Submitted to the Holy Spirit
Monday— “When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth…” John 16:8
Who exactly is this Holy Spirit? Maybe you’re embarrassed to ask. Maybe you’ve seen some bizarre happenings credited to Him and want to keep your distance. Or maybe you’re accustomed to a denomination that treated Him more like that weird uncle who shows up at Thanksgiving and you’re never sure what he might do. So let’s go to the Source: Jesus. He referred to the Holy Spirit as a Person (part of what we call the Trinity), a Comforter (Jn. 15:26), an Advocate (Jn. 14:16), and our ultimate guide to truth. The Holy Spirit is the One who makes sense out of the Bible, revealing the truths behind the printed words.
Ever wonder why the world can’t tell up from down, right from wrong, or sense from nonsense? God’s answers don’t make sense to them because they don’t have the Holy Spirit revealing it to them. They’ve slammed the door on Him, insisting on doing life their own way. If we want the Spirit of Truth to reveal truth to us, we have to be willing to hear it, be convicted by it, accept it, and act on it. He won’t waste His powerful conviction on stubborn hearts determined to do as they please. But to those with hearts eager for more of God, to know His truth so they can obey it, God joyfully pours out His Spirit. He fills our cups to overflowing with truth, wisdom, hope, and knowledge. Some knowledge is only gained through the Spirit of Truth.
Challenge: How have you understood who the Holy Spirit is? He’s a Friend freely given to those ready to obey His voice.
Prayer: Father, I’ve heard some strange things about your Holy Spirit, but I want to know Him as Jesus taught us. Help me learn who He is and all He has for me, and may I be a clear vessel for His love, truth, and power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Tuesday— “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses…” Acts 1:8
The eleven disciples had heard the worst possible news: their Leader was leaving them. They’d seen Him tortured to death and buried. But then He’d shown up again! He’d risen just like He said and, in their joy, a new plan formed. Imagine the impact when they entered a town saying, “See this guy you killed? Here He is!” But now Jesus was ruining the plan with this talk about going back to the Father. Terror hit as they gaped at Him wide-eyed. They needed Him. Didn’t He see that? They couldn’t spread His message by themselves. What would they say? But wait…He was saying something about power coming.
Jesus already knew how His friends felt about His leaving, but He also knew what they did not—a Helper was coming. Jesus had been with them; the Helper would be IN them. With that Helper, they could accomplish more than they could with Jesus standing beside them. The Holy Spirit isn’t just an idea; He is a Person who would strengthen, embolden, and enable His followers to do far more than they could on their own. It was that same Spirit who empowered Jesus during His earthly ministry (Luke 4:1). And the Spirit would bring gifts, unique empowerments that would help God’s people do God’s work. They were to take Jesus’ message to the world, but they couldn’t do it alone. It was the Spirit’s power that would transform the world.
Challenge: We can only accomplish God’s work through God’s power. Disciples stay close to the source.
Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit to live inside every heart that trusts in your Son. Give me more of that power, more strength to obey you, more love, joy, and peace as I live as a witness for your Son. In His name, amen.
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Wednesday— “I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:8
“I’m sure I’m okay with God. I got baptized when I was a kid,” Curly said. Pat looked skeptical. “Is that all it takes?” he asked. “I think my parents baptized me as a baby, so I guess I’m good too.” They finished their beers and left the strip club with a couple of two-dollar women, each confident that water in a baptismal pool had cancelled any debts they owed God. Were they right? Can water do that? John the Baptist didn’t think so. He knew it was just water. It had no power. Water only symbolized a transfer of ownership as someone surrendered to the lordship of Jesus. John knew a better baptism was coming.
What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? Some think it means you get weird, while others stay away from the whole idea. The word “baptism” means total immersion. When we’re baptized in water, our bodies are fully engulfed. When the Spirit baptizes us, our spirits are totally engulfed in Him. Self takes a backseat to whatever the Spirit wants. It’s the difference between a cup floating on the ocean and one submerged in it. The cup on top of the ocean is still in the ocean, but the submerged cup has the ocean in it. To be a disciple is more than the mental agreement that Jesus is who He says He is. Disciples live with their own spirits submerged in the Holy Spirit and that affects and empowers everything we do.
Challenge: God wants to baptize you with His Holy Spirit. Ask Him and then submit to whatever He says.
Prayer: Father, have I let you fill me with your Holy Spirit, like a cup in the ocean? I want that. I want to be fully submerged in you. Flow in me, through me. Fill me up as I empty myself of sin and selfishness. Baptize me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Thursday— And do not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled in the Spirit… Ephesians 5:18
Why would Paul compare the Holy Spirit with too much alcohol? Because both can affect your mind and will, one reason that a common term for alcoholic beverages is “spirits.” Picture an old-fashioned scale with the Holy Spirit on one side and alcohol on the other. When one side goes up, the other side goes down. Drink too much, and you’re telling the Holy Spirit to take a hike. “You don’t control me now, God,” we’re saying. “This substance is.” When alcohol is in control of your thought processes, God isn’t. Only one Spirit can control us at a time, and for disciples, it must be the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 10:31).
If we choose to drink, we should be aware of who or what is affecting our judgements. Is it still God or are we relinquishing control to another spirit? That’s one reason many disciples avoid alcohol altogether. They don’t want to risk compromising the Holy Spirit’s reign in their lives, even for a little while. When liquid spirits are governing our wisdom, judgment, conversations, and choices, the Holy Spirit is not, so we run the risk of “grieving” Him (Eph. 4:30). The goal of a committed believer is to live in a state of unbroken worship. Any earthly enticement that threatens that state, including alcohol, is an enemy. So Paul warns us to be cautious about any spirit that might control us. Disciples refuse to be filled with anything other than the Holy Spirit.
Challenge: We can only be filled with one spirit at a time. Do you allow other spirts to compete with the Holy Spirit?
Prayer: Father, this convicts me. I have allowed other spirits to dictate my actions, instead of your Spirit. Please forgive me and I purpose to change that. Maybe it means I choose not to drink at all. Nothing gets to control me but you. Amen.
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Friday— So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
“You’re still going to NA meetings?” asked Bret. “I thought you kicked drugs years ago.” Theo smiled. “I did, thank God. Haven’t used in eight years, and that’s the reason why. As long as I’m staying plugged in to NA, I have the power to resist. I stopped going once…didn’t end well! Soon as I got clean, I’ve pledged to stay connected with my NA support system. Keeps me strong.” Bret frowned. “But don’t you feel weak, having to rely on something other than yourself to stay clean?” Theo laughed. “I AM weak, Bro! I’d be a fool to try it on my own, so what keeps me strong is walking daily with my NA brothers.”
How do we stay strong as Christians? Walk by the Spirit. We’re fools to try to live as Christians in our own strength. Our flesh is weak. Willpower is weak. Resolutions are weak. But as long as we keep seeking God, confessing our sins to Him, making ourselves accountable to other believers, taking in a regular diet of spiritual help—what Paul calls “walking in the Spirit,” we won’t fall. To walk by the Spirit means we seek His will in every decision. We develop the “fear of the Lord,” (Prov. 16:6) that keeps us far from evil. We live with the continual awareness of His presence and enjoy His smile on our obedience (Ps. 37:23). When we’re walking by the Spirit, we view temptation through spiritual lenses which give us the power to resist it. Disciples have learned to live for the applause of heaven and the best way to keep that applause going is to walk by the Spirit.
Challenge: We walk either by the flesh or by God’s Spirit. Which is your regular walking companion?
Prayer: Jesus, much of my life is dominated by my fleshly desires. But I want to walk by your Spirit instead. I know that will be hard at times, but being your disciple is worth it. Fill me with your Spirit and help me keep in step with Him. Amen.
