Message: "Living by the Holy Spirit" by Joel King

Oct 21, 2018

Devotional

Day 1: No Condemnation in Lockstep

Roman soldiers marched in perfect unison, but Paul declares a better rhythm: walking with the Spirit. He begins with explosive news—"no condemnation" for those in Christ. The law exposed our failures, but Jesus fulfilled its demands. His righteousness covers us like a soldier’s uniform, making us fit for the march. The Spirit now sets our cadence, not the old drumbeat of shame. [01:08]

Condemnation whispers we’ll never measure up. But Jesus silenced that lie at the cross. When the accuser replays your past, point to His scars. Your standing with God doesn’t depend on your performance but Christ’s perfection. The Spirit’s job isn’t to shame you into step but to align you with grace.

Many of us still march to the beat of “not enough.” Today, when guilt arises, name it: “That’s the old rhythm.” Choose instead to fix your eyes on the Commander who declares you battle-ready. Where have you let condemnation drown out the Spirit’s affirming voice?

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
(Romans 8:1-2, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus aloud for erasing your condemnation. Ask the Spirit to highlight when you slip into shame’s cadence today.

Challenge: Write “NO CONDEMNATION” on your wrist. Each time you see it, whisper Romans 8:1.

Day 2: Mindset of the March

Paul contrasts two mental postures: soldiers fixated on rations versus those focused on their mission. Setting your mind on the flesh means obsessing over comfort, cravings, and control. Setting it on the Spirit means tracking His movements like a private watching their sergeant’s signals. One mindset leads to death; the other to life and peace. [08:33]

Your mind is a drill instructor. What it dwells on determines your direction. The flesh shouts, “Protect yourself! Indulge! Compare!” The Spirit whispers, “Trust. Serve. Rejoice.” Peace comes not from perfect circumstances but from whose orders you follow.

Your thoughts today will either march toward chaos or harmony. When stress hits, pause: Are you strategizing in the flesh or seeking the Spirit’s battle plan? What specific thought pattern needs realignment to His cadence?

“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. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
(Romans 8:5-6, ESV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to intercept one flesh-driven thought today. Replace it with a truth from Philippians 4:8.

Challenge: Set a 3pm alarm. When it rings, assess: Have your thoughts marched with flesh or Spirit this hour?

Day 3: Debtors to the Divine Cadence

Roman soldiers owed absolute loyalty to their centurion. Paul says believers owe nothing to the flesh—we’re debtors to the Spirit. Every craving that whispers, “You must obey me,” is a deserter’s lie. The Spirit’s voice reminds, “You’re funded by Christ’s righteousness. March free.” [09:39]

The flesh demands payment—one more drink, one more scroll, one more angry word. But the cross stamped “PAID IN FULL” over those debts. Walking in the Spirit means refusing to withdraw from closed accounts. Your new Commander covers all rations.

What habit still feels like an obligation to the flesh? Today, when it demands compliance, declare: “My debt is to Christ alone.” Which old creditor have you mistakenly been paying this week?

“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
(Romans 8:12-13, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve acted like the flesh still owns you. Claim freedom in Jesus’ name.

Challenge: Physically destroy a symbol of a flesh debt (e.g., tear a paper representing a habit).

Day 4: Building Faith’s Muscle Memory

Peter outlines spiritual conditioning: add goodness to faith, knowledge to goodness, self-control to knowledge. Like a recruit mastering drills, believers build holy reflexes. The Spirit trains us through repetition—not to earn favor but to embody our new identity. Growth is gradual, but each rep matters. [30:08]

Muscles ache before they strengthen. Early in basic training, soldiers fumble their rifles. Similarly, stumbles in self-control or perseverance don’t mean failure—they’re part of training. The Spirit celebrates progress, not perfection.

Where have you discouraged yourself by expecting instant mastery? Choose one “spiritual rep” to practice today (e.g., pausing to pray before reacting). What small step can you take now?

“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness.”
(2 Peter 1:5-6, ESV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to highlight one virtue He’s developing in you. Thank Him for His patience.

Challenge: Do 1-minute of “spiritual pushups”: Recite 2 Peter 1:5-6 aloud three times today.

Day 5: Tramlines of Constant Contact

Trams stay on track through constant connection to power lines. Paul urges this for believers: live plugged into the Spirit, not relying on Sunday’s “charge.” Moment-by-moment communion—whispered prayers, scripture prompts, worship hummed—keeps you aligned. The flesh wanders; the Spirit steers. [20:03]

Jesus modeled tramline living. He withdrew to pray, quoted Scripture in temptation, and declared, “I do only what I see the Father doing.” His miracles flowed from uninterrupted connection, not sporadic charging.

Your day has hidden tramlines: commute time, chores, waiting rooms. How could these become connection points? What practical step will you take today to “stay plugged in”?

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
(Galatians 5:25, NIV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to interrupt you today with promptings. Commit to obeying one immediately.

Challenge: Choose a routine task (e.g., washing dishes). Pray aloud during it, turning it into communion.

Sermon Summary

We stand free from condemnation because Christ fulfilled the law and the Holy Spirit enacts that victory inside us. We now live under the law of the Spirit of life, not under a code that only accuses and exposes failure. We no longer prove righteousness by our performance but receive Christ’s righteousness and then cooperate with the Spirit who empowers change. We face our weaknesses honestly, but we refuse to let shame define our relationship with God.

We see a stark contrast between two ways of life. The flesh sets its mind on what feels good in the moment and leads to death, estrangement from God, and fruitless living. The Spirit sets the mind on what brings life and peace, produces obedience, and aligns us with the Father. The Spirit does not simply add rules; the Spirit supplies power, new motives, and a living presence that reshapes desire and action.

Walking in step with the Spirit requires practical rhythms. Constant contact with God looks like ongoing prayer, awareness, Scripture, and intentional asks throughout ordinary days. The tram metaphor makes this plain. If we run on stored grace alone, we run dry. If we stay connected, we keep moving with God’s guidance and power. That connection produces new habits: new friends, new coping mechanisms, new ways of thinking, and concrete practices that interrupt old compulsions before the first step into sin.

Growth in the Spirit proceeds as a process. The life of faith calls us to add goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. These qualities grow gradually and circle back to strengthen one another. Visible progress, not immediate perfection, marks the Spirit’s work. When these qualities increase, our lives bear fruit, attract the watching world, and demonstrate a power that goes beyond moral improvement.

We must begin now. Delay only prolongs a lesser, aimless life. When we commit to constant contact, adopt new habits, and embrace the slow work of growth, the Spirit will show us daily opportunities to love, witness, and serve. The biggest miracles often arrive as changed people, healed relationships, and steady, faithful lives that point others to Christ. Let us walk in step with the Holy Spirit and live the kind of life that reflects the righteousness given to us in Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. No condemnation in Christ We rest in the fact that Christ fulfilled the law and the Spirit applies that righteousness to us. This means guilt no longer dictates our identity or our access to God. The Spirit then empowers inward change so righteousness moves from status to shaping our habits and desires. [01:08]
2. Flesh opposes, Spirit brings life The mind set on the flesh pursues short term satisfaction and alienation from God, while the Spirit cultivates life and peace. That conflict shows itself in motives and outcomes more than mere behavior. Choosing the Spirit reorients our desires toward holiness that sustains relationships and purpose. [08:33]
3. Walk in constant spiritual contact The tram image calls us to ongoing, small conversations with God across the day rather than one weekly top up. Constant contact keeps us guided, compassionate, and attentive to ordinary opportunities for grace. This steady connection prevents spiritual drift and fuels daily obedience. [19:19]
4. Growth through habits and process Spirit led change moves through deliberate habits, new friendships, and renewed thinking before sudden deliverance or feeling arrives. Self control and perseverance shape steadier fruit, and brotherly kindness opens the way to genuine love. We should expect a steady increase in Christlike qualities as the clearest evidence of the Spirit at work. [29:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Galatians five twenty five reference
[01:08] - Romans eight no condemnation
[04:33] - Law of the Spirit explained
[08:33] - Flesh versus Spirit contrast
[17:27] - What living in step looks like
[19:19] - Constant contact tram metaphor
[25:14] - New habits and coping strategies
[29:21] - Process of growth in Scripture
[36:27] - Begin now and bear fruit
[41:22] - Prayer and blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Romans 8:1-4 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 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.

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with perseverance, and perseverance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Observation Questions

What does Romans 8:1-4 say about why believers are no longer condemned? How does this contrast with living "according to the flesh"?
The sermon contrasts the "flesh" and the "Spirit" as two opposing ways of life. What specific outcomes are tied to each (e.g., death vs. life)? [08:33]
According to 2 Peter 1:5-7, what qualities are believers called to "add" to their faith? How does this progression work?
The tram metaphor describes "constant contact" with God. What practical examples were given to illustrate this kind of connection? [19:19]

Interpretation Questions

Romans 8:5 says those who live according to the flesh "set their minds on the things of the flesh." Why does this mindset lead to hostility toward God, and how does it affect daily choices? [10:23]
The sermon emphasizes that the Spirit "reshapes desire and action," not just behavior. How does this distinction change the way we understand obedience? [06:53]
In 2 Peter 1:5-7, why do qualities like "self-control" and "perseverance" come before "godliness" and "love"? What does this order reveal about spiritual growth? [29:21]
The tram metaphor warns against relying on "stored grace." Why might this approach fail to sustain a believer long-term? [20:57]

Application Questions

The phrase "no condemnation" means guilt no longer defines our identity. What practical step could you take this week to replace shame with gratitude for Christ’s righteousness when you face failure?
The "flesh" often prioritizes short-term satisfaction. What is one area where you’ve noticed this pattern in your life, and how could intentionally "setting your mind on the Spirit" interrupt it? [10:51]
Constant contact with God includes "small conversations" throughout the day. What specific habit (e.g., prayer prompts, Scripture reminders) could help you stay connected during ordinary moments? [24:00]
Growth in the Spirit involves "new habits" like healthier friendships or coping mechanisms. What old habit do you need to replace, and what Christ-centered alternative could you try this month? [25:14]
Second Peter 1:5-7 describes growth as a gradual process. Which quality in this list (e.g., self-control, brotherly kindness) do you feel the Spirit highlighting for your growth right now? How will you pursue it?
The sermon warns against delaying obedience: "The second best time is now." What is one action you’ve been putting off that the Spirit is urging you to start today? [36:27]

Sermon Clips

44s

#StartToday

“``And you cannot do, or you should not do, what I do with my diets. I'm going to start on Monday, so I'm going to go wild on Sunday. There's a wide saying that says this. It says, The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. It's now. The time to have begun to walk in the spirit seriously as a connect constant connected was as soon as Christ called you. But if you're like me, you've kind of, you know, sometimes you ride the tram, and then often you take the car. The second best time is today.”

38s

#GrowthInGrace

“And this is important. This next one is important to note in the midst of that. And that living in step of the Holy Spirit is a process. It's a process. It does not happen overnight. For some people, certain aspects do happen overnight. God's grace sometimes works that way. But even if if there is an aspect like they're no longer tempted to drink or they're or all of a sudden, the anger is gone or whatever that issue is, there's still other issues in their life that need to be developed over time. Because none of us ever are like Jesus like that. It's a process.”

28s

#FruitOfTheSpirit

“That, by the way, is the sign the Holy Spirit's in your life. Not that you perfectly have joy all the time, That you're faithful all the time. But you know what? If we talk to the people who know you, they could say, yeah, you know what? I've seen joy increase in their life. I've seen forgiveness. I've seen humility. I've seen self control increase in their life. It's a sign of the Holy Spirit in your life. It's a sign of growth.”

24s

#SeeGodEverywhere

“Were they weren't they everywhere the day before? Yeah. Why didn't you notice? Because you weren't looking for it. You start looking for God and and relating to him, you're gonna see him and his work everywhere. And you're gonna get to know him. And then you'll no longer be trying to remember, you know, the four spiritual laws and the way to lead. All you all you need to do is when when it'll just pour out of you. When people talk about your life, you've gotta talk about God.”

36s

#OneDrinkIsntOne

“In AA, Alcoholic Anonymous, they have a saying that says, You can't just have one. The idea is that as soon as you take a drink, this is apple juice, by the way. As soon as you take a drink Fermented? I'm not gonna answer that question. It's over. You gotta have a second. There's an acknowledgement that there's something in their flesh, both physiologically and mentally, that once you take a drink, the choice is gone from there.”

31s

#ControlBeforeFirst

“There we we there are things in all of our lives. You don't have to be spiritual for this principle to understand this principle. You just have to live. And and you just can't take one. And so what does an alcoholic have to learn? If they don't have control over the second drink, what do they have to learn? I gotta do something before the first drink. That's what I have control over. I don't have control over once I start. I don't have any control. So when do I have control? Before.”

38s

#GrowIntoLife

“In other words, there's something more than just your faith that God wants to accomplish in your life. When we adopted our kids out of their their homes of alcohol and drug abuse, our desire was not just to accept them into the King family, but to give them a better choice, to give them a better life. God unconditionally accepts you, but that doesn't mean he doesn't desire for you to have a fruitful and productive life, a better life than if you'd lived by the flesh. He doesn't say you need to do this perfectly, but he does say you need to, what? Grow increasingly. These qualities increase in your life.”

34s

#RighteousThroughChrist

“But my righteousness, your righteousness doesn't lie in ourselves. It lies in what Christ did, his righteousness. And therefore, my spirit is alive because the requirement of the law was fulfilled in Christ who is now in me. Who Christ who is now in me. And the result of that is that I will be raised, you will be raised, and given a new body just like Christ. We'll be given a new body in the heavenly realms. We won't just be spirit.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Trinity Church of Sunnyvale This sermon · AI assistant

What does living by the Spirit require

What replaces the law for Christians

What practical habits foster constant spiritual contact

Message: "Living by the Holy Spirit" by Joel King

Devotional

Day 1: No Condemnation in Lockstep

Day 2: Mindset of the March

Day 3: Debtors to the Divine Cadence

Day 4: Building Faith’s Muscle Memory

Day 5: Tramlines of Constant Contact

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Message: "Living by the Holy Spirit" by Joel King

Share