Summary: Saints will fly high in life as they live in accordance with the Spirit’s nature. When they live by the Spirit’s nature their life is useful for the Kingdom of God.

“Saints Fly High by the Spirit.”

Romans pt. 10

Opening Illustration on the lighter side of life: Video “Got Jesus?” from Impact Productions - Tape - “Video Impact” Evangelism Commercials Demo.

Scripture Text: Romans 8:1-17:

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For 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, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For 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.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Thesis: Saints will fly high in life as they live in accordance with the Spirit’s nature. When they live by the Spirit’s nature their life is useful for the Kingdom of God.

Introduction:

Paul challenges us in this chapter about how saints are to live their lives. They are to live a life that seeks to follow the way of the Spirit. It means that they are controlled by the Spirits nature and not controlled by the sinful nature. Paul reminds us in these first few verses that the law of the Spirit has delivered us from the law of the sinful nature. The law of the Spirit has the power to bring life – eternal life – meaningful life to the saint.

John Wesley stated, “Oh, Lord let me not live to be useless!”

Where as the law was powerless to bring about salvation for the saint the new way and the new law of the Spirit is able to bring eternal salvation to the saint and attached with that is an abundant life here on the earth.

Last week we discovered that Saints do struggle in this life and the struggle is between who will control the saint. Will it be the sinful nature or will it be the Spirit’s nature.

But God’s Word is the only force that is able to reveal who is in control of a person’s life.

Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word of God is powerful because of its ability to explode between the spirit and soul, revealing which force is in control of the saint. The Word splits the seams of the heart and shows whether it is soul ruled or Spirit ruled. The Word reveals to the saint whether they are in the flesh or if they are led by the Spirit.

John 3:6: "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit."

The reality from the teachings of God’s Word tells us that if we live life controlled by our fleshly desires – our sin nature - then we are not living by the nature of the Spirit. When we do not live by the nature of the Spirit then our life really becomes useless for the Kingdom of God.

Living a useless life: What a thought – Have you ever pondered whether your life is useless or useful to the Kingdom of God? Remember this life is temporary and is given to us so that we can prepare for the future of eternity.

Video Illustration from Blue Fish TV “Life is Temporary”

* This clip reminds us how important it is to live a life that has eternal meaning and value.

T.S. - Let’s take some time today to determine if we have a useful life or a useless life for the Lord. Our answers to these questions should help us determine how well we are living our life.

I. What are character traits of a useless life?

a. Useless has a life that has no eternal value to it. We will call this real life person by the name “Useless” for the rest of the sermon.

i. Useless’ motives and actions are rooted in the here and now and not with a focus on eternity.

1. You can take the time to observe the people around you to discover how many are not living with an eternal perspective in life.

a. These people are all named, “Useless.”

2. They are consumed with self-centered things – life is all about them. It’s about their comfort or their wants. They hoard their money and accumulate their things. They think they are becoming Somebody but the truth is they are Nobody and their lifestyle is utterly useless – it is meaningless and it has no eternal value. Why because they are not using it to prepare for their eternal future.

3. What prevents people like “Useless” from having an eternal perspective? What beliefs and actions sets them up for living a useless life for the Kingdom of God?

a. Living by the sinful nature -- which we will explore in a moment.

b. Living a life that is self-centered.

c. Living a life that is filled with deception.

d. Living a life outside the realm of the Spirit.

e. Living a life that is listening to the wisdom from below and not listening to wisdom from above.

ii. Every action produced by Useless in life has no eternal purpose if it is self-centered in nature and rooted in the sinful nature.

1. A person who lives a life like this will discover at the end of their life that they have accomplished nothing of eternal value. They will see that their name has not been written into the “Book of Life.”

2. The truth is their name will actually vanish -- never to be remembered again as they are cast into the Lake of Fire. Yes, their name will vanish from the history of Heaven and they will be none as just another “Useless-Nobody!”

b. Useless has a lifestyle which follows the desires and the traits of the sinful nature. Paul talks about these in Galatians.

i. Galatians 5:16-25: 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

1. These works of the flesh are sexual immorality – impurity – debauchery -idolatry – witchcraft – hatred - discord, jealousy -fits of rage - selfish ambition, dissensions – factions – envy – drunkenness- orgies.

2. These character traits of the flesh and the sinful nature make a life useless for the Kingdom of God.

a. Remember living like “Useless” means no future – no meaning – no significance for eternity. Just a wasted life!

c. Useless has a life centered on self-fulfillment and self-indulgence.

i. A life that is lived with selfish motivation whether the person claims to be a Christian or not is useless to God and to His Kingdom.

1. A recent poll says that over 50% of the Unites States population claims to be “Born Again.”

a. But as I observe the world in which I live in - I see a lot of “Useless” Christians who are doing nothing for the Kingdom of God.

i. They claim to be “Born Again” but they surely don’t live like they have been “Born Again.”

ii. Yes, they are laboring for themselves wrapped in a blanket of self-centered Christianity. But this type of life has no eternal value!

2. Yet, another poll quoted by Dave Ramsey says that 53% of Christians surveyed had not given any money to their church in the last month.

a. Once again the Bible tells us that we know the saints by their fruit – by a life that is useful for the Kingdom of God.

b. Once again many Christians are robbing the Lord and spending His money on useless items with no eternal value.

3. This reality check in the Body of Christ reveals how many are living useless and meaningless lives filled with no eternal value.

ii. We live in a world filled with self-centered Christians who think that they can continue to live in accordance to their fleshly desires and still receive the blessings of heaven.

1. Their life is useless and will produce no eternal value as long as the sinful nature is in control.

d. Useless lives a boring life that is filled with no eternal adventure – there are no big dreams - no meaning to their life.

i. Parable Story: There are a lot of nobodies living in the land of familiar going through the motion of life everyday. But there are no dreams being fulfilled - there is no eternal purpose to the nobody’s life. They exist but their life means nothing. They have not accumulated any notoriety in Heaven. There name is not written in the “Whose who of Life.” They are going through a routine every day and they may be accumulating stuff but this also is meaningless. Life ends and the truth is you cannot take any material possessions with you.

1. Useless has no big dreams because he allows circumstances to keep his Dreams quenched, chained and dead.

a. Bruce Wilkinson shares this thought in his book The Dream Giver:

i. What keeps people from embracing and pursuing their God-given Dreams? I’ve noticed five common but deadly misconceptions:

1. “I don’t have a Dream.”

2. “I have to invent my Dream.”

3. “I have a Dream, but it’s not that important.”

4. “I have a Dream, but it’s up to God to make it happen.”

5. “I had a Dream, but it’s too late” (Page 76, 77).

ii. Bruce gives the solutions to distorted thinking like this. He tells us that we need to correct our faulty beliefs:

1. “You do have a dream! – It’s part of what it means to be human, created in the image of God.”

2. “You don’t have to invent your Dream! – Like the color of your eyes or your one-of-a kind smile, your Big Dream was planted in you before you were born.”

3. “Your Dream is unique and important! – You have been handcrafted by God to accomplish a part of His Big Dream for the world.”

4. “Your Dream is yours to act on! – God is waiting for you to value His gift of your Dream enough to live it – no one else can do it like you.”

5. “It’s never too late to act on your Dream! – Just ask Moses” (Pages 77, 78).

iii. To many useless people never grab a hold of their God given purpose and dream and therefore live a life filled with emptiness.

ii. Useless’ life is explained to us by Solomon in Ecc. 2:22-25:

1. 22What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. 24A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

a. Solomon tells us that a man can go through life and sleep – eat –work – rest at night and repeat the cycle all over again 1,000 of times. But without God in his life it’s all meaningless.

b. In other words the life this person is living is useless to the kingdom of God.

c. Without the Spirit of the Lord in a person’s life – then life has no purpose – no eternal value and just perish – vanish in the end into nowhere land.

2. A useless life is one were the person gets up goes to work – eats - watches TV at night for 4-5 hours - sleeps – gets up and then repeats the cycle day after day after day. This is not living this is a meaningless existence. This is a life that is useless!

e. Let me ask you a few questions today, “Are you living a life like Useless?” “Is you life going nowhere?” “Does your boring – no fulfilling life cry out, “Get a real Life!”

T.S. – We have explored the characteristic of a useless – a meaningless life. But now let’s look at a type of life that has eternal value and is useful for the Kingdom of God.

II. What are the character traits of a useful life?

a. “Useful” – lives a life with eternal value and an eternal focus.

i. The word eternal means that there is no end – it’s a ceaseless period of time that is not even subject to time itself.

1. Bevere reveals that Eternity transcends time. To speak of eternity in terms of merely perpetual duration is to miss the full picture. To capture the best view of eternity, we must look at God Himself. He is not limited in power, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and all glory, just to name a few. He is self-existent, forever was and forever will be God. He is called the ‘Everlasting Father’ (Isa. 9:6). Young’s literal translation read, “Father of Eternity.” He is called the “King of eternity” (1 Timothy 1:17, AMP). All that is eternal is found in Him; in fact, eternity itself is found in Him. All that is outside of Him is temporal and will change. No matter how good, noble, powerful, or enduring it may see, it will eventually cease. Even the earth and universe will change, but He will not: Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. Even they will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. You will roll them up like an old coat. They will fade away like clothing. But you are always the same, you will never grow old.’ (Hebrews 1”10-12. NLT). (Bevere Driven by Eternity page 6, 7).

ii. What “Useful” does in his/her life is that they live their life for the Kingdom of God and therefore it will live on into eternity.

1. Quote “Time is given to us to prepare for eternity.” Francois Fenelon - (Workbook Driven by Eternity, page 4).

a. Do you believe this?

iii. Useful knows that his time here on earth is very precious and it can never be replaced.

1. Useful knows that once he uses up his time it’s gone – he can never go back and recover any lost time. So he uses his time to prepare for the eternal future. He uses his time wisely!

2. Useful’s life and actions produce a life which has eternal purpose so he is careful to make sure that he uses his time wisely for the eternal kingdom.

a. Psalm 90:12 (NLT) “Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.

b. Useful is plainly aware of the importance of using his time wisely. He knows the most important thing he can do is to manage his time for the purpose of the kingdom.

3. Indian Proverbs states, “When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced, Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.”

iv. Here is an example of someone who made the most of his time:

1. Bevere notes this story from his workbook Driven By Eternity: “Some people have taken the promises of God and used them more for living for the day instead of looking at it through an eternal scope.” He notes David Brainerd: A Man with eternal perspective, little time, and major impact. It is said that John Wesley, the great world-changer and founder of the Methodist Church, wanted to keep the fires of revival burning, he told preachers to carefully read the diary of David Brainerd. Few men or women have used their short time on earth to the glory of God as well as Brainerd, born in 1718, did. Jonathan Edwards gave the highest of recommendations – died of illness, having left a mark on history more meaningful than most who live two or three times his age. Though brilliant and well connected, Brainerd chose to forsake worldly ambition and comforts and instead follow God. His exceedingly difficult wilderness ministry to the American Indians was almost daily marked with savage conditions and threats to life. Hostile places and at times hostile people, hunger, cold, primitive or no shelter, few maps, despite all this and more-language barriers, arduous, travel on foot and horse back, poverty, and social and cultural obstacles- his short life’s work was nonetheless blessed by God and is venerated even today, hundreds of years later in modern society. Countless people, including many prominent ministers, have been deeply influenced by his short life (17, 18).

2. His journal entries: In the afternoon I preached to the Indians…afterward…the power of God seemed to descend upon the assembly “like a rushing mighty wind,” and with an astonishing energy bore down all before it. I stood amazed at the influence which seized the audience almost universally; and could compare it to nothing more aptly than the irresistible force of a mighty torrent, or swelling deluge…Almost all persons of all ages were bowed down with concern together, and scarcely one was able to withstand the shock of this surprising operation. Old men and women who had been drunken wretches for many years, and some little children…appeared in distress for their souls, as well as persons of middle age. The most stubborn hearts were now obliged to bow. A principal man among the Indians…who with great confidence the day before told me” he had been a Christian more than ten years,” was now brought under solemn concern for his soul, and wept bitterly. Another…who had been a murderer, conjurer and a notorious drunkard was likewise brought now to cry for mercy with many tears…when he saw his danger so very great. They were almost all universally crying and praying for mercy in every part of the house, and many out of doors; and numbers could neither go nor stand. (August 8, 1745, From the diary of David Brainerd).

3. Another Journal entry: I have now rode more than three thousand miles, of which I have kept an exact account, since the beginning of March last, and almost the whole of it has been in my own proper business as a missionary, upon the design…of propagating Christian knowledge among the Indians. (November 4, 1745, From the Diary of David Brainerd).

4. David’s petition in family prayer was usually "That we might not outlive our usefulness." (From: Worldwide Missions – the life and ministry of David Brainerd by Ed Reese.)

a. Reese notes, “He was only 29 when he died...his gravestone simply says, "A faithful and laborious missionary to the Stockbridge, Delaware and Susquehanna tribes of Indians." But in truth David Brainerd’s life sacrifice reached out and touched the whole world, challenging more people into Christian service than perhaps any other man that ever lived. The mere mention of the name, Brainerd, automatically triggers the mind to think of dedication in a way that perhaps has never been equaled. He would travel 15,000 miles on horseback. One small compelling book — David Brainerd’s Journal which he kept from June 19, 1745, to June 19, 1746, plus his diaries of his days before and after this time are still used of God today to inspire and convict the Christian world in the matter of Christian service.”

b. Born: April 20, 1718 – Died Oct. 9, 1747 – Life Span 29 years – 5 months – 19 days.

time which is valuable and will bring eternal rewards.

i. Psalm 37:18, “The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever” (NIV). The TLB version reads like this “Day by Day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards.”

1. The Bible tells us not to grow weary in doing good because the Lord sees the good that you do and one day you will be rewarded for it.

c. Useful lives a life that follows the desires of the Spirit.

i. Galatians 5:16-25: 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

1. The saint is to live by the Spirit and when they do the following fruits will be manifested in their lives: These fruits are love – joy – peace – patience – kindness – goodness – faithfulness. All of these are to be character traits of the Saint called “Useful.” – The Christian.

a. These traits do struggle against the fleshly nature of sin in our lives. They do battle with the works of the sinful nature.

b. The struggle that Paul talked in Romans 7 is a real struggle. The saint does face the battle between the two natures.

c. But Paul tells us to let the Spirit’s nature win in our life and crucify the ways of the flesh.

d. When we do then our life takes on an eternal value.

2. Lets look at the fruit of the Spirit “Love” – Love means perfect love – which includes a love for God 1st and foremost. Then we are to have a love for one another.

a. It’s a vertical love between us and God and a horizontal love between each other.

i. Quote: My liberty as a Christian should always be supremely shackled by the love I am commanded to have towards another. — Avery D. Miller from Sermon Central

b. Jesus summed the law up into these two commandments found in Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

c. The opposing forces of love that we battle against are – sexual immorality (called love in our deceitful society). By the way this is not love because it is not of God!

i. We hear phrases like, “Let’s make Love!” between to unmarried people. But according to the Word of God this is not love this is lust and it is sin.

1. It is rooted purely from self-centered mindsets and fleshly lusts.

ii. Sexual Immorality is rooted in rebellion to the nature of God which is Love. We must remember that sex between a man and woman outside of marriage is viewed as a sin against the way of Love.

iii. Idolatry is another faction that wars against a love for God. Idolatry takes a thing and makes it the object of you dedication and passion and places it above God.

1. This type of deceptive love replaces our real love for God.

iv. Witchcraft is a practice that fights against Love and seeks to honor Satan and the dark side not God who is Love.

v. The other one is orgies – these are not “Love Fests” as many try to call them. The truth is they degrade the gift of sex from the Creator of it -- who is called Love.

3. Let’s look at Joy also a fruit of the Spirit– what works of the flesh battle against Joy?

a. The sinful nature fights against joy with these types of behaviors - hatred – discord - jealousy -fits of rage - dissensions – factions – envy all these fleshly traits will rob a saint of his or her Joy.

b. Look at a person who has these character traits in their life and you soon see a very miserable person.

c. These types of people have no Joy in life because these sins rob them of their Joy!

d. Illustration from sermoncentral.com:

i. Charlie brown asks Linus "What would you do if you felt that nobody liked you?"

Linus responds "Well Charlie Brown I guess I would take a real hard look at myself, ask if I am doing anything that turns people off, How can I improve myself? Do I need to change in some way? Yep that’s my answer Charlie Brown." Charlie Brown says, "I hate that answer." Dan Cormie

4. Let’s look at Kindness – a character trait of the life in the Spirit. This fruit of the Spirit will also be fought against by the works of the flesh. Why, because none of the sinful character traits have any kindness involved in them.

a. Hatred – no kindness here only ill will toward another.

b. Discord – no kindness here only strife toward another person - For example listen to this true story:

i. Illustration from Stories for Preachers: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, though sometimes it hurts when they express it.

1. In 1975 country singer Charlie Rich had been picked to announce the Country Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards show. The award went to John Denver, who had not experienced a warm reception at that point in the country music community. In fact, many people despised him and his style of country rock that was changing the direction of country music. When Charlie Rich opened the envelope, rather than announce John Denver’s name, Charlie took out a cigarette lighter, set fire to the paper bearing the winner’s name, and walked off stage.

ii. We need to determine to be like Jesus and not allow anyone to make us hate them.

1. Quote: I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him. ~Booker T. Washington

c. Kindness is contagious and we need to be committed to passing them on through our Spirit filled life: Why because kindness is useful for the Kingdom of God!

i. Illustration from Stories for Preachers: An act of kindness sets off a chain reaction of positive. A man was driving down the road in his old pickup when he noticed a stretch limo on the side of the road with the hood up. He stopped to ask the driver if he could use some help. The driver said, "Yes. I have no idea what the problem is." The man looked around under the hood for a few minutes, discovered the problem, and was able to fix it. The limo started up immediately and began running smoothly. The driver thanked the man and offered to pay him. "Not necessary," the man said. "Just glad to help." He began walking back to his car when the rear window of the limo opened and a voice called out to the man. The man looked in the window and saw Donald Trump sitting in the back seat. Trump said, "Thank you very much for your help. What can I do to repay you?" At first the man said, "You don’t need to do anything." Then he had a thought. "Mr. Trump," he said, "My wife would be thrilled to get a box of flowers from you. Would you do that for me?" Donald Trump said, "Consider it done. What is your address?" The man told Donald Trump his address. He later said he only half-expected to hear from him the next day. Sure enough, the next day a delivery truck pulled up with a box of flowers addressed to the man’s wife. The note inside said something to effect of... "Dear Mrs. Smith: You are lucky to have for a husband such a caring and kind person. When I offered him payment for his act of kindness he thought only of you. These flowers are for you. Signed, Donald Trump." Then the P.S. said, "By the way, I have paid off your mortgage at the bank. You now own your house free and clear."

ii. Illustration: Tiffany shared a story with me at our last Christmas. The Starbucks she works at in Normal, Illinois last Christmas witnessed something amazing. A person in the drive thru lane one morning paid for the person behind them. It was a random act of kindness. But the amazing thing was the next person did the same thing. It continued on for two days until it reached about 127 acts of kindness and then the chain of kindness was broken.

1. The President of Starbucks called the store to inquire about this awesome phenomena of kindness.

2. The papers wrote articles about it.

3. There is even a book being written about this event.

4. All because one person choose to show that there is kindness in this world.

iii. The key to remember is that one act of kindness birthed many more acts of kindness.

d. Useful lives a life style which respects others and honors the Lord Jesus.

e. Useful lives a life that stays in the boundaries of the laws of the Spirit.

i. This means that Useful does not allow the sinful nature with its natural fleshly desires to control him.

ii. This Spirit filled life has a mind that is set on peace with God and with each other. They receive peace because they stay in the boundaries of the Spirit.

1. The sin filled mindset is set on death and will experience death and turmoil.

iii. The Spirit filled life has another law and that is when we live by the ways of the Spirit the Lord promises to live inside of us.

1. The Lord’s Spirit takes up residence in His temple when we live a useful life.

a. The person who is not living by the ways of the Spirit does not have the Lord living in them.

b. When the Lord is not living in you then you are living a “Useless” life.

2. We also learn that when the Spirit lives in us then our body is dead to sin.

a. Being dead to sin makes us useful for God.

3. We also discover that when the Spirit lives in us we have righteousness with God.

a. Being righteous in the sight of God also makes us useful for Him.

4. We understand that when the Spirit lives in us this we gain eternal life even though we have mortal bodies.

f. Useful has an exciting life with a lot of adventure and personal fulfillment.

i. When the Spirit leads the way in life – life is filled with wonderful adventures.

g. Useful lives a life that honors his obligation to the Spirit.

i. Our obligation is to put to death the ways of the sinful nature.

1. We are to deny access to sin in our lives and in our lifestyle.

2. We are to put to the cross the misdeeds of the sinful nature.

3. We need to resist the way of the sinful nature with the help of the Lord and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

h. So let’s look at your life again. Would it be like “Useful’s” life? Does it have the same characteristics as “Useful?” “Is you life useful for God?”

Video Illustration: From Blue Fish TV “I was here.”

This clip tell us that if we want to leave a mark in this world and the next we must have God in our life. We also must live by the ways of the Spirit.

Conclusion:

The law of the Spirit of life has placed eternity into our hearts and our minds and we need to continue to have an eternal perception of our life so as to glorify the Lord and to promote the truth of the kingdom of God.

The Spirit filled life sets us free from the law of sin and death. Living the Spirit filled life gives us the name “Useful.” Because we are useful for the Kingdom God then He promises us many blessings.

This Spirit filled life has many promise that are attached to it and Paul shares a few with us in this chapter.

There is no condemnation for those who live by the way of the Spirit.

There is freedom for those who live by the way of the Spirit.

There is the inheritance of becoming children of God because we live by the way of the Spirit.

The way of the Spirit may bring some suffering but He promises that those who stay faithful will share in His glory.

The way of the Spirit will bring the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Altar call: The choice is up to you whether you allow the sinful nature to control your life and your destiny and actually make you “Useless!” Or you can allow the Spirit filled life to control your eternal destiny and make you “Useful!” The choice is yours to make.

Do you want to be “Useful?” or “Useless?”