HOLY ISN’T HIS FIRST NAME – The Spirit of Conversion
Romans 8:5-17 (p. 786) April 19, 2015
Introduction:
What does “conversion” mean? Well, if you’re a van it means you probably have a seat that makes a bed, and some captain seats with a table. ABRACADABRA! You were a transportation vehicle...now you’re a rolling hotel room!
Conversion simply means...“transformation.”
In nature the best example might be the caterpillar into the butterfly.
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It’s called a “metamorphosis.” (From the Greek, meta-transform...morph-form)
It’s clearly evident what conversion means when it’s used in the world of entomology (the study of bugs).
But what about people? Can people really change? Can they be transformed?
Scripture says we can...2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ (seems like Jesus is the cocoon), the new creation has come. The old is gone, the new is here.”
In Christ...How can we be “in Christ?”
Our text in Romans 8 says we can either live “in” the realm of the flesh or we can live “in” in the realm of the Spirit...if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” (v. 9)
Do you know if you’re “in” Disney World? Do you know if you’re “in” an airplane? Do you know if you’re “in” a foreign country?
Sure you do! So if you are living in the realm (or kingdom) of God do you know it? Well you do if the Spirit of God is living in you!
Galatians 3:26-28 gives us insight into the phrase “IN CHRIST.” Look with me:
GALATIANS 3:26-28 (p. 812)
Paul’s telling the Christians in Galatia and the Christians in Lexington...“you have a new identity since you gave yourself to Christ. When you were baptized in Christ you died, you were buried, you rose again...you were given the Spirit of God so you can live a new life.
You left one kingdom and entered another. You took off one set of clothes and put on another.
You stopped living with self “or the flesh” as your attitude shaper...now the Holy Spirit is your Guide. God’s not your co-pilot, “He’s flyin’ the plane baby!!!”
For all this to happen...to begin...
I. IT MEANS A SPIRITUAL REBIRTH
I love the story of Nicodemus in John’s gospel. It’s in Chapter 3, right before Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well...Listen to their encounter:
JOHN 3:1-8 (p. 740)
The Kingdom of God is in reality the Family of God. And Jesus says you cannot see it...or enter it without a “spiritual rebirth.”
We’ve heard the phrase “born again” so much it might have lost its newness. It literally means “born from above.”
And God’s Spirit is the active person involved in this conversion, this new birth transformation...and He isn’t just involved at conception...He’s involved in our spiritual growing up also.
[I have 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters Ricky, Tyler, Cyndi, and Karissa...They have the DNA of both their mother and father. 23 chromosomes from each. (Thank God Kari’s were stronger and they look like their mother). But it’s this combined DNA that made them who they are...or at least physically.
Nicodemus, like all men understand this process...but he was still thinking in the realm of the flesh when he said, “Surely a man cannot enter into his mother’s womb a second time to be born.”
Jesus’ answer is powerful...unless a person is born of water and spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
Unless and cannot are pretty clear descriptions.
This essential spiritual rebirth isn’t physical but the effects of it are clearly visible.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear it’s sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
By the way physical wind can rustle leaves or pick up a Volvo and toss it down the street. You can’t see the wind...but man you can see its power.
Our text in Romans 8 says “Those 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.” (v. 5)
Conversion takes an active choice by any man or woman under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
As we shared last week the Holy Spirit convinces us we are sinful, need a Savior who alone is righteous...so our judgment is paid by Him on a cross.
We come to faith by hearing the message of Christ (Rom. 10). God’s Spirit begins to work in our soul...pulling us from sin towards God.
It’s exactly what happened in Acts chapter 2...Peter shares the message of Christ...the people miraculously hear the gospel...That Jesus, the anointed, promised Messiah was crucified, died and rose again...they were responsible for this because of sin...so are we...what happened...
ACTS 2:37-41 (p. 759)
First repent...make a decision to change. Turn your dead life over to the giver of new life. And be baptized.
Romans Chapter 6 tells us why baptism is involved. “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)
Never in scripture is baptism done to anyone who is unable to understand why their death burial and resurrection through Christ is essential.
Born of the water and the spirit, born from above. According to our text in Romans 8 “We are given the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead to now live in these mortal bodies!” It’s this Spirit who gives “new life.”
The Spirit of Conversion...It is this Spirit that transfers us from one Kingdom to another. It’s this Spirit that takes away the fear of death and replaces it with the hope of new life, here and heaven. It’s this spirit that convinces my inner soul, my spirit that I am God’s child...Adopted into His family.
I hope if you’ve never been born from above...today will be your spiritual birthday.
But let me also share this truth for the born again child of God.
II. LIVING IN THE SPIRIT REQUIRES A LISTENING HEART
My dad used to say, “You can’t push a chain!”
It’s a great truth about leadership. You can’t make people go...but you can be the link that’s pulled by God first.
And your chain will either be pulled by the Spirit of God or your flesh.
“Those who are led (pulled) by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
The Holy Spirit isn’t intended to be a guest in a hotel called “conviction” just for your new birth. He’s intended to be a permanent partner that moves into your house forever, for our constant conversion. The Biblical word for this is “sanctification.” The simplest definition for sanctification is, “The process of becoming like Jesus daily.”
Jim Cymballa writes in “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” about our danger of forgetting who has saved us and how dangerous it is to think we can do it on our own now. God whispers:
Remember who has done all this. Your need for me hasn’t lessened at all.
If you have been a Christian for any length of time, the same is true for you individually. Your first rush of emotion at how God wonderfully saved you from sin has faded. Your desperate early days when you cried out to the Lord because you didn’t know what you were doing (as I had to do back on Atlantic Avenue) have given way to a degree of confidence and assurance. You and I have learned a lot, seen and heard a lot, built a track record, and accumulated a fair storehouse of “wisdom.”
That’s why we are at great risk.
He then says, “Sin grieves the Holy Spirit and quenches his power among us.” Without His blessing we miss out on what God has for us and wants us to be, no matter what religious label we may be carrying. (Jim then recalls something extremely important about a spiritually sensitive heart):
One Sunday about 20 years ago, back in our days in the YWCA, I said something impromptu while receiving new members into the church that has stuck with us ever since. People were standing in a row across the front before me, and as I spoke, the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt me to add, “And now, I charge you, as pastor of this church, that if you ever hear another member speak an unkind word of criticism or slander against anyone – myself, another pastor, an usher, a choir member, or anyone else – you have authority to stop that person in midsentence and say, ‘Excuse me – who hurt you? Who ignored you? Who slighted you? Was it Pastor Cymballa? Let’s go to his office right now. He will get on his knees and apologize to you, and then we’ll pray together, so God can restore peace to this body. But we will not let you talk critically about people who are not present to defend themselves.’
“New members, please understand that I am entirely serious about this. I want you to help resolve this kind of thing immediately. And meanwhile, know this: If you are ever the one doing the loose talking, we will confront you.”
To this very day, every time we receive new members, I say much the same thing. It is always a solemn moment. That is because I know what most easily destroys churches. It is not crack cocaine. It is not government oppression. It is not even lack of funds. Rather, it is gossip and slander that grieves the Holy Spirit.
People nod their heads with understanding, and as a result, rumor and busybody talk are kept to a minimum. We have had to confront a few people along the way, of course, but the general concern to live with clean hearts and clean speech before the Lord prevents many problems from ever getting started.
Once the Spirit of God is in your heart and mind He begins to work to make you like Jesus...and it’s our thoughts, attitudes and words that most reveal whether or not we have listening hearts.
Don’t get me wrong...it’s a struggle. Or at least it is for me. God’s Spirit in me is constantly doing battle with my sinful nature. But I’m trying to walk with Him, and when I trip it doesn’t take me quite as long to get back in line.
It’s no wonder that Galatians 5:25 reminds us, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit knows exactly what we need to do in order to walk like Jesus. He knows what we need to take those first baby steps and He knows what we need to walk in Spiritual maturity following the footsteps of Jesus.
You see Jesus promised we would never walk alone. He promised He wouldn’t leave us as orphans in the world. He said, “I am the light of the world whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
You cannot be closer to someone than living inside them! And if Jesus’ Spirit lives in us we put to death the misdeeds of the body.
Our minds are governed by this Spirit of life and peace. We love God like our daddy which is what we cry our “Abba.” And He has an inheritance for us as co-heirs with Jesus.
The Spirit of Conversion...Awakens our soul to the new birth, and as children allows us to walk in faith.
Don’t become weary in doing good...keep walking...because too many stop walking way too early. And so I’ll end with one of my favorite poems. I didn’t write it, it’s anonymous...but here it is:
Buttprints in the Sand
One night, I had a wondrous dream;
One set of footprints there was seen.
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, “What have we here?”
“Those prints are large and round and neat,
But, Lord, they are too big for feet.”
“My child,” He said in somber tones.
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.
You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk-of-faith you would not know.
So I got tired and fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt,
Because in life, there comes a time,
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand.”
