Spirit-filled or Spirit-quenching.
(John 16:4-15)
In John 16:4-15, Jesus shares with us what the Holy Spirit will do in the believer's life.
The HolySpirit will:
1. Help— John 16:7. The Spirit will help us in our Christian Life.
2. Convict—John 16:8-11. The Spirit will convict us of our sins, Christ’s righteousness and Judgement.
3. Guide— John 16:13. The Spirit will guide us in all truth.
4. Glorify—John 16:14. The Spirit will glorify Christ. Making our lives more about Christ and less about ourselves.
Understanding how the Spirit works in our lives helps us see the evidence of the Spirit IN our lives. When we are convicted of sin, when the actions of our lives produce righteousness, and when we declare that Jesus is Lord, these are all shreds of evidence that the Spirit is present in our hearts. When you find yourself having more peace, more patience, doing better, doing things rightly, demonstrating more love towards others, when you’re more joyful than complaining, when you exercise self-control instead of indulgence, that is how you know the Spirit is working on your life. We can be encouraged that Jesus’ promise to be with us is real and active in our lives. And that should stir up more love for Him than ever before!
But we can quench the work of the Spirit on us, resulting in less evidence of his work in us. Whenever the Spirit seeks to work into your life, and you ignore him, you shut him off. Every time you do something you know you shouldn't be doing, The Spirit’s influence in your life diminishes, not because he's removing his presence, but because God gives you over to yourself. Every time the Holy Spirit prompts you, every time you're convicted. You don't confess every time that you're not seeking God's word, every time you're trying to make more of yourself and less of Christ in your life. The Holy Spirit's work is still working, but you're denying him access and quenching him. When we ignore or forget that He is present around us, and in us, we become less impacted by his work. And instead of being led by the Spirit, we resume control over our lives according to our flesh. Instead of submitting to the Spirit’s prompts, we acton intuition. And gradually, we remove the Spirit from our lives and replace it with more of our flesh.
If this is the place you presently find yourself in, where you walk by the flesh instead of the Spirit, and you are asking how you can get back to the place where there is evidence that the Spirit is back working on you, here is the good news.
Ask the Father, and He will give you the Spirit. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will receive the Spirit; start walking by the Spirit, and you will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. If you want to be Spirit-filled, orient your whole life to being in places and doing things that cultivate a Spirit-filled life. Surround yourself with others who are Spirit-filled. Attend places where the Spirit is present. Saturate your life with things you know the Spirit is present, like God’s Word, House, and People.
If you wanted to get in shape, you would attend the gym, eat differently, and establish a healthier lifestyle—the same works for growing in the Spirit’s presence and influence in your life.
And know this: the fact that you even desire to have more of a Spirit-filled life proves that He is working on you!
May you grow more in the Spirit this week as you walk according to his leading, not your flesh!
Peace be with you!
Pastor Bruce
