ROMANS 8:5-8
A SPIRIT-LED MIND—ADDRESSING OUR MINDS/THOUGHT LIFE
What controls or dominates your life?
You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. -James Allen
And here's what's so vital to understand…: thought always precedes and determines activity. -Paul Tripp
Romans 8:5-8
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are dominated by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature dominate your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit dominate your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the dominate of their sinful nature can never please God.
There are believers and unbelievers.
The word “think” is also translated as “set their minds”
They are dominated by their sinful nature.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, Galatians 5:19 NLT
They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. Philippians 3:19 NLT
Whatever you set your mind to shapes your life and your character.
So letting your sinful nature dominate your mind leads to death. Romans 8:6a
For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. Romans 8:7
“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Matthew 12:30 NLT
That’s why those who are still under the dominate of their sinful nature can never please God. Romans 8:8 NLT
You must be saved…
You are given God’s Spirit so that you no longer have to live dominated by sin.
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are dominated by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. Romans 8:5 NLT
Those who are “dominated by the Holy Spirit” have a totally different mindset than those who dominated by the sinful nature
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:17 NLT
For any real change, we cannot try to change ourselves by our own efforts… this is the role of the Holy Spirit.
