The Spirit of Slavery (Romans 8: especially vs 12-16 ESV)

 Fear can make a person a slave.  A slave to whatever or whomever creates the fear within.  Fear that takes hold and controls even our very breath if that were possible.  This can be referred to as

 "the spirit of slavery" (Romans 8:15 ESV).

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they did NOT receive such a spirit.  It is the Spirit of God and of adoption into God's family we have received.

This Spirit - the Holy Spirit - clicks in our spirit and heart and mind causing us to know and acknowledge God is our father to whom we belong.  We cannot help to cry out to Him,

"Abba!  Father!" (vs 15).

We can be led by this Spirit, knowing then we are "children of God" (vs16).  We have an almighty and powerful Father who has our backs.  We no longer need to have crippling fear nor be slaves to that fear.  With this Spirit of God we can then

 "put to death the deeds of the body" (vs 13 ESV). 

 This frees us to live according to the Spirit rather than be controlled by our fears.

And when those fears begin to raise their ugly heads in our minds and hearts, cry out, "Abba!  Father!"  We remind ourselves to whom we belong, thereby relinguishing the fear and death-giving slavery.  Therefore, we can live.

Let's give all our praise, worship and service to our God and King and Savior Jesus Christ.  We can do so by the empowerment of His Holy Spirit.

Amen.  

So be it.

                                                    ~  ERC  April 2026  ~

Based on Romans 8: especially vs 12-16 ESV).

Sing, Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer along with Sovereign Grace Music.