Spirit of God
The Spirit of God reveals to us our true nature, makes us understand the cross, and leads us to a life of holiness and everlasting life.
Joshua Daniel preaches on the dual nature of man, where despite desiring good, we often do evil due to sin dwelling in our flesh. The Holy Spirit reveals the evil within us and the need to be led by God's Spirit to understand the cross and be planted in the likeness of Christ's death. Without the Spirit of God, we cannot comprehend the depth of the cross, and it is through prayer and the Spirit's guidance that we come to spiritual maturity and a higher consciousness of belonging to Christ.
Text
Romans 7:15-18
Verse 17, "Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." Man has a dual nature. He desires good but does evil. This is due to the sin dwelling in us in our flesh. You cannot follow the law according to the mind of the spirit. The Holy Spirit God reveals to you that all that is in you is evil. That is a great revelation. Many try to be good but it results in evil. But Romans 8:14 says, "For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." The Spirit of God makes us understand the cross. We have to be planted together in the likeness of His death. This the Holy Spirit works out in us. Those that do not have the Spirit of God are none of His. The Spirit of God makes you pray according to the Word of God. The Spirit of God leads you to an understanding of the cross. Nobody can understand the cross without the Spirit of God. Christian life is a revelation. Your conversion is a revelation. After that there are greater revelations. In your flesh is a law of sin. This law of sin is not removed till the Spirit of God gives us a revelation of the cross. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ begins to work in us and Christian life is no longer a struggle: it becomes a normal thing. You will come to spiritual manhood when the Spirit of God teaches you to identify yourself with the death of Christ. The a new revelation reaches you. Thereafter the Spirit's witness is constantly in you.
Prayer brings you higher and higher till you are like your Master. Prayer will lift you to a higher consciousness. You will know that you belong to Christ the crucified. Romans 8:3 & 4, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Colossians 3:3, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." When we die with Christ we rise with Him. When we rise with Him the resurrection life will operate visibly in us.
There is something in our members warring against our higher desires. The Spirit of God reveals and leads us as we are praying. If you desire these things, one day God will fulfil them into a new experience. Romans 6:22, "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." The fruit is holiness. It comes spontaneously. When you come to that experience, you know that you do not belong to this world. A strong consciousness that you are sons and daughters of the most high God comes to you. Do not leave Christ till you get this experience.
Sermon Outline
- The Dual Nature of Man
- The Role of the Holy Spirit
- The Christian Life and the Spirit of God
- The Law of Sin and the Law of the Spirit
- The law of sin is not removed till the Spirit of God gives us a revelation of the cross
- The law of the Spirit of life in Christ begins to work in us
- Leads us to an understanding of the cross and prayer
Key Quotes
“Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” — Joshua Daniel
“For as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” — Joshua Daniel
“When we die with Christ we rise with Him.” — Joshua Daniel
Application Points
- We must desire to be led by the Spirit of God and to understand the cross in order to experience true salvation.
- Our Christian life is a revelation, and we must seek a deeper understanding of God's Word and the Spirit's leading.
- We must overcome the law of sin in our lives by receiving a revelation of the cross from the Holy Spirit.