God has a problem and it’s not what you might think it is. God has a problem ... what’s God’s problem … it’s His kids.
Mankind has a problem. What is the problem with man? The problem with man is that there is too much man in man and not enough God in man.
Man is basically full of himself. This presented a problem to God early on. Even with good men and good women, still there were problems.
Man alone could never defeat his own fleshly appetites and the effects of mortal sin. Yet it was necessary, or man was never going to be all God wanted him to be. You see, if man could not defeat his own human appetites, how could he ever defeat the devil?
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
This is why God sent His Son, born of a woman: Son of God and Son of Man … all man and all God. It took the fullness of God, fully in man’s likeness, to defeat sin and the carnal nature of man.
Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, born of a virgin in the town of
This was God’s remedy for the world … a Spirit Filled
Today the age old answer to every problem we face in life is the same answer as it always has been: to become Spirit-Filled … to be full of the Spirit of God.
Listen to me for a moment. I am not talking about salvation or being born again, neither am I referring to being baptized in the Holy Spirit and prophesying or speaking in tongues.
No – When you hear me use the term ‘Spirit Filled’ in this message I will be talking about being continually full of God’s Spirit on a day to day basis so that you respond to life’s situations and aggravations from a fresh well of God’s life springing up within you instead of reacting from the cesspool of man’s fallen carnal nature in you … living life a brand new way instead of the same old way.
Through the years I have had occasion to counsel several people who have misread my attempt to share a Bible truth with them by using my own experience as an example. A few times I have heard people exempt themselves from embracing the truth by saying, “I don’t have to be more like you to please God.” My response to that statement is, “Your right …”
“You do not have to be more like me in order to please Jesus, but it is certain that you will have to be a whole lot less like you!”
In a day and age when many in the church and certainly most in the world, are wondering what difference it makes to be a Christian, we cannot afford to make the answer to that question cloudy, ambiguous or confusing. So let me be clear:
* Salvation is your ticket to heaven.
> Go to hell without it!
* Water Baptism is your circumcision of identification.
> The haunting memories of past sins cannot cross those waters to pursue you and oppress you any longer.
* The Baptism of the Holy Spirit gives you power to be a witness.
> This power is the dynamite of God at your disposal.
However, both you and I know people who have been born again, water baptized and who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and yet continue to exhibit traits of their carnal nature by lying, cheating, robbing God and man, lusting, fornicating, coveting, gossiping, cussing … they fuss and they fight, they get divorces, they get drunk, the do drugs, have abortions and talk bad about the preacher … they don’t pray, don’t give, don’t work a steady job, don’t clean their houses, don’t pay attention to their kids, don’t pay their bills and don’t go to church or love their neighbors … and yet they call themselves Believers and Followers of Jesus – Christians!
No wonder the whole world is confused!
What’s missing in the Believer’s life? God! God is what’s missing in the life of a Christian who is still living in or struggling with these common sins and attitudes of life.
Like I said earlier, the problem is that there is too much man in man and not enough God in man. How can we fix it! What can you do about it? I’m so glad you asked! In fact, that’s why we are here today … to teach you how you can defeat your biggest problem, yourself. Now:
Let’s look in the book of Ephesians, Chapter 4. I will be reading from the New Living Translation.
Ephesians 4
17 With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused.
18 Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
19 They don’t care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.
20 But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ.
21 Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus,
22 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.
23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true.
25 So put away all falsehood and "tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to each other.
26 And "don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.
28 If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.
32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Did you notice verse:
23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
This is the answer you have been waiting for. Every born again believer in Jesus, even those who have been water baptized and those who have been baptized with the power to be a witness, must go through a spiritual renewal of their thoughts and attitudes to line them up with Christ. This is basic discipleship 101.
You will never be a real Christian unless you act like Jesus once you have been saved.
Today there are people who are born again and yet they are justly sitting in jail for crimes they have committed since they came to Christ. My dear friends, these things ought not to be so.
I am convinced that many Believers sit today in need of a miracle. But just what kind of miracle are you looking for?
Perhaps the greatest miracle in today’s world might well be:
* Joy in your heart
* Peace in your home
* Love in your family
* Patience on your job
* Gentleness with your children
* Goodness to your neighbor
* Faithfulness to Christ
* Kindness to your enemies
* Self Control when facing aggravation or adversity
Perhaps the greatest miracle in today’s world is to have a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
* To put off the old man and put on the new
* To be so filled with the Spirit of God that you begin producing a new kind of fruit in your life.
> The fruit of the Spirit!
Galatians 5 NLT
22/23a But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
How can you accomplish this? How can you put the Holy Spirit in control of your life? How can you experience a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes? How can you be Spirit Filled?
Here are three things it will take for you to be Spirit Filled.
1. Prayer
2. The Word of God
3. Commitment to Change
