Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. - 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19–20
As a Christian, you have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. Have you ever thought about it that way? You’ve most likely heard or talked about a relationship with God the Father or a relationship with Jesus, the Son, but the Holy Spirit usually gets treated as either a theological box to check—yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit as the third and equal person of God in the Trinity—or as a power to tap into like a Christian Jedi Force, showing up in all kinds of unusual ways. The Bible, on the other hand, describes someone so much more personal than those two extremes.
Romans 8 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible about your relationship with the Spirit:
Read Romans 8:1-39 and write down key truths from the following verses:.
What do you have (and not have) in the Spirit of life in Christ (1–2)?
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How does the Spirit change your life (6–11)?
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How does the Spirit change your identity (14–17)?
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How does the Spirit change your perspective (18–25)?
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How does the Spirit help our growth in maturity(26–30)?
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What is the result of your relationship (31–39)?
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In Day 1 and 2, you saw that the Holy Spirit is a multi-faceted helper sent to be with you, that you receive the Spirit along with your salvation, and that you can be more and less under the influence of His power and presence. Today you see the responsibility that comes with this incredible privilege.
“No condemnation in Christ” and His “law of freedom” doesn’t mean that you can do whatever you want. The Holy Spirit isn’t your “get out of jail free” card.
According to 1 Corinthians 6:12–15 and 19–20, why do the choices that you make with your body have spiritual significance?
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Since your body is the temple, you don’t have to go somewhere to meet with God. How can you honor His Spirit living in you?
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Since the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside you, no habit or addiction is impossible to overcome.
What negative things can you stop doing by the power of the Spirit?
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Read and reflect on Romans 8, focusing on any verses that spoke to you personally as you read them earlier. Pray that the Spirit would intercede on your behalf, growing you in holiness as a living temple.
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