Back to series

Giving

$
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Terms

Donation Total: $10.00

Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.

Today we our series titled The Spiritual Struggle for the Renewal of the Church.

We need to cooperate with the Father God, who would prune out those branches, attitudes, ambitions, and actions that are counter productive, so that the church might bear much fruit.

Today we are talking about The Spirit for Renewal.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of life.

We especially thank you for the gift of eternal life through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ.

We thank you for the gifts you have given to us that our lives may be fruitful and productive in Your service and in ministries of helpfulness to others.

Today we come for worship that we might give ourselves to You afresh.

Accept out tithes and offerings and bless them in helping us to give ourselves more completely to you.

In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

Text

Romans 12:2 AMP

Dedicated Service

2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Titus 3:5 AMP

5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Scripture Reading

Romans 12:1-2 AMP

Dedicated Service

12 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 

2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Titus 3:1-5 AMP

Godly Living

1 Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready and willing to do good, 

2 to slander or abuse no one, to be kind and conciliatory and gentle, showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone. 

3 For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 

4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], 

5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Introduction

The key to renewal is not our plans, our programs, or our techniques, rather, it is the person of the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5 says that the Holy Spirit both regenerates and renews the believer.

If we are not careful, we may find ourselves in a situation like I read about this week of missionaries out in the bush.

They camped for several days near a monkey colony.

When they returned to the camp one day, they saw the monkeys scurrying about, appearing to imitate the missionaries.

In the centre of the camp the monkeys had gathered firewood into a pile and were sitting around it as though they were warming themselves.

The only problem is they lacked the fire!

The church can be like that, we can have firewood but no fire!

The fire is the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of renewal.

  1. The hope of renewal.

Someone has said that the Holy Spirit is the displaced member of the Godhead.

There is an apparent absence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church and a apparent ignorance of His ministry.

What do you know about the Holy Spirit and His ministry in your life?

There are two basic terms used in the New Testament to describe the ministry of the Spirit to believers.

  1. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit enters the life of a person when he or she are born again.

The death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ provide the means of salvation, the Holy Spirit effects it.

  1. He convicts us of our need for salvation. (John 16:8)

2. He regenerates us in salvation (John 3:6-7).

3. He takes up residence within us at conversion.

4. He seals us to the day of redemption. He is our assurance of salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14).

B. The infilling of the Holy Spirit. 

This is a term that refers to the control of the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 says, Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

It is not a picture of an empty vessel being filled, instead, it describes the situation that occurs when one is filled with wine.

It means that every part of a persons body is affected,

How they walk, talk, think, and see.

It is the idea of control.

When the Holy Spirit is in control, something happens in our lives.

  1. He delivers us from the defeat of self. (Romans 7:8-25)

2. He cultivates Christlike qualities. (Galatians 5:22-23)

3. He teaches us (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

4. He leads us (Romans 8:14)

5. He assures us (Romans 8:16)

6. He strengthens us (Ephesians 3:16)

7. He empowers us for witnessing (Acts 1:8)

2. The how of renewal.

There are five things to remember as to how our lives are brought under the Holy Spirit’s control.

  1. Decision.

We must decide to live a spirit filled life.

It is an act of our will.

A positive response means that we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, even more importantly, we allow the Holy Spirit to have us! 

B. Daily.

Being filled is not a one time event.

It is not a spiritual vaccination.

Instead, it is a continual experience.

Ephesians 5:16 contains a present tense verb, “be filled.”

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a daily experience.

C. Devotional.

The Spirit filled life is nurtured by our devotional life.

They go hand in hand.

We need time with God’s Word and time for prayer if we want to be the spiritual people Christ wants us to be.

D. Doubtless.

The Spirit filled life is a life of faith.

We are saved by faith, we live by faith, we walk by faith, and we are filled by the Holy Spirit by faith, not by feelings, but by faith.

Let us be done with the doubting!

Let us trust God’s Word for this relationship.

E. Discovery.

The Spirit filled life is one of daily discoveries of God’s riches.

Romans 6:13 is the pattern for discovery, Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God.

His means every part of our being.

When we continually submit ourselves to God’s will, the discovery of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is real!

Conclusion.

It is impossible for us as Christians to produce power and Christlike qualities without being controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Until next time

Stay in the Blessings

Giving

$
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Terms

Donation Total: $10.00

I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.

When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.

Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!

You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org

When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.

So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us

2021 IS A YEAR OF REFORMATION

© www.refinerylife.org  2021 All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968, no part of this Article may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission. 

Visit us at

www.refinerylife.org 

Twitter

@PastorGaryHoban

@RefineryLifeGC

Facebook

@PastorGaryHoban

@RefineryLifeChurch

Instagram

@gary_hoban

@refinerylifechurch

Patreon

YouTube

Gary Hoban

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvrTCsjg98vGjMTObxJhtQ

Refinery Life Church Australia

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvD9z50SuKWxhSw0TPQkgQ

Giving

$
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Terms

Donation Total: $10.00