by Henrietta Griffith
How does one mature in the faith? How do you gain victory over habitual sin? Where does you find the supernatural strength needed to live the Christian life?
The Bible teaches that this can only be accomplished through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Old Testament and New Testament alike attest to this. Here are just a few examples.
Matthew 10:20 - For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
I Peter 3:18 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit...
Zechariah 4:6 - Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts."
But perhaps nowhere is scripture more clear about the Holy Spirit's work than in the Book of Acts. Acts 1 opens with the promise of the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 2, we learn of the Jewish Pentecost. The Holy Spirit fell on the waiting 120 and others fulfilling the promise given to Joel. In Acts chapter 10, we have the Gentile Pentecost. The Spirit fell on Cornelius' house.
Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is the dominant character.
It was the Spirit that gave the early church power and anointing. It was the Spirit that enabled them to preach with boldness. It was the Spirit that guided and directed them.
If we want to grow into Christian maturity...to have victory over sin...to glory God in our words and deeds, we must have the Spirit's leadership in our lives. And the great news is, we can!
Peter said in Acts 2:33, "Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing."
The boldness of the early church was as they were filled with the indwelling Spirit. It is the same for us today. If we would live above sin and grow into Christian maturity, we need the indwelling Holy Spirit in our lives.
Questions to Ponder:
Am I relying on the Spirit's power or trying to accomplish things in my own strength and ability?
Do I wait daily on the Lord to shape and mold me? Or do I find myself hurrying to rush into the fray?
Am I more concerned with my will and agenda or Christ's?
Take some time this day to seek the Holy Spirit's anointing upon your life.