On Wednesday night we had a great discussion about the Holy Spirit at our men’s study. The specific context was that there is a blessing realized by suffering for Christ as “the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1Peter 4:14). One brother brought to our attention the nature of this Spirit who will “come alongside” . . . “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (Isa. 11:2). Though the subject of Isaiah’s prophecy is specifically the Messiah, the same Spirit which would come upon Him is the Spirit which rests upon those suffering for Christ. And our conversation went from the Spirit’s presence during trials to the broader topic of recognizing the Spirit’s active engagement in all aspects of our life.

We talked about how we might have a tendency to view the Holy Spirit as the “least” of the Trinity . . . somehow diminishing His divine attributes. To use a Francis Chan term, we talked of Him being the “Forgotten God” (check out Chan’s book, “Forgotten God”, for some great teaching and exhortation concerning the Holy Spirit). We talked about the difference He should make in our lives given that He indwells us . . . that He is the agent of God’s sanctifying work in our lives . . . and, that He is the means by which we can say “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

So, it’s probably because that conversation is still fresh in mind that a phrase jumped off the page at me this morning when I was reading Romans 7. The first part of Romans 7 speaks of the relationship between the Law and man and sin. The Law’s purpose was to make known the reality of sin (Rom. 7:7) and thus to lead us to the Savior (Gal. 3:24). The Law has no power to save, but only to condemn . . . to desire to be under the law is an absolute “no win situation.” To try and live by the letter of the Law as our way to heaven is a dead-end street . . . literally. Instead, Paul says, there’s a new basis by which we “do life.”

“But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” — Romans 7:6

Having recognized my need . . . having confessed my sin . . . having asked forgiveness based on the finished work of Christ on the cross . . . having received Christ not only as Savior but also having bowed the knee to Him as Lord . . . the Scriptures declare that I have been: 1) delivered from the law; 2) died to the power of sin that held me; 3) enabled to serve in the newness of the Spirit. And that’s the phrase that’s swimming around my head this morning, “the newness of the Spirit.”

If God is in us, how can life be “the same old, same old?” If the very power that raised Christ from the dead has found residence in us (Rom. 8:11), then how can there not be “an edge” to every day as we anticipate interacting with the living God . . . the God living in us?

And I’m not talking about manufacturing some sort of hype or faking some feeling . . . I’m asking, “What should be the logical reality of having the Third Person of the Godhead wired into our spiritual DNA?” Answer: the newness of the Spirit.

The word for new literally means “of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of” . . . “fresh” would be a good word. And when I think about walking in the newness of Spirit it creates a bit of discontent within me. Too often I do life by rote . . . I settle for routine . . . I have very little expectation of Divine interaction . . . and so when I think about newness in the Spirit it leaves a bit discontent . . . good!!! I should be hungering and thirsting after the things of God and the realities of being a new creation in Christ. I should be aware that “newness in the Spirit” is what I’m wired for and should desire to recognize it . . . and desire to learn how to be led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:18) . . . and walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25) . . . and live to the glory of God through the Spirit of glory who rests upon me.

Oh, that by the grace of God, I would learn more and more to walk in this spiritual reality . . . indwelt by the Spirit . . . empowered by the Spirit . . . led by the Spirit . . . doing life fresh in the Spirit. Bring on newness!!!