Empowered Living by the Holy Spiritনমুনা

EMPOWERED LIVING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION

We are privileged as Christians that we know that out of love, God is reaching down to mankind. We can love others because God first loves us. Jesus cares for us and knows our weaknesses and limitations that is why after His ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower every believer to live victoriously.

DISCUSSION

Empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our life:

1. Living in freedom

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

It is not enough just by saying do not do this or do not do that. This is holy and that is sinful. It is impractical just to list out hundreds of to-do lists if you cannot fulfill them. People need the “how” not to do this and that. People living in addiction to drugs know that they need to break free from the addiction but they cannot do it with their own strength. People living in sexual immoralities suffer from guilt and shame every day, they wanted to be set free. Our heavenly Father knows very well our limitations that He sent His Spirit to dwell in us to help us in our weaknesses. When the Holy Spirit dwells in us all that is unclean will have to leave. Our bodies become the holy temple of the living God. The desire to sin will disappear. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to break free from addiction and bondage of sins so we can live in freedom.

2. Walking in love

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Lord Jesus taught us that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our minds. And the second is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37) For all the law in the Bible is fulfilled in one word that we shall love our neighbor as ourselves. From 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, we learned about the great attributes of love. Love encompasses many attributes namely patience, kindness, gentleness, humility, generosity, and forgiveness. Love does not envy, love honors others and rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God gave us the Holy Spirit, a gentle Spirit of God, and the Spirit of love. The foremost fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. The Holy Spirit will impart His loving attributes to us that will enable and empower us to love and serve others.

3. Bearing the fruits of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we will not satisfy the desires of the flesh.

We will surely experience transformation in our lives. For the desires of the Spirit is contrary to the flesh. They are constantly in conflict with each other. The Holy Spirit will help us to bear the fruits of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, the Holy Spirit will bring all the attributes of Christ into our life. Therefore, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control becomes our attributes as the new creation in Christ. Every tree is known by its fruit and a good tree does not bear bad fruit. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. As we abide in Him, we will be led by the Holy Spirit. When growing into maturity in the image of Christ, we will bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

DISCUSSION

 What privilege do we have as a believer compare to other religions?

 How could the laws in the bible be fulfilled?

 How can we live in freedom and bear the fruits of Spirit?

CLOSING

Thanks be to God that our Lord Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to help us and empower us to live in freedom, walking in love and bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Walk with Holy Spirit constantly, spend time in prayers, praise and worship. Read the Bible daily and obey His Words. Surely, we will grow mature spiritually into the image of Christ.