“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 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.” Ephesians 3:14-17a (NIV)
Submit to
the Spirit
“through his Spirit”
Everyone of us has probably felt like our little Shaggy looks from time to time in the spirit. Beaten and battered with the cone of shame on. We need Gods Spirit so desperately yet we still try to do things in our own strength. Learning to submit to the Spirit is a learned spiritual trait. The Holy Spirit is the conduit through whom power and spiritual resources flow into our lives.
The Holy Spirit has a number of functions as we’ve already seen in Ephesians that he serves as guarantee of our future inheritance of the riches of God. But one of His other important roles is to point us to Jesus Christ. Just before He went to the cross, Jesus described that role:
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit is the conduit for the riches of God and He us reminds us of the teachings of Jesus and helps us to apply those teachings in our lives. When receive Christ the Holy Spirit comes into us the very moment we become a follower of Jesus Christ. But all of us need the baptism of the spirit for power to live out this life and to receive the gifts that God has for us and to use those gifts we have been created to do.
“through his Spirit”
Everyone of us has probably felt like our little Shaggy looks from time to time in the spirit. Beaten and battered with the cone of shame on. We need Gods Spirit so desperately yet we still try to do things in our own strength. Learning to submit to the Spirit is a learned spiritual trait. The Holy Spirit is the conduit through whom power and spiritual resources flow into our lives.
The Holy Spirit has a number of functions as we’ve already seen in Ephesians that he serves as guarantee of our future inheritance of the riches of God. But one of His other important roles is to point us to Jesus Christ. Just before He went to the cross, Jesus described that role:
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit is the conduit for the riches of God and He us reminds us of the teachings of Jesus and helps us to apply those teachings in our lives. When receive Christ the Holy Spirit comes into us the very moment we become a follower of Jesus Christ. But all of us need the baptism of the spirit for power to live out this life and to receive the gifts that God has for us and to use those gifts we have been created to do.
God did not give us his spirit to:
“grieve the Holy Spirit of God” Ephesians 4:30 (NIV)
“or to put out the Spirit’s fire” 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV)
Both these verses make it clear that the Holy Spirit will not force us to respond to the revelation that He wants to bring into our lives.
We can grieve the Holy Spirit and we can quench
His work in our lives. Whenever the Holy Spirit leads us and reminds us of the
teachings of Jesus, we can either choose to respond by submitting our lives to
that work of the Spirit and making the changes we need to make to get our lives;
or we can choose to ignore that revelation.“grieve the Holy Spirit of God” Ephesians 4:30 (NIV)
“or to put out the Spirit’s fire” 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV)
Both these verses make it clear that the Holy Spirit will not force us to respond to the revelation that He wants to bring into our lives.
If I want to make my heart God’s home, I need to develop the habit of submitting my life to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. I need to be willing to respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life even before I know what He will reveal to me. So start trusting His Spirit...you are loved!
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