Most people would say that they want to be in charge of their lives, to be in control, to sit in the driver’s seat. But the fact is that self-control spills over into a total loss of control. For example, anger may control some people. We might say that such an individual is full of rage, meaning that anger controls his or her life. On the positive side, we all know some people that are full of love. Love seems to be the controlling factor in their words and actions. That which fills us controls us.
Ephesians 5.18 tells us, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads
to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” As followers of Jesus Christ,
we’re to be filled, or controlled, by the Holy Spirit. At the moment we put our
faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God came to live within us. He established
a permanent, indwelling relationship. His indwelling presence never changes. However,
even though the Holy Spirit in us, He isn’t always in control of our lives. We
must cooperate with the Spirit when it comes to His filling work. Our goal is
to be constantly controlled by the Spirit.
So how can we cooperate with the Holy Spirit inside us so
that He’s in control? First of all, Ephesians 4.30 warns us, “Do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God.” We certainly grieve the Spirit when we engage wilfully in sin.
Sinful habits will prevent us from experiencing the filling of the Holy Spirit. Then we read in 1 Thessalonians 5.19, “Do not
put out the Spirit’s fire.” We douse the Spirit’s work in our lives when we resist
His leading. When we determine to be in charge of our own decisions we fail to follow
the Spirit’s gentle guidance. Finally, Galatians
5.16 says, “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
These verses point us toward the basic concepts of obeying and yielding. If we remain
obedient to God’s commands, not engaging in sinful practices, and if we yield ourselves
to the Spirit’s leading, the Holy Spirit
will fill us, bless us, and use us.
So, then, what would a Spirit filled life look like? The book
of Acts frequently refers to believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit. For
example, Acts 4.31 says, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was
shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly.” Acts 11.24 describes Barnabas as ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and
faith.’ Through whom ‘a great number of people were brought to the Lord.’ When we’re
filled with the Spirit of God we’ll be bold in sharing our faith with others. Ephesians
5.18-21 tells us that when we’re filled with the Spirit we’ll also ‘sing and make
music’ in our hearts and we’ll ‘submit to one another out of reverence for Christ’.
Sharing, singing, submitting, those and other characteristics reveal the fullness
of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Why not turn your life over to God today? Yield
to Him and allow His Holy Spirit to take control of your life.
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