When we come to the place where we realize that we have all of God, but he doesn’t have all of us, we surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit to make Jesus Lord.
“Do not be drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be being filled with the Spirit” Paul to the Ephesian church (5:16).
Many people think that the Christian life is about receiving Jesus as Saviour and then living a life of self-discipline until they die and go to heaven. A pretty boring – and frustrating way to live if you ask me. We are called to a life adventure with Christ – to become more and more like Him. The Holy Spirit is given to enact that in each willing heart.
The Holy Spirit is an integral part of the Holy Trinity – he is a person, not a force. During his time on earth, Jesus led his disciples but was not IN them. He said he had to leave so the Holy Spirit could come and be IN them (John 14:17). This is the beauty of the Spirit – he is within the life of every true believer. Paul said that the Spirit in your life is the seal or guarantee of your salvation – he is the proof you belong to God. So when Jesus returned to the Father, the disciples waited in Jerusalem until the Spirit descended like fire upon them and the early church exploded. We are here today as a result of the Holy Spirit’s filling those who have gone before us!
The Spirit’s main job is to exalt the Son – he does not assume the limelight. Jesus said that when he was lifted up, he would draw all men to himself. It is through Jesus that salvation comes, so the Spirit points Jesus out wherever he works. He is the voice of Jesus INSIDE you and is intent on reproducing the character qualities and actions of Jesus Christ in you if you will let him. As we allow the Spirit to make Jesus Lord, he gives us power for effective service. As the one who inspired men to record the will of God for us in the bible, he illuminates it to us who follow Christ – he makes it come alive to us (II Peter 1:2021). He makes us sensitive to sin and gives us the words to say in every day life that exalt the Saviour. He gives us the ability to BE and to DO – read I Corinthians 12 and Galatians 5:22,23 to see the character and deeds of Christ produced in us. This is the Christian adventure!
You know of the charismatic movement. ‘Charisma’ is the word for ‘gifts’. We are a charismatic movement – we believe in all the gifts of the Spirit including the gift of tongues, without requiring it as the evidence of the Spirits filling.
When we come to the place where we realize that we have all of God, but he doesn’t have all of us, we surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit to make Jesus Lord. We surrender daily and keep short accounts with God. In this way we live the NORMAL Christian life – an adventure with him! Why not take a moment now and ask the Spirit to enter your life fully today – to let him direct your path and replicate the qualities of Jesus in you…
Pastor Leon Throness
