Romans 8 shows us how we are brought into a new life in Christ that is without condemnation. This Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the old life that was dominated by the flesh and death. Through the finished work of Christ and by the present active work of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to walk and live without condemnation. To continue in this newness of life of victory over the flesh, we need to know that God is working within us and see evidence of the Holy Spirit’s activity.
Our first consideration is to know the Holy Spirit is in us.
Romans 8:9 NKJV But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
If God the Holy Spirit is dwelling within, we need to see what He is doing. Remember, His presence is not only in the temple of the whole body of believers, but also in us individually. This is recognized in every example of our participation in Christ. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is dwelling in you. His life-flow is moving through every part of the vine and branches. His life-flow is evident in every part of the body and in every part of the temple of God.
Romans 8:11 NKJV But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
God has brought us in and made us a temple for the Holy Spirit to indwell.
1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV84 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit dwells in you.
Look at the word “temple,” (naos). A temple is the building in which God dwells. What makes it a temple is the presence of God. This was first related to the tabernacle in the wilderness. Then it referred to the Temple in Jerusalem that Solomon built. A Temple is regarded as a dwelling place for God, a holy and sacred sanctuary. The Temple was the place where the glory of God descended.
“You are the temple of God.”
Once we have settled the fact of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, we must come to know what He is doing.
God the Holy Spirit is actively working in you. We should know that God is active. After six days, God rested on the seventh day when His works of creation were finished or complete. God established the sabbath as a day of rest for man. When Jesus healed the lame man on the sabbath, the Jews became indignant at Him. Jesus responded with these words: “My Father is always working, and so am I.” (John 5:17 NLT) Even though God has completed His works, He is always working. In John 10, Jesus spoke much about doing the works of the Father. The works that He did were a testimony of His relationship to the Father and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit upon and within HIm.
What is the activity of the Holy Spirit in us?
Philippians 2:13 NLT For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.
God is working within us.
He is building Himself and His nature into us, the fruit of the Spirit. He is establishing the righteousness of Christ in us, cleansing and sanctifying. He is birthing and developing His character in us, conquering the old carnal nature. The nature and character of the Holy Spirit is being worked into our spirit, mind, and life, changing our mind and heart. God is transforming us into Christ’s image and likeness by the function and activity of the Holy Spirit within us. In every way that God the Holy Spirit is working in us, He is building the nature, character and mind of Christ in us.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NKJV There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:31 NLT So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
Take note of the language in these verses. Diversities means — arising from a different and distinct distribution. Differences means — a significantly different nature or variety. The differences and diversities of gifts, ministries, and activities are a direct product of the same Spirit, Lord, and God. Notice the triune God is working in all of us. Although there are different and diverse gifts, ministries, and activities that are the product of the God, we should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Manifestation is from the word φανέρωσις (phanerosis) which means an open, plain and a clearly seen manifestation. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one to profit all. This is not limiting but magnifying and expanding. What the Holy Spirit is doing in you will impact the whole body of believers. The gifts, ministries, and activities of the Holy Spirit in and upon us is a supernatural ability bestowed by the Holy Spirit as He wills.
It should be noted that the Holy Spirit gives these gifts and manifestations, and distributes them individually as He wills.
Believers are enabled, quickened, and anointed by the Holy Spirit to have these manifestations, gifts, talents and fruit. Whatever class or kind, the Holy Spirit is the One Who works these gifts, ministries, and activities. The same Spirit that raised and anointed Christ produces the manifestation and diverse gifts, ministries, and activities. The qualities and ministries of Christ Jesus will be reproduced in the redeemed by the work and power of the Holy Spirit. As a result of the Holy Spirit’s activity in believers, the world will recognize who we are and give glory to God.
If each of these gifts of the Spirit are profitable, why should we earnestly desire the most helpful gifts?
Some of the Holy Spirit’s work benefits an individual. Some of the Holy Spirit’s work benefits the larger family of God. Some of the Holy Spirit’s work is time and situation oriented. If I am sick unto death, there are gifts that are helpful. I could have the gift of faith, encouragement, or helps; or I could have the gift of miracles and healings. Sometimes the most helpful gifts are not the most obvious.
Some would say, “If the Holy Spirit is behind, with, and in the gift or manifestation, are they not all helpful?”
Anything the Holy Spirit does will equip and edify the body of Christ, but some things are more necessary or needed.
Watch what God has done and is doing in us.
1 Corinthians 1:30 NCV Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin.
Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
The very possibility and action of what He is doing in us makes a tremendous transition from the power and control of sin and darkness into the Kingdom of God’s Son.
Romans 5:6-11 says: “While we were weak… Christ died for the ungodly.”
God has set us apart from the world and conveyed us into the kingdom of His Son. He has given us His Spirit and diverse and different ministries, gifts, and activities. He has sanctified us and made us righteous. He is building His nature and life into our inner person.
What are the ramifications and consequences of what God is doing in us? He gives us His life, authority, nature, and power.
He gives us His life.
What kind of life has He given us?
That life is abundant life. Life in God is not a marginal survival or mere existence. The life that is in God is abundant life. It is a full life of joy, peace, and righteousness. It is a life full of love, hope, and goodness.
That life is eternal life. Eternal life is the quality and quantity of life that is in God. It never runs out. It is always the same. It is from everlasting to everlasting. It is unchanging life.
That life is overcoming life.Every authority, kingdom, and power is in subjection to Him. His life is overcoming life. There is nothing that has authority above His authority except the Father.
He is giving us this same life that the Holy Spirit worked in Christ when He was raised from the dead. It is Spirit quickened and anointed life. It is full of the same power that worked in Christ.
When God gives us new life in Christ, He is giving us a position of authority.
Ephesians 1:20-22 Christ was raised and made to sit at the right hand of the Father far above all principality, power, might, dominion, and name…
Ephesians 2:6 NIV84 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Under God’s authority and power, the Church has been raised with Christ to a position of authority. God’s authority is above all things and we are subject to Him. Under God’s authority and power, by the work of the Holy Spirit, the Church can pull down the strongholds of the enemy. Jesus told His disciples to go out in His Name and to conquer. In the name, person, and work of Jesus, we have authority and victory.
When God gives us new life in Christ, He is giving us His nature. What is the nature of Christ?
What are the essential qualities or characteristics by which we recognize Christ?
He is holy, righteous, and pure. He is mighty, powerful, and confident. He is full of love, joy, and peace. He is full of grace, mercy, and kindness. He is full of hope and faith.
God has given us His nature.
The fruit of the Spirit is a direct result of our abiding in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As a result, our attitudes in life are conformed to the attitudes and nature of the Holy Spirit, who works in us. (Galatians 5:22-25)
His nature within us changes the way we live in this present world.
- By His nature that is in us, we can cast our anxiety upon Him, (1 Peter 5:7).
- By His nature that is in us, our faith and hope can rest in Him, (1 Peter 1:8).
- By His nature that is in us, we can overcome and conquer the adversary of our souls (1 John 4:4).
When God gives us new life in Christ, He gives us His power.
When God puts His Spirit within us, we are changed. We begin walking in the Spirit and functioning in the measurable expression of the Holy Spirit’s power. Holy Spirit realities begin taking preeminence over the realities of this world and our old nature. The Holy Spirit within us begins functioning on a level of power that is foreign to our old nature and the flesh. He is the mountain mover. He is the breath of life. He is life giver. He is the universe holder. He is the power of God.
Too often, we live and function with expectations that are devoid of His dwelling and living within us.
Those who are dominated by their old nature are oriented toward the things of that nature. If we only live in the manner of our old unredeemed lives, it is impossible to see or do what God is doing.
God is greater than the power that is working in this world.
There is a power living in you that is greater than the power of the world.
Philippians 4:13 Amplified I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].
In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul described various stages of his own personal hunger and fullness. Regardless of what he experienced, he found strength to face all things through Christ.
What does this mean for us?
God has given us the Spirit of an overcomer. By His Spirit, God is the supply and source of our strength. God is our source of life’s vitality. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, who works in us, we have the strength that is needed for anything and we are self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.
Philippians 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
You are an overcomer. You have a Resource that is beyond the world’s supply. You need to become strong in faith toward God in this. Throughout Paul’s Epistles we are given this message of the Holy Spirit’s ministry and intervention in our lives.
When the Holy Spirit finds entrance into our lives and we begin to be led and controlled by the Holy Spirit, He brings us into Christ’s victory.
He leads us into victory and triumph, (2 Corinthians 2:14; Colossians 2:15; Romans 8:37). He causes us to overcome and conquer, (Romans 8:35-37). God is working within us, (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 12:6). The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses by teaching us how to pray and by making intercession for us with groanings to deep for words, (Romans 8:26-28). He conforms and transforms us into the image of Christ, (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
