Led By the Spirit - Stelios Ioannides
This message is based on a sermon from Stelios Ioannides at One Church as part of our Romans 8 series. The passage at the heart of it is Romans 8:12–17, where Paul speaks about what it means to truly live as children of God — led by the Spirit, not by the flesh.
In this post, we’ll explore the tension between flesh and Spirit, what our “obligation” to the Spirit really means, and how being led by Him changes our daily walk with Jesus.
You’ll also find reflection and small-group discussion questions at the end.
Romans 8:12–17 is a turning point in the chapter — what Stelios calls “the beating heart of Romans 8.” Paul has spent the earlier verses contrasting two ways of living: according to the flesh, or according to the Spirit. Now, he invites us to consider what it means to belong to God as His children, empowered by the Spirit.
Paul’s tone is clear and direct. He doesn’t sugar-coat the choice before us — one path leads to death, the other to life. But he also paints a beautiful picture of what life in the Spirit looks like: freedom, intimacy, and adoption into God’s family.
“The flesh will use you, deceive you, and mislead you — but the Spirit of God will grow you, support you, and lead you.” — Stelios Ioannides
What Does “Obligation” Mean?
Paul says, “We have an obligation — but it is not to the flesh.”
The Greek word for obligation literally means to be in debt. We’re debtors to the Spirit, not because we owe God something to earn salvation, but because Jesus’ finished work has opened the way for a new kind of life — and now we get to live it.
As Stelios explained, Christ’s work is finished, but our work as disciples isn’t.
We’re not earning God’s love — we’re living from it.
And to live by the Spirit is to use the very Helper Jesus promised: “I will send you another Advocate — the Spirit of truth — who will be with you forever.”
Every Christian knows the struggle Stelios described — we believe, yet we still battle the pull of the flesh. The good news is, we don’t have to fight alone. The Spirit leads, strengthens, and reforms us from the inside out.
The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
Stelios reminded us that fighting the flesh “can feel like you’re tearing yourself in two.” It’s tiring. But without the Spirit, it’s impossible.
The flesh is self-centred — craving validation, pride, and instant gratification.
The Spirit is God-centred — producing fruit like peace, gentleness, and often-ignored self-control.
“Having self-control, having correct discipline, is showcasing an attribute of the Spirit of God.”
We can’t achieve true discipline on our own. It’s the Spirit who gives us power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). And when we let Him lead, He changes the very desires of our heart.
Three Ways to Let the Spirit Lead
Stelios offered three simple but profound steps for practising a Spirit-led life:
1. Ask Humbly
Pray with an open heart. Invite the Spirit’s presence: “Come, Holy Spirit.” God promises to respond to those who ask in Jesus’ name.
2. Seek Honestly
Like going to a doctor when you’re unwell, seek the Spirit’s counsel. He knows what you need even more deeply than you do.
3. Read Carefully
Scripture is spiritual food. It shapes your thoughts, reveals God’s voice, and helps you discern His guidance.
When we ask, seek, and read in this way, we begin to live not as spiritual tourists but as Spirit-led sons and daughters.
Adoption and Identity
One of the most moving parts of Stelios’ message was his reflection on verse 15 — “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”
The same Spirit who empowered Jesus allows us to call God Abba — the same intimate word Jesus used in the Garden of Gethsemane. Through this Spirit, we become co-heirs with Christ, sharing not only in His glory but also in His sufferings.
“Through being a debtor to the dwelling of God’s Spirit, we become an inheritor of God’s family.”
This adoption means we’re not slaves to fear anymore. We don’t serve a distant master — we belong to a loving Father. That’s a radically different identity to live from.
Sharing in Glory and Suffering
Paul ends the passage by linking inheritance with suffering.
If we’re co-heirs with Christ, we also share in His sufferings — not as punishment, but as participation in His story. As Stelios put it, our inheritance is secure, but there is a living cost to discipleship.
The Spirit doesn’t just lead us to comfort — sometimes He leads us into wilderness seasons where we’re refined and reshaped.
Even Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness before beginning His ministry. And through those seasons, our faith becomes resilient and real.
So when you suffer, don’t despair. Take heart. Your struggle isn’t wasted — it’s forming Christ’s likeness in you.
Romans 8:12–17 reminds us that to live by the Spirit isn’t optional — it’s essential.
We’re called to walk daily in step with Him, trusting that He’ll lead us into freedom, identity, and transformation.
Our inheritance as children of God is secure, but our journey requires daily surrender. The Spirit isn’t just an add-on to our faith — He is our guide, comforter, and strength for the road ahead.
One Way to Live it Out this week
This week, take one step to walk more intentionally with the Spirit.
Here are some ideas:
Begin each morning by praying, “Come, Holy Spirit — lead me today.”
Pause before decisions or reactions and ask, “What would it look like to respond by the Spirit, not the flesh?”
Read Romans 8 again slowly, reflecting on what it means to call God Abba.
A Prayer for your Week
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving us Your Spirit — the One who leads, comforts, and transforms us.
Teach us to listen, to follow, and to live as Your children.
Help us to put to death the things that draw us away from You,
and to walk in freedom as sons and daughters of God.
Come, Holy Spirit. Lead us. Amen.
Reflection Questions
For Personal Reflection:
In what areas of your life do you most feel the tension between flesh and Spirit?
What does calling God “Abba, Father” mean to you personally?
How might your week look different if you asked the Spirit to lead you in every decision?
For Small Group Discussion:
What part of Stelios’ message stood out most to you?
How do you personally understand the phrase “obligation to the Spirit”?
What are some modern examples of “living according to the flesh”?
Why do you think self-control is such an overlooked fruit of the Spirit?
How can we help one another grow in being Spirit-led rather than self-led?
What does it look like to embrace both the glory and the suffering of following Jesus?
How can remembering our identity as God’s children change the way we approach temptation or fear?
Spend some time praying for one another — ask the Holy Spirit to lead and strengthen each person this week.