The Holy Spirit's Work in My Life

Romans 8:7-9

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and humbly submit to his authority over our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We switch control of our lives from the enemy of our souls to the lover of our souls. 

Those who don't know Christ may think that they are in control of their own lives, but that is not what the Bible teaches. If Christ and the Holy Spirit are not in control of someone's life then satan, his henchmen and their sinful nature are in control. They can only do what these taskmasters tell them to.

Try as we might until we are submitted to Jesus and have the Holy Spirit in control, we can never please God. It's the Holy Spirit who guides us and teaches us how to be holy and righteous.

That is why it is essential that we listen to and obey the Holy Spirit. When we ignore his voice, then we are quenching the Spirit and missing out on the holiness he wants to lead us into. He may want to correct us, empower us for some good work, reveal something from God's word to us, or simply have us sit in awe of the knowledge that HE is God.

Holy Spirit, have your way in me! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

2 Chronicles 16:9a

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2 Chronicles 16:9a

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7