Six Foundational Truths About Walking AFTER the Spirit
Romans 8:14
October 22, 2023
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction
A. The Apostle Paul says something marvellous in Romans chapter 8…
1. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. THAT is how a Christian lives!
3. Listen to Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
4. “They that are AFTER…”
a. That means, Pursuing, seeking for, reaching for, striving for…
b. Jesus asked every one of His disciples to do just one thing… FOLLOW HIM! Go after Him. Find out what He is doing, and do it with Him!
5. You and I are either pursing our old life, or the new life Christ gave us!
a. We USED to live for the things of the flesh
1) Physical lusts and pleasures, selfishness, money, praise of men
2) We thought about the flesh, about ourselves
3) We coouldn’t care less about God or the Bible, or heaven or hell
b. But now we live for the things of the Holy Spirit of God:
1) We live FOR heaven
2) For God’s will to be done in our lives
3) For us to think like Christ did, react like He did, love like He did
c. We think differently now (Romans 8:6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
d. Why?
6. Because we are being LED by the Spirit of God, instead of by the spirit of this world
a. There IS a spirit of this world – and it is not a good spirit!
b. 1Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, NOT the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
c. It is leading this world to hell!
d. Christians have the spirit of Christ now!
e. And the key to the Christian living the Christian life is letting the Holy Spirit LEAD your life, and you follow Him, pursue Him, strive to be near Him and full of Him!
f. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
g. We Christians are led by something we can’t see, feel, or touch
1) We know HE’s there and pulling us in a direction we would never go on our own!
2) Like being attracted to a perfume, or the smell of freshly baked bread, Hmmmm!
3) Some are called to stay single, some to marriage. Some to be preachers, some teachers, some to be missionaries, some to be givers, some labourers
4) All to win souls; all to serve and love one another
5) We ALL are led of the Spirit, if we would just recognise it, and yield to it!
B. Romans 8:14 is Paul’s Description of the Christian Life
1. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
2. Picture that!
a. Being constantly drawn/pulled by the heart of God towards Him; towards HIS will
b. It is NOT weird or fanatical to want to be led of the Spirit and to be like Christ
c. People think it is normal to chase after big money opportunities, but not after God!
d. EXAMPLE:
1) When you see a man who wears a suit; carries a Bible; studies his Bible every day; loves the Bible and loves church; goes out soul winning every week; helps teach in children's church, and fills preaching for the pastor from time to time...
2) Sometimes we think that young man must be called to be a preacher!
3) But the truth is, he's actually just living like a normal Christian should live and act and dress like! AMEN!
e. Even though some people may be “together” – they are not close
f. The same is true with so many Christians – saved, but not walking after the Spirit
g. If this subject is not interesting you, not concerning you, not motivating you, it is because you are living at room temperature! You are just living like everyone else around you, and that stinks!
1) These truths won’t mean anything to you until you have been born again – born by the Spirit of God
2) 1Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
3) John 3:1-7 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
C. What it means to pursue God’s Spirit
1. To seek Him, Chase after, Reach for, Strive for…
2. …the Holy Spirit to have power over you!
a. Like pursuing a career, pursuing a Master’s degree
b. Pursuing a serious relationship with some
c. Following after your DREAM
3. To WANT Him to lead you every hour of every day
4. Seeking to apprehend – grab hold of (like when a police officer “apprehends” someone)
5. To Want Him, and run after Him!
6. Not wanting things FROM God
7. But to know God, and to love God and enjoy God
a. 1Samuel 13:13,14 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
b. Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
c. Did you notice? God SOUGHT for someone who was only AFTER His heart, and God FOUND David! David as a young man, was seeking after God’s HEART!
8. If you want to know what pursuing God looks like, just read about David’s life, and read his heart in the Psalms!
9. That may not mean much to you, but it means a lot to God
D. The greatest pursuit of life is to have a close relationship with God! With HIM leading, and us following close behind!
E. Today I want to lay The Foundation For Our Pursuit of God’s Spirit in our lives
1. I repented and believed the Gospel because God’s Son pursued ME – He came 2,000 years ago to SEEK and to save all the lost!
2. Now for the rest of my life, I want to pursue the Holy Spirit of God – His joy, His blessing, His will, His peace, His presence, His RULE…
F. In two weeks, I’ll show you HOW to enjoy God every day! In spite of everything going on
II. Message - Six Foundational Truths About Pursuing the Spirit of God
A. God is a SPIRIT
1. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
2. That means He is spiritual
3. He exists without form or shape
4. I know this is hard to understand, but He does not have a body, or hands, or feet
5. He is not an alien, or an angel, or a statue, or a painting – He is a SPIRIT!
6. He is just as real as someone who IS physical and material – He is just spiritual
B. God is Invisible
1. Colossians 1:15 [JESUS] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
2. 1Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
3. 1Timothy 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
4. If you ever wonder where God is at times…
5. He is here – He just is not seen with the naked eye
a. Like air is not seen
b. Gravity is not seen
c. Radiation is usually not seen
d. But all three are all around us, and very real! Just invisible
e. And Almighty God is right here, right now! Just invisible
6. The evidences for the existence of God are overwhelming, and only a fool says there is no God
a. People say, “Where is God? If I just SAW him, I would believe!” No you wouldn’t.
b. It is interesting that Evolutionist cannot find God the same way that a thief cannot find a Garda! Neither one of them want to find Him.
7. So, You cannot just find God by looking for Him with your eyes
a. Can’t find Him naturally. No one can!
b. Job tried!
1) Job 23:8-9 Behold, I go forward, but he [GOD] is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
2) At last Job was able to trust Someone He couldn’t see
3) Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
c. Scientists cannot find God – that’s why they mock Him
d. The truth is, they can only discover the handiwork of God
e. And what awesome handiwork God has made with the stars, and the laws of physics, and the impossibility of life here on this planet!
f. EXAMPLE: It is like a someone discovering a car that has been left running... All the peson can do is tell you that there is a car, and that it is running, and all these parts are marvellouslyt working together. They can’t tell you WHO made it! If someone wants to know who actually designed and built something like a car, you are going to have to know where to look, and how to find him or her! The same with God!
C. God Hides Himself on Purpose
1. He is invisible to us for good reason
2. We couldn't survive seeing God as He is – infinite, almighty!
3. So God stays hidden behind darkness
4. Exodus 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
5. God did NOT show Himself, His brightness on mount Sinai, only darkness
6. Deuteronomy 4:12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude [SUBSTANCE]; only ye heard a voice.
7. But… One day every eye shall see God as He is, but not now
8. For most people, it will be the most terrifying moment ever, and for those of us who are saved, it will be the most awesome!
9. Until that day, God stays back, wanting to be looked for, and found!
D. God is Findable - Two great truths…
1. He actually WANTS to be found
a. Example of hide and seek – My grandchildren when we play want to be found by Grandpa!
b. John 14:7-9 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
c. In other words, HEY PHILIP, YOU FOUND ME!
2. He is not far from any of us – not a million miles away, or a hundred, or 5 feet away
a. Acts 17:24-27 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
b. God WANTS people, you, me, to find Him
c. And He is not very far away – not in Tibet, or Lough Derg, or Croagh Patrick
E. We just have to WANT to find Him
1. Whatever you are going through, God wants you to seek HIM first
a. Not seek revenge, seek HIM!
b. Not seek happiness, seek HIM!
c. Not seek stability in your life, but seek HIM!
d. Not seek answers… just seek HIM!
2. Listen to God’s own words… CIRCLE THESE PROMISES
a. Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
b. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
3. Listen to David, when he was alone, defeated, hated and hunted by king Saul …
a. Psalms 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
b. Psalms 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
c. Like a deer running from the hunter, its heart beating a million miles an hour, the throat is dry, the chest heaving rapidly taking in rapid breaths, seeking to find water and a place of safety!
1) So does the Christian seek after God! After the SPIRIT of God
2) Instead of the things of this world
3) Great Hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
a) O soul, are you weary and troubled?
b) No light in the darkness you see?
c) There’s a light for a look at the Saviour,
d) And life more abundant and free!
e) Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
f) Look full in His wonderful face,
g) And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
h) In the light of His glory and grace.
4. God waits for someone to WANT and desire to be close to HIM! (James 4:8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
5. We need to want to walk WITH Him, not our own way (Isaiah 53:6)
6. So, Make the pursuit of God, the desire for the Holy Spirit of God, the main thing – seek him with all your heart!
a. Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
b. Psalms 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
c. THAT is the kind of commitment that God will reward!
F. There are blessings and benefits to pursuing God and enjoying God
1. I am not talking about religion – but about having your own personal relationship with God! There is NOTHING more important that your relationship with God
2. God REWARDS those who diligently seek HIM
a. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
b. John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
3. God PROVIDES for anyone who puts Him ahead of food and pleasures
a. Psalms 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
b. Why would someone slip off onto the side of their bed early in the morning, and pray? Why would they open their Bible and read several chapters before heading out to work or to school?
c. Because they want GOD! They know they NEED God!
d. They cried out to him to forgive them and save them from their sins, but now they cry for God to save them from them-SELVES! To make Jesus their life!
e. Listen to the words of John the Baptist in John 3:30 "He [JESUS] must increase, but I must decrease."
4. God will PROTECT those who stay close to him (Psalms 9:10) And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
5. There is JOY as you get close to the presence of God
a. Someone who walks no longer after the flesh, but after the Spirit of God is actually the happiest person alive!
b. Most people think us Christians are “haunted by the fear that someone, somewhere, might be happy.”
c. They believe we are “killjoys,” the joyless “frozen chosen.”
d. That’s the modern view of Bible believing Baptists.
e. But listen to Psalm 16:11 Thou [GOD] wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
f. PLEASURES? JOY? REALLY? YES!
g. But they are found when we are close to Him, and when we STAY close
h. Most soured Christians have only dabbled in the Christian life
i. They have never sought the fulness of the Spirit of Christ!
III. Conclusion
A. We need each other. We need to be with our families, our husbands, our wives. We need to be with other Christians
B. But we Need to be close to God’s Holy Spirit MORE!
C. So, BE the generation that seek a closeness with God – a walk with God, instead of flesh!
1. Psalms 24:6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. MAKE THAT YOUR GOAL!
2. Isn’t anyone tired of all the glitter and shallowness of this life? All the emptiness, and fighting, and hurting, and sorrows?
3. Don’t seek to be religious, or philosophical, or sensible, or normal
4. Be the man or woman in this day and age that touches the heart of God like this woman did, and gets His attention, and gets what you need!
a. Mark 5:24-28 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
b. Think about what this woman had to do to get close to Jesus, enough to touch Him
c. Mark 5:29-33 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
d. Mark 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
e. Many people thronged Jesus, and bumped up against him, but only ONE person pushed through and actually touched Him!
f. Jesus BRAGS on this woman’s pursuit of Him! If only we ALL did the same!
5. Seek after, pursue hard after the living Spirit of God Almighty!