Focus: Where the Spirit of God is at work in us, we are rich—blessed—indeed.
Function: To help the congregation see the blessings of being led by the Spirit of God.
Text: Romans 8:12-17
Heidelberg Catechism: L.D. 20
Recently, I was in a small group setting, at which time one participant made a striking observation that rung bells for me. He made the point that a person who does not believe or declares herself to be an agnostic (someone who claims not to know whether there is a God or not), lives an impoverished life. Such a person may have tremendous gifts and abilities, a high position, a tremendous career and financial wealth, yet that person is spiritually bankrupt, impoverished, poor or destitute.
I could relate to that observation. In my work as a
pastor, I have shared the agony of parents and grandparents, who grieve over
the paths some of their children and grandchildren have taken. These tend to be
paths of success (as measured by the world), but these paths of worldly successes
also tend to be void, empty of spiritual riches. On the one hand, we realize
that they have so much going for them. On the other hand, we know that they are
so destitute when faith in Christ and faithfulness to Christ’s commands are
absent.
Last weekend, my wife and I had the privilege of spending two days with our children at Calvin College to witness the graduation of our son Eric. To get them altogether in one place is a rarity these days. But there they were: Jessica and her husband Scott; Joy and her husband Paul; Elliot and his fiancée Heather, and Eric along with his girlfriend Kara. What a treat!
We joked, we hugged, we laughed, and cried, worshiped and prayed and yes, we talked heart to heart about life and about faith in God. Each of our children has a different story when it comes to faith and commitment to Christ.
As parents, we have taught them, modeled to them, challenged them, encouraged them, admonished them, and always supported them in their pursuit of God and in their walk with the Lord Jesus.
And I tell you, there is nothing more joyful and gratifying to see and discover that God’s Spirit is at work in them as they lead different lives, and as they struggle with obedience and faithfulness in their walk with Christ. And instinctively we realize that the lives of our children are truly rich—blessed—when they seek to live their lives in love and service of God.
And that’s why I say tonight that we are rich or blessed indeed, when the Spirit of God is at work in people. Pentecost has come. God has given his Holy Spirit. We live in the age of the Spirit of God. Anyone who comes to faith in Christ Jesus becomes a project in the hands of the Spirit of God. He sanctifies us and prepares us for the day when we shall be fully perfected, ready and able to live forever on the restored new heavens and earth, with God in our midst. When the Spirit of God is at work in us, we are rich indeed.
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In Lord’s Day 20, the Christian church declares the riches we have. Anyone who has the Holy Spirit has access to a treasure trove from heaven. Listen: “What do you believe concerning ‘the Holy Spirit’?” Answer: “First, he (together with) the Father and the Son is eternal God. Second, he has been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings.” Here we notice that the eternal Spirit of God dwells in us—not only collectively, in all the members of Christ’s body or church—but also individually. Through faith in Christ, God has given us his Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, the Spirit of God connects us with the Lord Jesus. Think of Jesus as the treasure trove and the Holy Spirit as the door who gives us access to Jesus and his benefits. It is the Holy Spirit who draws us into Jesus’ gold mine of such nuggets as: eternal life, forgiveness of sins; freedom from the tyranny or dominant power of sin, and an powerful comfort in the midst of adversity, for example. Ah, without the Spirit of God, we are destitute; but when the Spirit of God is at work in people we become rich—tremendously, spiritually blessed.
As we consider Paul’s writings in Romans 8:12-17, we get a clear sense of the Spirit of God at work in people. Notice, for example that
Ø
The Holy Spirit enables us to put to death sinful
impulses and behaviors: Listen (vs.12) “…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….”
I like the way how one Christian explained this work of the
Holy Spirit within us: (Origin, p. 214) “Putting to death deeds of the body
works like this: Love is a fruit of the Spirit, but hate is an act of the
flesh. Therefore hate is put to death and extinguished by love. Likewise, joy
is a fruit of the Spirit, but sadness is of this world, and because it brings
death it is a work of the flesh. Therefore it is extinguished if the joy of the
Spirit dwells in us. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, but dissensions or discord
is an act of the flesh; however, it is certain that discord can be eliminated
by peace. Likewise, the patience of the Spirit overcomes the impatience of the
flesh, goodness wipes out evil, meekness does away with ferocity, continence
with intemperance, chastity with license and so on.”
Clearly, when the Holy Spirit enters our lives, we become
a project in his hand; he reshapes, renews and restores us more and more in the
image of Christ by putting the misdeeds of our body to death. Slowly but
surely—it’s a life-time project—the Holy Spirit overrules and weakens the
sinful impulses that are part of our human nature, and the Holy Spirit becomes
more and more the “pilot who steers our ship of life.”
The second observation in the text about the Spirit’s work in us is that
Ø
The Holy Spirit adopts us into the family of God.
In the text, the apostle Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of God,”
“the Spirit of Christ,” and “the Spirit.” Paul also refers to the Holy Spirit as
“the Spirit of sonship” (or “adoption.” Listen: (vs. 15) “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.’”
Here we notice that the Holy Spirit reveals to us “the
one to whom we pray, our real Father,” our heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit
draws us into the fellowship circle of God’s trinity. We are drawn into that
fellowship, or adopted into that circle of privilege—a circle that includes all
the members of Christ’s body, the church. It is entirely a work of the Holy
Spirit, and entirely a work of God’s grace.
By connecting us with Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit adopts us as children of God. Jesus’ took on our “flesh” or human nature; Jesus took our place and died the death that we deserved to die; Jesus rose again from the dead; something that no human being is capable of doing in his or her own strength. And now we share in Jesus’ riches, because God has given us his Holy Spirit—the Spirit of adoption. We belong! We are marked and sealed with the Holy Spirit. That’s why we remember our baptism as a sign and seal! We are adopted children of God! Cool!
The third observation in the text about the work of the Holy Spirit is this:
Ø The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. How does that happen? In a number of ways: God’s Spirit bears witness to our spirit as we read the inspired Word of God. The Spirit speaks to us as we enter the stories of Scripture, as we absorb by faith the revelation of God in Christ Jesus, and as we celebrate God’s salvation by sharing and praying the Scriptures.
Also, the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit as we act in obedience to His Word. When we apply the gifts of the Holy Spirit and see its fruit at work around us, the Holy Spirit confirms his presence and work in us and through us. It’s kind of ironic that often we are better able to see the Holy Spirit at work in someone else than in ourselves. Yet, it’s possible (and most of us here can testify to this) that you have seen the Spirit of Christ reflected in others by observing their actions, by being moved by their love, and by being the recipients of their kindness and grace.
The Holy Spirit also bears witness to our spirit when we engage in prayer. For no one can say “Abba, Father,” separate from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves us to pray; the Holy Spirit even prays on our behalf when we fail to capture our feelings or emotions in words. Thus the Holy Spirit is at work, assuring us, leading us, and connecting us with our heavenly Father. How rich! How blessed we are when the Spirit of God is at work in us!
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What shall we do and how should we respond to these wonderful truths and insights? Briefly, I suggest three things:
1. Pray for God’s Spirit to make people alive. Apart from the Holy Spirit, a person is spiritually destitute, or as Paul says in Ephesians 2: “dead in sins and trespasses.” Sometimes, we make the mistake that because we are baptized, because we grow up in a Christian home, we automatically are born again, made alive and thus saved. As a result, we don’t bother to look for spiritual fruit and signs of God’s Spirit at work in our lives or in the lives of our sons and daughters. That’s a mistake.
Have you ever noticed, for example, that whenever a baby receives God’s sign and seal of baptism we follow through with a prayer? Here’s what we pray for:
(Lord) “We pray that you will guide our little ones
throughout their lives. Enable them to respond in faith to the gospel. Fill
them with your Spirit and make their lives fruitful. Give them strength to
endure trials….”
Infants, signed and sealed with baptism—they too must be
made alive in Christ. Rebirth is needed for all people in order to share in the
riches of God’s inheritance. Therefore, pray that God’s Spirit will make alive
your sons and daughters, your co-workers, family members and neighbors alike.
2. Encourage people to be led by the Spirit. It is possible for us to resist the Holy Spirit; it is possible for us to grieve the Holy Spirit. Disobedience and rebellion and doing sinful things are impulses that cling to our human nature. The old Adam must die, however; the second Adam must increase in stature and governance in our lives. Therefore, we need to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit. I need your encouragement for that; you need the support and encouragement, and sometimes the admonishment of other Christians to stay on and walk the narrow. Christians need each other to remain faithful and true to their identity as children of God. Therefore, let’s continue to encourage one another, especially those who are of the household of faith.
One final thing in response to the text:
3. Relish your sonship or adoption. Do not take for granted that you are set apart, a child of God. Relish God’s gracious adoption. Celebrate it! Enact upon it by faithfully worship the Lord; by participating in the work and mission of the Lord, and by quietly drawing comfort and strength from this truth: We belong! In life and in death, to our faithful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ. Why not? Because God has given us his Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit of God is at work in people, we are blessed, rich, indeed!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen