What Controls You? Series

Romans 8:5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ?6  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ?7  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. ?8  That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. ?9  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.) ?10  And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.

INTRO

Let me make sure we catch what this Scripture is telling us today…we WILL be controlled by one of two things — either our sinful nature OR the Holy Spirit

If we are to be serious about what actually controls us, I think we need to ask ourselves three very honest questions…

1. What DOMINATES my thoughts? (vs 5-6)

Romans 8:5-6 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ?So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ?

The Scripture is pretty clear that when we are followers of Jesus, there is a transformation that is supposed to take place.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV2011)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

That transformation includes a mental transformation…there is a change in how we think!

Romans 12:2 (NIV2011)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I have found that we will become those things that we mentally dwell on

So, how do we all the Holy Spirit to control how we think?

Philippians 4:8 (NIV2011)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

2. What DICTATES my behavior? (vs 7-9)

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.) ?

If the Spirit is in control of us, then we will live a life of strong obedience to Him

That means we obey the Word of God…priority #1

1 Peter 1:14 (NIV2011)

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

That also means we obey the leading of HIs Spirit!

Psalm 119:60 (NIV2011)

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

At all times obey the Lord and let Him deal with the consequences of that obedience.

3. What DEMONSTRATES my priorities (vs 10)

Romans 8:10 ?And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.

It’s a battle between the earthly and the eternal.

When Earthly priorities dominate — the sinful nature is winning

When Eternal priorities dominate — the Spirit is winning

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER

What drives you?

What upsets you?

What moves you?

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV2011)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.