Empowered Living: Dependence on the Holy Spirit

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of the Holy Spirit Enables True Obedience

The Christian life is not about striving in our own strength to meet God’s standards, but about depending on the Holy Spirit who empowers us to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law. God did not lower His expectations or relax His holy law; instead, He provided the means for us to walk in obedience through the Spirit. This transformation is not about duty or fear, but about love, joy, and gratitude that flow from knowing Christ. When we walk according to the Spirit, our lives are changed from the inside out, and we are able to live in a way that brings glory to God. [07:42]

Romans 8:4-11 (ESV)
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been trying to obey God in your own strength, and how can you intentionally invite the Holy Spirit to empower you today?

Day 2: A New Heart and Mind Are God’s Gift, Not Our Achievement

Left to ourselves, our hearts are deceitful and our minds are set on the flesh, leading only to chaos, restlessness, and spiritual death. But God, in His mercy, promises to give us a new heart and a new spirit, writing His law within us and removing our heart of stone. This is not something we can accomplish by self-improvement or religious effort; it is a supernatural work of God that transforms us from the inside out, making us new creations who desire and pursue the things of God. [21:58]

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Reflection: What old attitudes or desires do you sense God wanting to replace with His new heart in you, and how can you surrender those to Him in prayer today?

Day 3: The Spirit-Controlled Life Brings Life and Peace

Setting your mind on the Spirit leads to true life and peace, freeing you from the bondage of self, sin, and the law. This peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a deep, abiding calm that comes from being reconciled to God and living as His beloved child. The Spirit-controlled life is marked by a desire for God, love for others, obedience, and a mind renewed by God’s Word. These are the fruits and evidence of the Spirit’s presence, and they are available to all who walk by the Spirit. [43:14]

Romans 5:1 (ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Where do you most need the peace of God in your life right now, and what is one step you can take to set your mind on the Spirit in that area?

Day 4: The Holy Spirit Is Our Constant Companion and Helper

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, but the third Person of the Trinity who dwells within every believer as a constant companion, helper, and source of truth. He is our exclusive advantage, our internal teacher, and the guarantee of our inheritance. When we acknowledge our need and ask for His help, He is present to comfort, guide, and empower us—even in our weakness, doubts, and struggles. The Spirit’s presence is the assurance of our salvation and the power for victorious living. [49:48]

John 14:16-17 (ESV)
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Reflection: When was the last time you honestly admitted your need for the Holy Spirit’s help, and how can you practice relying on Him as your Helper today?

Day 5: Examine Yourself—Is the Spirit Evident in Your Life?

True faith is evidenced by the presence and fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. It is not about outward religious activity or pretending, but about a genuine desire for God, a struggle against sin, and a longing to please Him. The Spirit convicts, leads, and transforms, and when we quench or grieve Him, we are called to return in repentance and ask God to search our hearts. Regular self-examination is vital, not to foster doubt, but to ensure that we are truly living in the Spirit and not merely going through the motions. [56:05]

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Reflection: Take time today to pray Psalm 139:23-24, asking God to reveal any area where you are resisting the Spirit, and write down what He shows you.

Sermon Summary

The Christian life is not a cycle of trying and failing, but a journey of dependence on the Holy Spirit. God’s commands are not meant to be burdens we carry in our own strength, but invitations to a new way of living—one empowered by the Spirit. Through Christ, we are set free from condemnation, and this freedom is not just a legal status, but the foundation for a transformed life. The Gospel’s goal is not merely forgiveness, but righteousness—a life that reflects God’s character and fulfills the law’s true intent, which is love for God and neighbor.

We are incapable of meeting God’s standards on our own. Before Christ, our hearts were set on the flesh, obsessed with self, and unable to please God. Even our best efforts were tainted by self-interest and spiritual deadness. But God, in His mercy, gives us a new heart and a new Spirit. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out, making us new creations who desire God, love others, and pursue holiness not out of duty, but out of joy and gratitude.

There are only two ways to live: according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. The mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, unable to submit or please Him, and already experiencing spiritual death. In contrast, the mind set on the Spirit enjoys life and peace—eternal life, peace with God, and the peace of God. This is not a passive state, but an active, daily walk of surrender, prayer, and obedience. The Spirit’s presence is the evidence of true faith, the source of our power to change, and the guarantee of our future resurrection.

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, but our constant companion, helper, and the seal of our salvation. He empowers us to obey, convicts us of sin, comforts us in weakness, and assures us of our identity in Christ. If there is no evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives—no desire for God, no struggle against sin, no fruit of the Spirit—then we must examine ourselves honestly. The call is to live publicly as people filled with the Spirit, shining as lights in the world, and to continually seek the Spirit’s help, knowing that apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Key Takeaways

1. True obedience flows from the security of “no condemnation.” Only when we are rooted in the assurance of God’s acceptance can we move beyond fear-based self-improvement to joyful, Spirit-empowered living. The Gospel’s purpose is not just to forgive, but to transform us into people who love and obey God from the heart. [09:21]
2. The mind set on the flesh is not merely weak, but utterly unable to please God. This is not a matter of trying harder, but of recognizing our total dependence on the Spirit for any spiritual life or growth. Without the Spirit, even our best intentions are locked out from God’s purposes. [29:27]
3. The evidence of the Spirit’s presence is not perfection, but a new direction—a heart that desires God, grieves over sin, and seeks to please Him. The Spirit’s fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, and more—are not self-generated, but the result of His ongoing work in us. [41:57]
4. The Holy Spirit is our power for change, not just our comforter. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, making real victory over sin and transformation possible. We are not left to fight in our own strength, but are given resurrection power for daily living. [45:01]
5. Self-examination is essential for authentic faith. It is not enough to appear religious or active in church; the true test is the Spirit’s evidence in our lives. We must regularly ask God to search our hearts, reveal any falsehood, and lead us in the way everlasting, relying on His Spirit to make us genuine children of God. [56:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Opening Prayer and Dependence on the Spirit
[01:21] - The Struggle of Powerless Obedience
[02:34] - Freedom from Condemnation in Christ
[03:32] - The Purpose of the Gospel: A Changed Life
[05:43] - Fulfilling the Law by the Spirit
[08:33] - Walking by the Spirit, Not the Flesh
[11:47] - The Power and Influence of the Mind
[12:13] - The Self-Centered Mind and Its Consequences
[16:46] - False Views of God and the Deceitful Heart
[19:47] - God’s Gift of a New Heart
[23:17] - Hostility Toward God and Total Depravity
[26:55] - The Necessity and Power of Prayer
[29:27] - The Inability of the Flesh to Please God
[33:21] - The Gospel’s Power for a Pleasing Life
[37:28] - The Spirit-Controlled Mind and Its Signs
[42:32] - The Benefits of Life in the Spirit
[43:55] - The Strength and Personhood of the Holy Spirit
[45:01] - Resurrection Power for Daily Living
[49:05] - The Spirit’s Roles: Companion, Helper, Truth
[52:23] - The Evidence of the Spirit and Self-Examination
[56:05] - The Call to Examine Ourselves
[56:56] - The Spirit’s Power and the Hope of Resurrection
[59:48] - Living Publicly as Spirit-Filled People
[60:51] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 8:4-11 (ESV) — 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Observation Questions

According to Romans 8:4, what is the purpose of being set free from condemnation in Christ? How does this relate to the way we live? ([05:43])
What are the two ways of living that Paul describes in Romans 8:5-6? What are the results of each mindset? ([38:19])
In Romans 8:9-11, what does Paul say is the evidence that someone truly belongs to Christ? ([47:28])
According to the sermon, what is the difference between trying to obey God in our own strength and living by the power of the Holy Spirit? ([02:34])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “The security of no condemnation from 8:1 is really the only soil in which the flower of true obedience can grow.” Why is assurance of God’s acceptance so important for real change and obedience? ([09:21])
The mind set on the flesh is described as “hostile to God” and “unable to please God.” What does this reveal about our natural ability to follow God’s commands without the Spirit? ([29:27])
The evidence of the Spirit’s presence is not perfection, but a new direction. What are some signs that the Spirit is at work in someone’s life, even if they still struggle with sin? ([41:57])
The Holy Spirit is called our “power for change, not just our comforter.” How does this truth challenge the way we think about spiritual growth and overcoming sin? ([45:01])

Application Questions

The sermon says that true obedience flows from the security of “no condemnation.” Do you ever find yourself trying to obey God out of fear or guilt rather than joy and gratitude? How could rooting yourself in God’s acceptance change your motivation? ([09:21])
Paul says that those who live according to the flesh cannot please God. Are there areas in your life where you are still trying to “try harder” instead of depending on the Spirit? What would it look like to surrender those areas to God this week? ([29:27])
The Spirit’s presence is shown by a heart that desires God, grieves over sin, and seeks to please Him. Is there a specific sin or struggle in your life where you sense the Spirit convicting you? How can you respond to that conviction today? ([41:57])
The sermon challenges us to examine ourselves for evidence of the Spirit’s work. When you look at your life, do you see the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) growing? If not, what is one step you can take to invite the Spirit’s help in that area? ([52:23])
The Holy Spirit is described as our constant companion and helper. When was the last time you asked the Spirit for help in a specific situation? How can you make it a habit to rely on Him more in your daily life? ([49:48])
The call is to live publicly as people filled with the Spirit, shining as lights in the world. Is your faith mostly private, or do others see evidence of the Spirit in your actions and words? What is one way you can be more open about your faith this week? ([59:48])
The sermon encourages regular self-examination. What practical steps can you take to regularly ask God to search your heart and reveal areas that need change? Is there a prayer or practice you want to start this week? ([56:05])

Sermon Clips

Have you ever been given a task with absolutely no power to complete it? Maybe it was a project at work without the right tools, a recipe without a key ingredient, or being told to climb a mountain with no gears or a map. For many believers, this is exactly what life can feel like. We need the commands of Jesus. We hear it. Be perfect, love your enemies, rejoice always. And we know that they are good and we know that they are right. But when we try to live them out, we hit a wall. So we try harder. Or we make up new rules or grind our teeth only to find ourselves falling again, feeling guilty and wondering. Is the Christian life just a cycle of trying and failing? If that's where you are today, I have great news for you. The believer's life is not about your ability to follow God's laws or commands. It's about how much you depend on His Holy Spirit. [00:01:21] (85 seconds) #DependOnTheSpirit

So what we have here is God said that before we were saved, I must obey the law. But since now we have the righteousness of God, I want to obey the law before we are driven by duty or fear. I have to or now we are driven by love for Christ and joy and gratitude. That says I get to. [00:07:25] (28 seconds) #LoveDrivenObedience

We live in a world that's calmly telling us to follow our hearts, right? Hey, follow your heart. Yeah, you do you look out for number one. Yet the Bible describes the heart is deceitful above all things. How could you follow your heart where the Bible says it's deceitful above all things? [00:17:07] (27 seconds) #HeartIsDeceitful

The solution isn't merely in behavioral modification. The solution is the filling of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel. Because that's the answer to your spiritual deadness. The Gospel is the only solution to the death problem. [00:35:24] (22 seconds) #SpiritNotBehavior

If the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, he is a person. He's not an it. He's a person. Right? And if he's a person, he can get hurt because he's a person. But the one thing that we know about the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit is equal in power with the Father and the Son. There's no inequality. They're all the same. The Father is powerful, the Son is powerful, and the Holy Spirit is powerful. And since the Holy Spirit lives inside you, that makes you powerful. [00:44:07] (52 seconds) #HolySpiritIsPerson

The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit So if the same Spirit could raise someone from the dead, he is powerful enough to conquer whatever sin you're going through. Absolutely. But yet, sadly, we don't use that power. [00:45:29] (32 seconds) #SpiritConquersSin

``The resurrection of Jesus was our D day. It was decisive battle where the power of sin and death is broken forever. His Spirit's present in us right now is God's personal guarantee that same power that raised him from the grave will one day raise us to. That's our veto. And it's coming where our bodies will be raised and death will finally die. And since we live in the in between time the war is won. But the skirmishes would sin and sickness remains. Yet we do not fight from for victory. We fight from victory with resurrection power. [00:58:38] (50 seconds) #ResurrectionVictory

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