“The Spirit Controlled Life” Pt 7:
The first step toward Godliness is recognizing the guilt of your sins and then asking Christ to forgive you. It might be interesting for you to know, salvation comes because God reaches out to you first. That’s the guilty feelings referred to followed by a sense of believing, “There has to be a better way to live,” and there is. However, attempting to make changes on your own is almost always short term. You’ll learn, changes don’t come from trying – real change comes from the inside out as the Holy Spirit is directing you. Change isn’t from trying, it’s from TRUSTING!
It’s God’s Spirit that convicts us from sin and convinces us changes are necessary. He also shows us, we can’t change without the Holy Spirit’s help. I love the word “help.” I always need help – you need help – we all need help. One of the names or characteristics given to the Holy Spirit is “Helper.” God sent his Spirit to help us live a life of holiness. It’s impossible to live that kind of life without His help.
As sinners who are hopelessly lost spiritually, we need a Savior and God sent His Son into the world. Having no sins of His own, He died for your and my sins. Think of it this way, “All have sinned,” and Jesus came to rescue us! Salvation is a term used to explain the crisis event of a person repenting of all sins and receiving Christ as Savior. They become a new creature and now changes begin to take place.
At salvation, a person immediately becomes a born-again Christian. They are a babe in Christ and because of their repentance, changes begin to take place in the mind. New thoughts and desires come such as reading the Bible, praying, going to church, joining a Bible teaching Sunday School class at church or a home Bible Study with friends.
As a new believer or one that feels stagnant in your spiritual journey, think about this. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven after his resurrection, He informed the disciples, “I must go away so my Father can send you the “Helper” (John 16:7). The Helper is the Holy Spirit. He will give you wisdom, discernment, guidance, and comfort. You are on a new journey, and the Holy Spirit is here to help us become and live like Jesus. (Part 8 tomorrow – The Great Exchange).
Pastor Carnes
