October 18th

OCTOBER 18th

Holiness is not a mountain to climb, we are placed there at the top when we become a Christian. So how do we stay on top? We become Christ followers, not just believers. We surrender ourselves and our lives to Him. Every little part, every little choice. One choice and one day at a time. Now that we have that perspective, we should realize that we are starting in a place of victory, not in a place of defeat.

Jesus knew this would not be possible for us without the Holy Spirit. This is why the Father sent the Holy Spirit to us. So why do so many Christians walk around still stuck in sin? Well part of it is the defeated mindset that we can never achieve holiness because it is a huge impossible mountain to climb so why try. But part of it is also that we don’t surrender to the Holy Spirit so that we are FILLED. Oh to be sure, we do receive the Holy Spirit when we are saved, but there is a difference between the Holy Spirit living in us and being FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Remember even in the days of the New Testament church there was a distinction made between those two. Jesus breathed on His disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit but He also told them later that they need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit to receive power, the power they needed to carry out His mission.

John 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:4-5,8 “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

So how do we know that we have been FILLED/Baptized with the Holy Spirit?

Have you asked for this to happen?

Are you surrendered to Him?

Do you see the fruit in yourself and your life?

Don’t think you need to ask? Jesus said it with His own words.

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Still holding on to some areas of your life or heart for yourself? The Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He will not force Himself on you. If you believe but have not surrendered, ready to walk away from everything for Him, then don’t expect to recognize His work in you. Surely He will nudge you and draw you to Him, but He will not force you. So if you want to be filled, let go of everything else and reach for Him with both hands.

Do you see His fruit in your life? The fruit of the Spirit, not just with those who are nice to you or that you really love, but to those who don’t deserve it? When you start to see supernatural fruit in your life you will know it is the Holy Spirit. When you can love someone that is not lovable, or when you have profound peace in the midst of very upsetting circumstances, etc. that is the Holy Spirit. The more we surrender our own “rights”, we give Him free reign in us. And that is when we will see His results and His fruit in us.

If you find yourself saying, “I just can’t forgive that person, or love that person, or get over this or that” then chances are you have not been filled with the Holy Spirit and/or are not surrendered to Him. Not that it is EASY to forgive with the Holy Spirit, but that it is POSSIBLE.

Ask Him to fill you today. If you have been filled, you know it.

Lord, thank you for your promised Holy Spirit. Thank you that you didn’t leave us here alone. Holy Spirit I want to surrender to you today, I want you to fill me to overflowing with you. I want your results and your fruit in me and in my life. Help me to stay surrendered to you so that I don’t suppress your work in my life.