Sermon Tone Analysis
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The numbers speak for themselves.
Involved dad’s make a world of difference!
And today we celebrate that reality.
We celebrate the grace of God in giving us examples of what it means to love God supremely.
We celebrate the dads in this room who have strived to love their families.
We celebrate the lessons you have taught with and without your words.
And as we celebrate, we recognize that today is a hard day for many.
Perhaps you didn’t have a dad involved in your life, or perhaps he was not the example he should have been.
Maybe your dad isn’t here anymore, and today you are grieving.
There are those who have never fathered, and others who look back with guilt in their failures.
We want to take a moment and come alongside those who are hurting today, and point you to hope.
And that hope is a good Heavenly Father.
So, whether you had a great dad, you are a great dad, or dad’s day equals disappointment, look up and know that your Heavenly Father has provided for your greatest needs through Jesus.
And we see great power in that provision in our passage today!
You are already there in Romans 8, and we are picking up where we left off last week, as we began in 8:1.
Back in chapter 7, Paul, the author of Romans taught us that:
Sin always overpromises and under-delivers.
Thankfully for the believer, there is hope between the already of our salvation and the not yet of our glorification.
For those who have trusted Jesus as their personal Savior, you have past from being dead in your sins and alive unto God.
You were previously under condemnation for your nature and were guilty with no hope of change.
However, the truth of the Gospel (the good news) of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection has changed that and has given you all hope.
In fact, as Paul writes in 8:1-4:
In these verses we see that Jesus accomplished what you could not, to give you what you don’t deserve.
And last week we made that a personal declaration when we changed a few words for it to read:
Jesus accomplished what I could not, to give ME what I don’t deserve.
In this incredible work that Christ accomplished and is still working out in your life, Paul says:
Here we find the true battle ground for sanctified living - and it’s not a battle with your spouse, your kids, your boss or the government.
It’s not a battle from without, but rather a battle from within.
You see, your biggest struggle with sin is not because of things that go on around you, but what goes on within you.
In reality, I’m the problem.
Say that with me - IM THE PROBLEM.
And we see this through Romans 1-3 as Paul speaks on our utter depravity.
In me, that is in my flesh, Paul says, no good dwells.
So, the problem is within me.
And this is good to know, because now I know where I need to be attentive.
ILL: Playing lazertag with a youth group as a youth pastor - everyone comes after you from all angles.
You’re not sure where to attack.
Not the case when it comes to battling our inherent sin nature.
Christ has released us from the power of sin over us, but not from the presence of sin around and within us.
So the battle begins in my mind.
Paul gives us two differing lifestyles/mindsets
Flesh-focused Minds
Spirit-focused Minds
Where you set your mind, is where you will live.
What you think about, is what you will act out.
Two polar opposite mindsets with two polar opposite outcomes.
Paul says
To mind the things of your flesh (carnally minded) leads to death and decay.
Remember from chapter 7 - Sin always overpromises and underdelivers.
That which you thought was going to be so great, will end up being less than what you thought.
Sin leads to hardship.
But, Paul says, spirit-mindedness leads to life and peace.
Being Spirit-Led will never lead you astray - because it is the infinite God leading your life instead of your finite self.
Now, if your still not convinced that it’s impossible to please God your own way, Paul says in v. 7
Not only is your carnal-led mind leading to death and decay, but it is infact enmity with God.
When you choose to mind the things of your flesh, you are choosing to mind against God.
Fleshly mindedness is again the law of God, and there is no reform for it.
The only way to have life and peace is being Spirit Minded.
Now, what does this look like in the life of a believer?
Paul says that Christ has won the victory over sin and has given us the Holy Spirit to enable obedience.
This obedience begins in the mind with what we set our thoughts on.
And these Spirit-focused thoughts will also produce Spirit-Led Motivations.
v. 8 - you can’t please God in the flesh.
In fact, The motivation to please God is not carnally originated, but Spirit Originated.
You can’t please God with your flesh, because your flesh is an enemy of God.
So don’t justify your sin, thinking that it is ok - because it is not!
v. 9 - Paul says - it’s a good thing you can’t please God in the flesh, because you aren’t in the flesh, but in the Spirit.
He’s speaking to believers.
You can now please God, as long as… the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Here is where the rubber meets the road.
Those who have responded to the gospel in genuine faith, have the Spirit of God in them, that changes their motives and their mindset.
You can’t please God, you can’t live victoriously, you are bound to fleshly living, unless you have the Spirit in you.
And if you don’t have the Spirit, (v. 9) You are not His.
v. 10 - and if Christ is in you - you don’t have to walk around in death any longer.
He has freed you to live in righteousness.
v. 11 - In fact, if the Spirit dwells in you, he will give life to your mortal bodies.
He gives spiritual life to choose Him, in the midst of a culture that constantly chooses flesh.
He gives spiritual life to those who are surrounded by death and decay.
He gives a new motivation to those who’s minds are set on Him!
And to top it off, we have here a reference to a physical resurrection - just like Jesus.
This life is not all there is!
You can have life today and eternal life forever - and it is because of Jesus!
Now, what does this mean for us today,
What does it mean for the dad who is overwhelmed with the weight of responsibility on his shoulders?
What does this mean for the mom trying to hold it all together?
What does this mean for the individual trying to find purpose every day?
What does this mean for us - Christians trying to live out the Gospel?
Allow this weeks’ focus to be on this passage.
Begin every day reading through vv.
5-11.
And as you intentionally set your mind remember this:
The indwelling Spirit has enabled you to obey - and that obedience begins with where you set your mind.
Purpose this week to think eternally in each temporal moment.
To the dad - think eternally in that moment of pressure.
Mom, think eternallly when your kid does that one thing again.
Friend, think eternally when confronted with temptation this week.
Believer.
think eternally in that temporal moment you can’t change.
Set your mind on things above - Jesus is worth your moment!
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