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HOW TO LIVE IN
THE SPIRIT
- Roy Felix |
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During Jesus's final hours before He bore
our sins on the cross, He warned His trembling disciples
that He would leave them soon, but comforted them by
telling them that He would not leave them alone.
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another
Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the
Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because
it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him
because He abides with you and will be in you." (John
14:1617)
The completion of Jesus's mission as Savior signaled the
beginning of a new era of ministry for the Holy Spirit.
While Jesus dwelled with His followers, the Holy Spirit
would dwell withinthem. Today, He is within you as well,
ministering to you as your helper, counselor,
intercessor, and guide.
The Holy Spirit and Your Salvation
You can trace the beginning of the Holy Spirit's
ministry in your life to your preconversion days. Do you
recall an ache in your heart at the thought of your sin?
Did you yearn to shed your burden of guilt and to make
things right with God? That desire was the Holy Spirit
convicting you "concerning sin, and righteousness, and
judgment" (John 16:8). You may also have sensed an
inaudible voice, drawing you to the Savior. That, too,
was the Spirit, calling you through the message of the
gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13 14).
Heeding His call, you placed your trust in Christ for
your salvation. At that moment, Jesus baptized you in
the Holy Spirit, just as John the Baptist had said He
would (Mark 1:78).
Even though you may not have felt anything, you received
the Spirit as a gift from God (Acts 2:38 ). All
believers have received this gift and have been "made to
drink of one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13 ). This common
experience links every Christian with an invisible bond
and unifies us as a body of believers.
At your spiritual baptism, the Holy Spirit also
regenerated you, which means that He stirred in you new
life (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:18 ). Jesus called this
experience being "born again" (John 3:36).
As a finishing touch to your salvation, the Spirit
sealed you "for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30
). The Holy Spirit became for you God's pledge His
divine deposit guaranteeing your inheritance in heaven
(Ephesians 1:14 ).
The Holy Spirit and Your Spiritual Growth
Like a parent who pays close attention to his child's
growth, the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in your
spiritual maturity. Take a look at just a few of the
ways that the Spirit grows you up as God's child.
? He sanctifies you, shaping you to be more like Christ
in your thoughts and actions (1 Peter 1:2).
? He empowers you, giving you the strength to do God's
will (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16 ).
? He intercedes on your behalf, saying the words for you
when you don't know how to pray (Romans 8:26 27).
? He illumines you, teaching you the Word, revealing
Christ to you, and guiding you in the right path (John
14:26 ; 1 Corinthians 2:913)
? He gives spiritual gifts to you, equipping you to
minister to others in ways that build up and unify the
body (1 Corinthians 12:711).
? He leads you, showing you God's direction for your
life (Romans 8:14 )
? He produces fruit in youthe winning character
qualities of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
good-ness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control"
(Galatians 5:22 23).
God indwells your body with His Spirit just as His
glorious presence once filled Solomon's temple. That's a
staggering thought! Not lofty stained-glass cathedrals,
but your frail human shell is where God chooses to place
His Spirit. His job is to mold you into Christ's image,
polish your rough edges, clean out your cluttered
closetsfor the purpose of making you a living house of
worship where Christ is glorified.
However, you are not a passive recipient of the Spirit's
ministry. Spiritual growth happens in a relationship
between you and the Spirit working together.
Relating to the Holy Spirit
How do you relate to this powerful divine presence
within you? Scripture offers some dos and don'ts in your
relationship with the Holy Spirit. First, the don'ts.
Don't grieve the Spirit . Paul warns about this sin
against the Spirit:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
What brings tears to the Spirit's eyes? Paul lists some
attitudes in the next verse: "bitterness and wrath and
anger and clamor and slander along with all malice" (v.
31). The Spirit made us one with other believers, and
when we pull apart the body by hurting one another, we
break His heart.
Don't quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19 ).
How might you splash water on the Spirit's flame?
Personally, you might quench the Spirit by resisting His
leading, neglecting your spiritual gift, or acting in
your strength rather than His. In the church, you might
also quench the Spirit with a critical or divisive
attitude.
In contrast to the don'ts, Scripture describes behaviors
we should do.
Do walk by the Spirit.
Paul appeals to you, "walk by the Spirit, and you will
not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16
). The Spirit is at odds with your fleshthat powerful,
sinful inner urge. To overcome this urge, you must stop
going the way of sin and start walking the Spirit's way.
Walking implies a destination, a spiritual goal. It
implies energy and forward momentum. To what spiritual
goal might the Spirit be leading you? Get up and get
going in His way and in His power, and your life will
blossom with spiritual fruit (see Galatians 5:22 23).
Do be filled with the Spirit .
To explain this concept, Paul draws an interesting
contrast: And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
dissipation , but be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians
5:18)
Being drunk is the opposite of being Spiritfilled. The
mind of a drunkard is foggy and dull. But when you are
Spirit-filled, you think clearly; you see all that
Christ has done for you and all that He is doing. You
feel more alive, and your words overflow with praise and
joy even in the midst of a trial.
Paul's analogy includes two revealing points of
comparison as well: thirst and control. Filling with the
Spirit begins with a thirst not for sweet wine but for
the sweetness of the Spirit. Crave His leading, His
power, His guidance, and His righteousness. God promises
that He will satisfy that thirst. He will fill you and
fulfill you with the Spirit.
Filling with the Spirit also implies surrender to the
Spirit's control. You become filled when you ask the
Spirit to influence every decision, every thought, and
every action.
Paul's command, "be filled," does not imply that you
need more of the Spirit. You already have all of Him;
however, He may not have all of you. Invite the Spirit
to permeate every part of your life, and release to Him
control of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Further Suggestions . Try these ideas for living out
your relationship with the Holy Spirit.
? Set your mind on the Spirit (Romans
8:17). Depressing, critical, hurtful, greedy, lustful
thoughts are not from the Spirit. Instead, focus your
mind on the things of the Spirit thoughts that are
positive, hopeful, truthful, loving, and Godhonoring.
Ask for His strength to keep your mind on track with
Him.
? Pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18 ).
When you pray, pause first to invite the Spirit to fill
your mind with His thoughts. Ask Him to help you know
what to pray and for whom. Your prayers will come alive!
? Enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit
(Philippians 2:12). When you're with other believers,
invite the Spirit to draw you together in Christian
love. You'll experience better worship and closer unity
when your relationships are Spirit centered.
? Rely on the Spirit's strength (Ephesians
3:16 ). Begin your day with a prayer of dependence on
the Spirit for guidance and strength. Ask for His help
when you share your faith, when a trial confronts you,
and when temptation is near. When you minister to
others, draw upon His power rather than your own, and
watch Him bring results that you never could have done
on your own.
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This page
is updated on May 25, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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