Make Sure You Are Following the Right Spirit
Romans 8:14
October 29, 2023
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Romans 8:14; Psalm 51:10-12)
A. We have been studying verse by verse throughout the Book of Romans since January
B. We are in chapter 8 and have stopped at the Scripture that says “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)
C. But not everyone is allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God
D. Please listen carefully to the words of king David in Psalm 51:10-12
1. Psalm 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
2. David knew his heart had become dark, and soiled, and sinful
3. He had allowed such darkness, lusts and sins to soil his own walk with God, and bring hurt to his own family, and it even caused the death of an innocent man named Uriah
4. He stopped being led by the Holy Spirit, and followed his own lusts, his own desires, his own will
5. And he knew his spirit was wrong – his entire attitude was hard, and proud
6. And he begged God to be kind and make his heart and spirit right again!
E. The story of the Pied Piper
1. A famous example of someone who attracts a following through false promises.
2. Especially of children!
3. THAT is how the world around us is attracting people through its false promises, and ultimate ruin!
F. Make sure YOU desire to have a right spirit, no matter how dark the world may get!
II. Background
A. A Clear Warning (Ephesians 5:11,12)
1. We are clearly warned about NOT having any fellowship with things that are dark
a. Things that honour the prince of darkness
b. Ephesians 5:11,12 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
c. Things that are done in secret
d. Things that are shameful, and destructive
2. The world calls this time of year, Halloween, but God calls is darkness!
3. It is anything BUT “all hallows eve”!
4. No Christian should have anything to do with Halloween
5. But not only that, we should have nothing to do with ANY work of darkness
6. You can now earn a master’s degree in . . . Magic and the Occult. The University of Exeter now offers “the UK’s first postgraduate degree in magic and the occult” as this school seeks “to harness growing interest in the subjects.” This multidisciplinary master’s degree will “explore the history and impact of witchcraft and magic around the world on society and science.”
7. God warns us, NOT so that we have no fun at all, but because we are in a war against spiritual wickedness, and we cannot play both sides
B. What We Were and What We Are Now (Ephesians 5:8)
1. As Christians, we do not live and walk in darkness anymore
2. Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
3. We WERE Darkness
a. Is our PAST
b. It was filled with worthless, empty efforts that lead nowhere but to the grave
c. Referring to spiritual and emotional darkness, living in ignorance, blindness, error
d. We were not fulfilling our own lusts – but the lusts of Satan himself (John 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
e. Is that YOUR kind of like?
f. Is that how YOU live right now? Doing secret things, in darkness?
g. You are not free
4. We ARE Light
a. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
b. John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
c. It is our present and our eternal future – how we live now and how we will live forever
d. You and I both know how good it is to get away to someplace in the LIGHT – in sunshine and warmth and blue skies!
e. The same is true when there is light inside us!
f. Jesus is our life now – He is our light
g. It produces good, lasting fruit, like joy, and peace, and rest, and good success
5. You are either one or the other – cannot be both!
6. There is no communion at all between light and darkness (2Corinthians 6:14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
7. So quit living in a shade of gray
8. And walk/live as light (Ephesians 5:8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
C. Question is, Are You Being Led by the Wrong spirit? (Ephesians 2:2,3)
1. Ephesians 2:2,3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2. You are right to be worried about evil influencers of your children: LGBT+ books and videos written for children and teenagers!
3. But you must become concerned about evil influencers OF YOUR OWN spirit
a. Take a good look at your own attitude?
b. Does it reflect the attitude of the world around you, or the spirit of Christ?
4. There are seducing spirits in this world, that are very good at luring and tricking and hooking and trapping even the strongest of believers
5. How?
6. By lying, deceiving, impressing carnal believers into following HIM instead of the Spirit of God!
a. Satan is the best liar ever
b. He appears so right – as an angel of light
c. He makes the most sense
d. He offers what seems like the most fun
e. That’s because Satan transforms himself into an Angel of light.
f. 2Corinthians 11:13,14 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
g. The only way to know his tactics and his lies is to know the truth – know THIS BOOK inside and out
h. I must say, if you think knowing all the dark things going on in the world will make you wise to Satan’s plans…, it wont. But knowing this Book, reading it more than all the youtubes and exposes, will make you resilient to Satan’s lies!
D. We Wrestle Against Spiritual Wickedness Whether We Know It or Not!
1. Ephesians 6:11,12 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2. The devil loves to promote the spirit of fear – incapacitates / disables even strong Christians
a. The fear of death, of failure, of mockery, of the unknown
b. All of those things are not from God, and are demonic, and must never be given in to!
3. If you have never wrestled against intense fear, then you have not lived the Christian life
4. If there is no wrestling at all, I doubt your are even saved at all!
E. So, Walk in the Light (1John 1:5-7)
1. 1John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
2. Focus on what is good and what is holy instead of what is dark and what is evil
3. Christians are commanded to be simple concerning things that are evil (Romans 16:19) For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
III. How to Walk in the Light (Ephesians 5:15-21)
A. Things every Christian Must be Doing to Counteract the Growing Darkness
B. Walk Circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15)
1. Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
2. Live with both eyes wide open
a. Looking all around, being aware of what is happening around you and your family
b. You better do it when you are driving
c. Do it when doing normal life
d. Don’t let all the noise and chaos of this world numb your senses
3. I hope you are aware that…
a. Most movies today are full of filth – not hidden anymore
b. Most styles of clothes, ladies are wrong – leave very little to the imagination
c. Most churches are filled with such confusion and darkness
4. So, Believe not every spirit, but put them on trial and test them (1John 4:1)
a. 1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
b. Don’t pick up a spirit of APATHY – not caring what you watch, what you think…
c. Don’t believe all the things that come into your thoughts, your imaginations
1) Like prideful thoughts
2) As well as suicidal thoughts
3) Wrong desires – there are things that are wrong to want (covetous)
4) Wrong doctrines – 95% of all religious youtubes out there are there to make money, and to get you all worked up about some secret truth no one else knows
d. Don’t believe those things
e. Believe the simplicity of the Gospel!
f. Believe that this world belongs to God, and He is in control, not Putin, Biden, or Trump!
5. Believe what God says – not what your gut or your heart feels!
a. Faith IS the victory that overcomes the world!
b. God says He is working EVERYTHING out for good for those that love God
1) Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2) THAT is why we are memorising it this entire month!
c. No matter how dark times get, or how hard it may be for you to live for Christ, He is the greater power IN you than the devil in the world is!
1) 1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
d. Do you believe any of that?
e. There are thousands of Scriptures to learn and believe and trust with all your heart!
f. But unfortunately, Far too many “christians” know almost nothing of the Bible
g. They only know what I say, or what their church says, or their favourite youtube speaker says
C. Make Up for Lost Time (Ephesians 5:16)
1. Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
2. Don’t pick up a spirit of QUITTING when things get hard!
3. Throw off anything that is slowing your own Christian walk or race!
4. Start pressing forward, always forward! Live AS LIGHT in the Lord!
5. That requires that you Cast off the works of darkness from your life (Romans 13:12)
a. Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: [JESUS’ SECOND COMING] let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
b. Not just reject Halloween…
c. But shake off, cut off, break off Old habits, Old ways of thinking, Lusts, Addictions, Laziness, Unforgiveness, Bitterness, Hatred, Smoking, Drinking, Flirting
d. You may wonder if you can do it, but the answer is yes according to Romans 13:12
e. And your family needs to see you do it - don't leave the victories to someone else, and definitely don't let the devil have the victory over your life and your home!
6. This is a serious decision that requires serious effort
7. All that takes a lot of effort – but is like a man who has tripped and fallen, and must put out more effort just to catch up with the other runners, and especially if he wants to get ahead and win the race!
D. Start Doing God’s will instead of your own (Ephesians 5:17)
1. Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
2. Don’t be a fool, and just do only what you want, or what everyone else is doing
3. Do you ever wonder what God’s will is? What God would have you do?
4. It doesn’t matter if you are 9 years old or 29, or 59, or 99 years old! Know what God’s will is for you and live it!
5. That is so missing today – doesn’t anybody want to kick the devil in his teeth? Then just Find out what God wants done and then do it.
E. Seek the filling of God's Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
1. Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
2. The second most precious invitation in the Bible – to be filled with God’s Spirit
3. He does not force Himself on anyone
4. He waits for you to so desperately need Him and yield to Him, and open up to Him, instead of opening up yourself to the spirits of this wicked world
5. When a Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no room for the devil!
6. Just remember, when you grab that bottle of whisky, it is called a spirit for a reason!
7. Another thought… If you have ever been filled with anger or depression, then you know how much you should seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God!
8. If only you wanted HIM to fill your heart and your life!
F. Sing (Ephesians 5:19)
1. Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
2. The music of this world is DARK – twisted – sensual – they are not love songs, they are perverted and dark and destructive!
3. Do you want to have a right spirit in you?
4. The missing weapon is PRAISE! Vocal, visible, passionate worship of Almighty God!
5. Praise unto our God is light in every dark time!
a. 1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light
b. Act 16:23-26 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
6. Every person who ever came to Jesus for help, worshipped Him first! And was rewarded with a miracle, simply because they believed He is good, and will do good!
7. So sing His praise; give Him the glory and honour due to the Son of God!
a. Start with Amazing Grace, then Be Thou My Vision, then What Can Wash Away My Sins?, then And Can It Be?, then Jesus Loves Me This I Know, the My Jesus I Love Thee, and then The Old Rugged Cross, and then so on and so on!
8. Learn these hymns! Memorise these hymns!
9. Not the contemporary mucis junk, but the solid truths of Scripture found in powerful hymns and spiritual songs!
10. At 18 years old, I bought me a hymnal as a new Christian, and joined my church choir, and learned how to sing, and what to sing!
11. Why? Because Satan cannot co-exist with your praise of the name of Jesus Christ!
G. Be Constantly Thankful (Ephesians 5:20) – SERIOUSLY!
1. This generation is probably the most spoiled and unthankful ever!
2. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
3. Satan cannot co-exist with a thankful, contented heart!
4. He works to get you to murmur and complain and grumble
5. Philippians 2:14,15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
6. What are you thankful for? Well, SAY IT! Rehearse it! Tell God THANK YOU
7. SING: I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU LORD!
H. Submit to One Another (Ephesians 5:21)
1. Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
2. That is, IF you want to win against the darkness
3. Notice how far our culture has moved away from God!
a. Husbands and wives fight and argue and do not have any intention on humbling themselves and submitting themselves to God’s way of loving and honouring
b. Children grow up without the fear of God, and wreck not only their lives but their family’s lives and their future!
4. The devil is the greatest rebel
5. Don’t give him any power in your heart or your home!
6. Do you want Satan to stay in control of your home, then keep fighting
7. If you want him OUT… humble yourselves to one another
8. Wife, stop being afraid of trusting God and trusting your husband
9. Gentlemen, stop demanding, stop fighting to get your own way
10. Listen to your wife’s fears!
11. Pray with her, and love her sacrificially!
12. SATAN CANNOT LIVE WHERE HUMILITY ABOUNDS!
I. Overcome Evil With Good (Romans 12:17-21)
1. Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
2. This is the big one!
3. You overwhelm the darkness of this world by being kind – by being light in dark places
4. Become a blessing and a benefit to others
5. extend grace instead of judgement
6. Actually pray for those who have hurt you
7. Do the right thing instead of the normal thing!
J. The greatest pursuit of life is to have a close relationship with God… Don’t miss it! Don’t pick up and hold onto a wrong spirit, when the Holy Spirit is leading!
IV.Conclusion
A. Is your own spirit right with God?
B. David writes in Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
C. Is that still possible?
D. I am here to tell you it is!
E. But only if you truly want it!
1. The choices we make, and the spirit we live by matters!
2. I choose to follow Jesus Christ, and be led of His holy Spirit
3. What is YOUR choice today?