1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: You're listening to daily devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stanghy, 4 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: and today's devotion is inspired by Romans Chapter eight, verses 5 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: twelve through fourteen, which says, so, then, brothers, we are 6 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 7 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. 8 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: But if by the spirit you put to death the 9 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: deeds of the body, you will live. For all who 10 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 11 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: We've been set free from sin and death through Jesus Christ. 12 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: We aren't obligated in any way to go back to 13 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: the manner of living. We were once caught up in. 14 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: Truthfully speaking, living according to the desires of the old 15 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: fleshly nature results in disease, depression, and ultimately death. As 16 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: sons of God who have been adopted into His family, 17 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: we are now truly alive. We aren't being led by 18 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: the forces of evil. On the contrary, we are being 19 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: led by the Holy Spirit. He's providing us divine counsel. 20 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: He's speaking to our hearts and our minds. He's illuminating 21 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 1: the truth of the scriptures to us. He's pointing us 22 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: in a direction that is for God's glory and our good. 23 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: Generally speaking, as you assess your life, what are the 24 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,759 Speaker 1: dominant voices you're listening to? It becomes evident that we 25 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: truly are God's children. As we practice listening to his voice, 26 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: those who are led by the spirit are sons of God. 27 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: He loves us enough to lead us. He loves us 28 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: enough to counsel us. He loves us enough to choose 29 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: not to abandon us. He loves us enough not to 30 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: leave us here to try to figure this all out ourselves. 31 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your word, and 32 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: we thank you for the privilege that it is to 33 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: be able to read this portion of scripture from the 34 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: Book of Romans today. And Lord, you show us in 35 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: this portion of your word the difference that it makes 36 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: when we walk by the spirit instead of living according 37 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: to the dictates of the flesh. We know that our 38 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: fleshly desires compete with and work against our desire to 39 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 1: follow You, and it can be very easy at times 40 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: to give into our sinful nature and our fleshly desires. 41 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: But Lord, that only produces death, disease, and depression. And 42 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: that's not what you desire for us. As men and 43 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: women who have come to faith in your son, Jesus Christ, 44 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: we are likewise in dwelled by your holy spirit. It 45 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: and you tell us in this portion of your word 46 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 1: that we are brought into your family as sons. Yes, 47 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: collectively we're men and women. But the rights we have 48 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: in your kingdom are like the rights that were granted 49 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: to sons during the era in which Paul wrote this scripture. 50 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: And so Lord, we're grateful that you give us those 51 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 1: kind of inheritance rights and that you make us part 52 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: of your family. But we show that we truly are 53 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: part of your family by listening to your voice, by 54 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: obeying the leading of your spirit. So Lord, thank you 55 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: for putting it in our hearts to do so. Thank 56 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: you for empowering us, thank you for counseling us, and 57 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: thank you for being with us in all circumstances. We're 58 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: grateful for the privilege that it is to be part 59 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: of your family today, and we commit ourselves to you 60 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: now in Jesus' name. Amen.