We're taking a little break between school and the boys are suppose to be cleaning their rooms! I just wanted to take a second to share what has been on my heart the past few days. This past Sunday our pastor, who's been preaching through Ephesians, taught on being filled with the Holy Spirit. It was a fantastic sermon (I'll include the link below) and really hit home for me. For some time I've had the Holy Spirit on my heart and mind. I've done some studying on the fruits of the Spirit and just the Holy Spirit in general. I daily battle my flesh. There are sins that I fight so often I wonder if I will ever find victory over them this side of heaven. I know we will always fight sin as long as were in these fleshly bodies but I know we can have victory over sin as well! So what is the answer to this? The Holy Spirit. He is the One promised to us by Christ! He sanctifies the believer! My pastor pointed out three things that come from being Spirit filled:
1. We will have joy in our salvation.
Acts tells us, 'the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.' (13:52)
2. We can have victory over besetting sin.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
(Galatians 5:16-17)
3. We will have boldness in the proclamation of the gospel.
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I don't know about you but I want all three, all the time!! So, the question is, how can we be filled with the Spirit? Take a look at Luke 11:5-13,
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
I don't have time to go into all the ways these verses are twisted to make God seem like Santa Clause (that's an entirely different post)! But I do have time to tell you that the answer is to the question is to ASK! So simple, huh? This is a prayer that God will faithfully answer if we are as persistent as the man in the story who was asking his neighbor for food! Our sinful flesh quenches the Spirit in us, so this is something that we have to consistently seek God for. Child of God, plead with your Father to fill you and He will! This is when God will begin to work and do amazing things in His people for His glory!
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13
If you'd like to listen to the sermon (and I highly recommend it), click HERE.
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