Romans 8, 5 through 9.

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,

but those who are according to the spirit, the things of the spirit.

For the mindset on the flesh is death, but the mindset on the spirit is life and peace.

Because the mindset on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so.

And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit.

If indeed the spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Lord it's a bracing weighty sobering thing to hear if you don't have the spirit, you don't belong to Jesus.

So I pray that every person in this room now

would care about this, that they have the spirit of Christ, that they have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in them manifestly, enabling them to have the mind of the

spirit and walk by the spirit.

So come and help me as I attempt to tackle a part of this text and to fold it open for us.

Save sinners and strengthen Saints and humble the proud and lift up the downcast and discouraged and oppressed.

May the Holy Spirit have free course to run and do his mighty life-changing work.

I ask this in Jesus' name,

Amen.

We need to be really clear about something as we begin this message this morning,

and that is that Christian living is essentially supernatural living.

I mean it involves powers that are above nature.

And I don't have in mind vague in general things like ESP or channeling or crystals or sorcery or witchcraft or out-of-body experiences or reincarnation.

Those are all an abomination to God, the Bible teaches us because they belittle the all sufficiency of God in Jesus Christ

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