Ruth's Ramblings

Spirit Living

The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down. - George Whitefield, in a letter.
 
When we first come to faith, the Holy Spirit (in all His fullness) permanently dwells within us from the very moment we believe. Yet, not all believers allow the indwelling Spirit to affect their lives; thus Paul's command "be filled with the Holy Spirit." This is not an option or a suggestion for the Christian - it is a command to "be kept continually filled" with the Spirit. It's not a once-for-all filling - it's to be done moment by moment. Being filled with the Spirit is to have your thinking (about life, people, circumstances), evaluation, goals, desires, longings, will (choices, decisions, intentions), as well as the resulting behavior, permeated with and affected by the Holy Spirit. The believer can quench the Spirit's expression of God's power and life through his life. The filling of the Spirit is conditional upon the believers sincere desire to be a living expression of God's will by the way he walks and lives. In such a person the Spirit can freely manifest the power and life of God in the affairs of daily living. God desires to fill us with the Holy Spirit. Frequently, we close off areas of our life, our beings, from the Spirit. We yield in areas of convenience, yet resist His indwelling the secret chambers and closets of our hearts. (John 6:63; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
 
This is where I fall short. I've been aware of this growing struggle for awhile, as I begin realizing how often I live through the flesh rather than by the Holy Spirit, who dwells within me. I deal with situations and people with my own flesh; I react to challenges and struggles with my own flesh; I even muddle through ministry with my own flesh. Not leaning on my own understanding is an on-going personal battle for me - living by the Spirit doesn't come easy either.  It requires absolute surrender and yielding of myself for His filling and influence in and through me on a regular basis. (And how can I tell when I am Spirit-filled? The evidence lies in the fruit I would bear: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law; Galatians 5:22-23). 
 
Am I lacking in this fruit? A big resounding YES (I'm guilty of grieving and quenching the Spirit many times). 
 
This life, therefore, is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness; not health, but healing; not being, but becoming; not rest, but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it. The process is not yet finished, but it is going on. This is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.   -Martin Luther
 
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 )
 
May we present ourselves unto God saying to Him, "Lord, I yield myself completely to Thee as I am; I am willing to pay the price' cost what it may, and to be filled with thy Spirit." 

Posted by Ruth at 7/18/2004