A humble heart receives a fresh release of His Spirit daily.
“Be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 NIV.
My thoughts and comments today ask, “His strength or yours?”
I have seen the picturesque, Dutch windmills in Holland that harnessed the wind’s power as early as the 14th century, and Texas windmills drawing water from wells on ranches far from the reach of electrical service, and the modern, towering wind turbines capturing the energy of prevailing winds converted to kinetic energy. What pictures of the power of the Holy Spirit breathing into and through a Christ-follower’s life.
Are you trying to live everyday life in your own strength – to be what you should be by your resolve and determination, failing to understand life’s complexities and uncertainties by your limited knowledge and experiences, struggling to do all the things you should by your natural strength and ability?
Is that working for you? Not too well I would imagine. Here’s some good news about all of that. You were never intended to live within those confining, self-imposed limits. Your best efforts fall short of success, due to inadequate resource, deficient knowledge, and lack of life-experience.
God has provided the power you need to live joyfully and victoriously. Anything less than that leaves you drinking from an empty cup. You don’t need a little bit of God’s help; all God offers you will be required. You need to pray as Paul prayed, “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen (me) with power through His Spirit in (my) inner being, so that Christ may dwell in (my) heart through faith . . that (I) may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:18 NIV.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit is not optional; it is commanded. “Be filled with the Spirit!” Ephesians 5:18 NIV. And know this, God’s power cannot be stored up. Today’s strength will not stretch to cover tomorrow’s demands. The life of power you desire requires your bringing to God a sincere and humble heart to receive a fresh, daily release of His Spirit. The literal translation of today’s verse would more clearly be stated this way, “Be (being) filled with the Spirit,” denoting a progressive and continuous filling in the measure each day demands and your faith requires. Inner power is, “a work in progress,” every day.
The word the Holy Spirit chose to describe this daily empowering is a picture of a sail boat with its sails intentionally set to harness the energy of the wind, and then moving responsively and powerfully under its sheer power alone. It describes the kinetic effect of a life responding to the wind of the Spirit, rather than the passive filling of some measure or volume. See Acts 1:8 NIV/John 7:37-39 NKJV.
And what will be the visible and practical impact of being filled with the Spirit? Your life will evidence the character of Christ. “When the Holy Spirit controls your life, He will produce this kind of fruit in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . . if you are living now by the Spirit, follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of your life.” Galatians 5:22-23/25 NLT. The secret is simply allowing the Spirit’s control and following His leading obediently, every day and in every part of your life.
Today, I pray for you to breathe deeply of the invigorating Spirit of God.
Christian Communications 2016
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An update for your continued prayer . . . Thank you for your concern, caring communications, and prayer. I am being treated for an inflamed nerve in my lower back that is aggravated by sitting for any length of time. That has impacted my ability to write EDL as consistently I would wish. My commitment to this ministry has not diminished. Our times together in God’s Word remain my joy. Thank you for your patience and continued love and prayers. Blessings, Allen Randolph.