The Spirit-Filled Life: God's Power in You“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
This is one of the most important truths we can learn that will lead us to spiritual maturity—to seeing consistent victory in our lives as Christians—walking in the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a person, just as much so as God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son. These three make up the trinity. God in three persons. Before Jesus left this earth, He promised His disciples that He would not leave them as orphans, but that He would send them His Spirit. The Spirit of Truth. The Comforter. (John 14:16-18)
Why would they—and why do we—need His Spirit with us at all times?
Jesus explains in John 16.
“…no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him....These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit….Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10a, 12
The person of the Holy Spirit is truly a gift to us.
Besides the above, there are so many more precious benefits of the Spirit. Some of these are…
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but governed by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:5-6
Though the Spirit can be suppressed, grieved, or quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30) the Bible is clear that there will be evidence of the Spirit in some form if a person is a true child of God (Luke 6:43-45).
Though the Spirit has been given in full at salvation and will never be taken away (Ephesians 1:13-14), to enjoy the fullness of the Spirit, we must live just as we were saved: “The just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38).
When we exhibit faith and surrender to the will of the Father, the Spirit takes over in our lives. Not only does He fill us with His power to obey and accomplish God’s work, but we can sense His presence, and His fruit is evident to all: "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Two illustrations always come to mind when I think of my responsibility towards the Spirit:
We must let the Pilot take over. Kneel before our Master….broken. Holy Spirit, be my Pilot. Take control!
One of the biggest "adult" lessons I've had to learn is that my words will not bring conviction to the heart of a prodigal. "We cannot by our words or actions convict them, but the Holy Spirit does this through us." Only the Holy Spirit can do that. PRAY! How will you seek Him this week?
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6 Comments
8/10/2021 09:10:42 am
What a packed-full yet concise description of the Holy Spirit and His ministry. I like that analogy of taking our hands off the controls so He does the piloting.
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1/10/2024 07:41:29 am
Barbara, I'm so glad you found the description of the Holy Spirit's ministry resonant, especially the analogy of allowing Him to take control like a skilled pilot. As you know, surrendering control to the Holy Spirit is a profound aspect of our faith journey, trusting His guidance and wisdom in navigating the complexities of life. May your journey with the Spirit be filled with divine guidance and blessings!
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8/10/2021 05:07:06 pm
Yes! Only the Holy Spirit can convict. When we try to do it, we make things worse.
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1/10/2024 07:42:53 am
Absolutely, Jerralea!! The Holy Spirit's role in conviction is unparalleled, bringing about a transformation that our efforts alone cannot achieve. The analogy of the student pilot with two sets of controls beautifully captures the essence of our cooperation with the Holy Spirit in navigating the course of our lives. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of yielding to the guidance and wisdom of the Spirit. May your journey with the Spirit be filled with grace and understanding!
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8/11/2021 05:39:33 pm
The Spirit is at the same time a mystery, a comfort, a guide and the power source for me.
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1/10/2024 07:44:25 am
Your description beautifully captures the multifaceted role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, Lauren!! The Spirit's mystery adds an element of awe and wonder, while His comforting presence soothes our souls. As a guide, the Spirit directs our steps, and as the power source, He empowers us to navigate life's challenges. May the mystery, comfort, guidance, and power of the Spirit continue to enrich your spiritual journey!
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