Are we truly living by the Spirit? Do we pretend to be led by the Spirit to keep up appearances? Why does the thought of not being in control of where we’re going make us so stressed out?
Romans 8 gives us a good picture of how life is in the spirit:
Life in the Spirit Romans 8:1-14
8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
This is the hard part for us. We really like the idea of the Law because it gives us the feeling of being in control. If we follow the rules, we’ll get where we want to go. But that’s not the freedom God has offered us.
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life[d] because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,[e] you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,[f] you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[g] of God.
LET GO OF CONTROL
Trying to do all the right things is legalism that gives us the illusion of control.
My favorite quote from brother Trask’s message was “Jesus does not copilot.”
We can’t have it both ways. The only way to walk in true freedom is total surrender.
We have to live a spirit filled life. When we surrender to the Holy Spirit we receive the ability to live life differently.
Galatians 5:22-26
22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
That’s the question I have to ask: Are you truly allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you?
What areas of your life are you still wrestling for control over? Your finances, your relationships? Your career?
All of us are inundated daily with people telling us how to live our lives, what goals we ought to have, what values we should adopt, and what we should spend our time doing.
We hear it from social media, to the content we consume on netflix, the news, what we read, everywhere.
The thing that is missing from all the directions we’re getting is when it will all be enough.
When will it be enough?
At what point will we have enough money, be entertained fully, see our nation be successful enough, see the church grow big enough, or be loved enough by our family, friends, or significant others enough?
The way we live matters. Living the American Dream until you make it a reality will still leave you unfulfilled and unsatisfied. The way of the American Dream doesn’t offer peace, lasting joy, or produce self control. In fact, it encourages the opposite. It’s stressful, filled with anxiety and uncertainty and yet we have bought the lie that it is the way we ought to live our lives.
Foolishness right?
Ephesians 5:15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Only living by the Spirit of the living God do we receive true purpose and peace.
Paul contrasts the intoxicating sensation of drinking wine to what we are offered by being filled with the Holy Spirit. When you’re living a filled life you can’t help but to sing praise to God almighty. You can’t help but to give thanks for everything. Being filled with the Spirit permeates our hearts with genuine gratitude. When your attitude changes from trying to get everything to being grateful for everything, you know you’re living in the Spirit.
We belong to a wonderful fellowship of believers. The Assemblies of God is filled with testimonies of the Holy Spirit working in miraculous ways. Revivals, missionaries reaching the lost in all corners of the world. But the heritage of our fellowship that we have to cling to is being led by the Spirit and living Spirit filled lives.
We are still living out the promise of God found in Acts:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We know the story of Pentecost where God pours out the Holy Spirit upon those who were waiting in the upper room. The same spirit who led Peter and the disciples in Acts 2 is the same Spirit we have access to today.
Acts 2:14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17
‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.
There’s a lie the world and the church have accepted.
A LONG TIME AGO, IN A PLACE FAR FAR AWAY…HOLY SPIRIT WAS POURED OUT AND GREAT THINGS HAPPENED. THE LIE IS THAT IT DIDN’T JUST HAPPEN IT IS HAPPENING.
The same spirit who led Peter and the disciples in Acts 2 is the same Spirit we have access to today.
This was the heart of our district leadership this week and it grabbed ahold of me too.
They reminded us that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the revivals we’ve encountered, the miracles, and the Spirit Empowerment we’ve witnessed cannot become some sort of museum where we go visit all the good ol’ days.
We can’t treat the filling of the Holy Spirit as a one and done event. We have to continually surrender control, ask God to pour our His Spirit upon us, and live our lives spirit led, spirit filled, spirit empowered.
So…
Are you filled… or just familiar?
- Am I being led by the Spirit in every area?
- Where have I resisted surrendering and tried to stay in control?
Do I need to be filled again?
