word.
▪ You have the Word, speak it out! The Word of Jesus Christ (the Word is Jesus) is what overcomes the world!

Life in the Spirit is a stress-free life.
It means the Holy Spirit leads us.
We are not Spirit-driven but Spirit-led.
He does not force us, there is no slavery in Him.
What a blessing we are to everyone when we are led by the Holy Spirit!
We also have received the Spirit of adoption who cries out Abba, Father.
It means we are mature children in the family chosen by God Himself.
Abba Father has chosen us!
And as children, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
So keep on hearing and hearing the Word because it sanctifies us or separates us from the world.
If indeed we suffer with Christ, with Christ we always overcome!
That we may also be glorified with Him!

▪ The problem: The world hates us.
The solution: Jesus prayed for us. We are not taken out of the world, but God keeps us from the evil one.
▪ The Word, which is the truth, is what sanctifies us or separates us from the world or the problems in this world. It is our protection. Kaya keep on hearing and hearing the Word of God because we believe in the Lord Jesus who is the Word. This is how we overcome through Christ.
▪ The Word is the sword of the Spirit. Use it!
▪ About fasting: Matthew 6:16-18 – dapat walang nakakaalam. Secret lang. Do not appear to men to be fasting.
▪ In life, there is suffering. If indeed we suffer with Him, with Christ we always overcome! Kaya panalo ka na! That we may also be glorified with Him!