KEYS TO HELP US LIVE THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE

We will never forget that day when we were born again, either someone had witnessed to us, (maybe even a number of times) or we sat under the preaching of God’s Word, and became convicted that we were sinners and needed forgiveness and although we didn’t understand much we asked for the Lord’s forgiveness, and the Bible says in 2 Cor.5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Something had happened on the inside, we couldn’t really describe it, but we knew we were forgiven, and had that assurance that we were changed. Only later did we understand Eph.2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

God gave us His GRACE (undeserved favour) and placed FAITH in our hearts to cause us to respond to His awesome Salvation and forgiveness

At that time the Holy Spirit came to live in us, let me remind you of an important truth.

YOU CANNOT RECEIVE MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT HE WANTS MORE OF YOU.

This blog is all about seeking to express my experience and ever increasing understanding of over 70 years of seeking to live a Spirit filled life, I sure have not arrived I fail the Lord every day, but by His grace I am learning more about this glorious truth, which is part of every Believer’s inheritance which is part of God’s So great Salvation.

There is no particular order in the keys that I want to share with you, many I will have written about before I am sure, sadly “It is tell me the story often for I (we) forget so soon”.

The Holy Spirit has come into our lives, but not to be resident, but to be PRESIDENT

So we should begin with Rom.12:1-2 NKJV beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies (continually) a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Apostle uses the Greek aorist tense in these verses which is present continuous.

I am sure you have heard the saying:

THE PROBLEM WITH A LIVING SACRIFICEIS THAT IT IS ALWAYS WANTING TO CRAWL OFF THE ALTAR.

This is sure my experience, we have a sinful nature, and the temptation is always there for us to do what we want and not God wants.

Paul says “present our body” our body contains:

Our Mind,

Our will

Our emotions

Our drives Hunger, sexuaL and survival

Our senses, seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling.

II am sure we could mention other things as well.

It seems to me that the MIND is the engine room that sees to want to dictate terms to all these areas, that is why we must take the Whole armour of God Eph. 6:11-18 NKJV Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and we must learn to use every piece of the armour, staring with the HELMET OF SALVATION to protect our mind, and learn to cast down and out every sinful thought from within, and from without from the evil one, that is why the mind is mentioned very often in the N.T.

YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHY WE MUST CONTINUALLY BE RE-AFFIMING CHRIST’S LORDSHIP OVER OUR LIVES.

When we get off the altar (and do our own thing) we grieve the Holy Spirit. Eph. 4:30 NKJV And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

I love the picture of our heart and life being like a house, and the Holy Spirit wants to fill every room, and every nook and cranny of the house, but when we fail the Lord, and get off the altar of surrender, the Holy Spirit is grieved and withdraws out of the room/s which we had decided we wanted to control, so we must do as Paul tells us in Eph.4:18-21 NKJV ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be (continually) filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Again the Apostle Paul uses the Greek Aorist tense and reminds us we must learn to live CONTINUALLLY FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.

Submitting to one another, our submission to one another is as important as our submission to God.

Let is look at the many matters Paul highlights.

Don”t be drunk with wine, the Bible does not teach total abstinence, but there is the privilege also of making choices, which can include not drinking alcohol.

The importance of fellowship with God’s people, and rejoicing and praising and worshipping God together.

Choosing to make BEING THANKFUL A LIFESTYLE, AS Rom. 8:28-30 NKJV reminds us “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorifified”.

RGWEW IS NEVER A TIME WE CANNOT BE THANKFUL TO OUR SOVEREIGN GOD.

Submitting to one another, this is as equally important as our continued submission to the Lord.

So, every time I come to the Lord in prayer I pray King David’s prayer Psalm 139: 23-24 NKJV Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24, I seek and receive the the Lord’s forgiveness, ! John 1:9 NKJV f we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9 and ask for His grace to REPENT (to turn away, and not let these sin/s to continue to be in my life.

I then pray and invite the Holy Spirit, to come back into any and every room He had withdrawn from and let me be FILLED AFRESH WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

We must spend quality time in the Word of God EVERY DAY, reading and MEDITATING on Holy Scripture, and praying the written Word, would become the QUICKENED WORD in our hearts. Rom.10: 17 NKJV So then Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word (Rhema) of God.

To learn to live the Spirit-filled life can be so much easier if you are Biblically Discipled and let a mature Believer walk with you on this journey, it is a long term necessity, not a short term class, but the results will be ever life changing.

I said at the beginning today I still don’t have it all together, but I am learning, and and loving the journey.

I am sure there are many more keys that could be added to the above list, please share with me your insights, either through the website or by email on [email protected]

I sincerely pray this blog will be a blessing to all who read it,