Spirit-Filled Spirituality: part 7

Spirit-Filled Spirituality: Openness & Discernment: Finding A Balance

1. There are Strengths and Weaknesses of Both Sides of the debate over Spiritual Gifts, and whether they are all in operation.  This is often for a number of reasons that include but are not limited to: misuse, excesses, a lack of experience, blinders because of man’s theologies and just plain stubbornness.  I would encourage… let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

2. The Spirit Points to Christ.  This is the main role of the Holy Spirit… to present the Lord Jesus.

He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
John 16:14
 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, Ephesians 1:17-19
 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19

3. And finally we are to Keep in Step with The Holy Spirit, not leading Him (as if we could) or lagging behind.  We must appropriate the Power of The Spirit in order to Live the Christian life.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23
 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5
 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5
 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13

·        Admitting our Weakness

 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

·        Surrendering our Will

·        Confessing our sin and disobedience

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:13
 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:24

·        Sanctifying our desires

·        Trusting God and His promises

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, BE FILLED with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16
 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25