The Spirit Changes Everything – Pastor Sam Simoes – March 22, 2026

Pastor Sam Simoes message for Sunday March 22, 2026. 

Welcome to the Northwest Church of the Nazarene podcast, where we share the heart of our church’s mission: discovering and engaging in a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ through inspired worship and intentional ministry. Each episode brings you sermons, insights, and messages that challenge and encourage spiritual growth. Whether you are part of our diverse, multicultural church family, or listening in for the first time, you’ll find a community that loves Jesus and welcomes everyone with open arms. Join us online at nwnaz.org or in person in Columbus Ohio, as we journey together toward a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus and each other. 

Transcript

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Every Sunday at Northwest Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Ohio, a congregation is challenged to grow spiritually. This podcast shares the sermons, insights, and messages that encourage our congregation to mature spiritually.

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This week, as I was planning for today's message, the Lord really spoke. And the reason why he spoke is because I was working not only in what I was to share today, but also on this report and finalizing and everything. And what I was reminded is that many times we we face doubts and we face situations in which we wonder, you know, where is God in all this? Why we're going through this? You know, God has called us, God has set us aside, and yet every so often, doubt comes in and creeps in into our lives. And that doubt often manifests itself as God is not pleased with us, or we have failed God, or worse, that we cannot receive what God has in store for us, or that God would set us aside. And today we're going to be looking into a passage that Peter, that Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. The church in Rome had the emperor chasing away all the Jews. So the church had mostly the Gentiles working in the church and being the church. Well, when the Jews returned, they were struggling, and in that struggle, they found themselves with a lot of changes. And all those changes were things that the Apostle Paul had to write about and saying, you know what, let's work together in unity. So he wrote this passage to bring unity and to saying that there is only two things we can do. One is live by the Spirit, and the other is living by the flesh. And if you stand with me as we read the word for today, and I'll promise not to go beyond two o'clock. As we consider the word in Romans chapter 8, we're going to read verses 6 to 11. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God and does not submit to God's law, nor it can do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the spirit. If indeed the spirit of God lives in you, and if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. Father, we pray that you would speak to us as we hear this short word, and we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you. You may be seated. We see here that the Holy Spirit is a choice. We have a choice. We can either choose the flesh, which is our desires, which is the things that we want, which is our selfish ways, which is the ways of our body, or we can choose the spirit. There is no in-between. It is a choice. I tell often my children that attitude is a choice. And when they're giving me a bad attitude, I say, well, your attitude is a choice. You can choose to have a bad attitude, or you can choose to have a good attitude. But it is a choice. And what we see in this passage is that the Holy Spirit is a choice. Because if we're living out of the flesh, we cannot have part with God. But if we're living in a spirit, the spirit is leading us, is transforming us. We also see in this passage that it is about Jesus. Jesus spoke that we will know Him through the Spirit. And the Spirit reflects Him. And He says, if you know me, you know the Father. And I will be sending you a Spirit, an advocate, someone to come for you. So we do not have Jesus' presence. I wonder if Jesus would enter over there, what would be my reaction? I wondered if Jesus would enter this place, what would be my reaction? I don't think I could stand on my feet. I don't think I could do anything but just be in awe and overwhelmed by his love and by his presence. And that should not be the difference between him and the Holy Spirit. Because when we think of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is God. And God being present in our lives means that if the Holy Spirit is here, we are at awe. We cannot do anything but being in awe of him. He created a new reality that our doubts and the things that we go through can have the spirit. But we have to choose on having the spirit. We have to choose the spirit, not choose our flesh. And he gave us the examples through the joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control, which are the fruits of the spirit. So the spirit will give fruit, but the flesh would also give fruit. But the fruit are worldly. And he's asking us to have godly fruit. So what are we to do? We recognize the spirit to set our mind in Christ, to set our mind on Jesus Christ rather than ourselves. And the only way for us to do so is to live by the Spirit. Why is this happening? When there's disappointments, I'm always praying and say, is this the spirit or is the enemy? Or is it my flesh that I don't have what everyone has? That I'm not as good as everyone else. And I start looking at myself, is it the flesh or is the trust in the spirit? And the question that we ask often is, are we dying to ourselves daily so Christ can live with that in us? Or are we trying to live as ourselves with the ways of the world, with the successes, with all the things that the world offers to those who do well? Has Christ called us to do well, or has he called us to be faithful? Has he called us to accomplish great things, or has he called us to live by the Spirit? Because the Spirit can allow us to accomplish and to do great things, but those things are done because the Spirit is in us. But if we do the things of the world, if we go by the things of the world, with our selfish nature, with our selfish ways, with our human ways, we cannot live in between, is either the spirit or the flesh. There is no in between. And the call for us today is for us to choose the spirit. And we have to let go of doubt. There are times in lives that cause us to wonder. We want to please God. We work hard at trying to make God happy with us. And what He has told us in this passage is not that if you work hard, the Spirit will be with you. And in your guidance, in your journey, you will have the fruits. But we have to make that choice. We have to allow the Spirit coming to us. Because if we are looking at ourselves, we let go of the grace that has been offered. And each day he gives us grace that areas that the Spirit is not a part of may be revealed. How often do I want to have things in my way? When I pray, say, Lord, I want this done in my way. I want this done in different ways. Lord, I just want this to happen. And the Lord's like, no, I have a plan. It may not be what you expect, but He's great. And God has a plan. So either we live by the Spirit, trusting Him, or we live by the flesh and be disappointed with God, or disappointed with ourselves, or disappointed with life. When God's saying, Let the Spirit lead. So how do we know the Spirit? By knowing the Son. It's all about Jesus. How do we know the Spirit? By knowing God, by spending time with Him, by embracing Him. So I have a challenge for you this week. Invite the Spirit to an area of struggle that you have right now in your life. Invite the Spirit to an area of struggle. I've struggled a lot this year. I have gone through several things that I give thanks to God that He walked me through. But if it wasn't for the Spirit of God, there'll be a sense of desperation. I realize that often we find areas of struggle to be the ones that we have the hardest time to trust God in. Because we think we know better, because we want to stop the pain, we want to stop the suffering. But he's telling us to find areas that we are trying to take control, to let him lead, to let the spirit take the lead. So if there's areas that we desire, things that we want that we're trying to control, let God take, let the spirit of God take care of that area, relinquish control, let go, and you will find that the doubts, that the disappointments are not going to be there because God is taking the lead, because God is preparing us, and God is leading us to be fruitful. So let God take over an area that is in control and choose the spirit over the flesh. I'd like to ask the worship team to come forward. Even though this was a a short thought and a short message, don't make that be be the end all because it's not about the length, it's about the content of God's word. And do not let the areas in your life, as I have to address them every day, do not allow the areas of your life to control your flesh, but allow the spirit control your life. And allow the spirit lead you in as you walk, as you journey, and as you experience God. And may the Spirit be in you and through you. Father, we thank you for this word. We pray that you speak to us today. And we pray that you would guide us in knowing, embracing, and loving you through every day of our lives. And we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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As it is known in our community, Northwest Church is committed to discovering and engaging in a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, with inspired worship and intentional ministry. People from all walks of life are welcome and received as family members. Our family is diverse, multicultural, and although not perfect, in love with Jesus. Join us online at nwnat.org or by visiting us in Columbus, Ohio. God bless you.