WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

            We all like to find short cuts for tasks and easy solutions to problems. Most believers desire a spiritually victorious life, and would like an instant and easy way to obtain it. The Bible, however, gives no instant or easy formula for a satisfying, victorious life. The Bible does command us to “be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled

with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18).

            To be filled with the Spirit has nothing to do with having more of the Holy Spirit. A genuinely converted believer receives all of the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. Rather, to be filled with the Spirit is to be under His control. Someone who is drunk is controlled by alcohol, and one who is filled with the Holy Spirit is controlled by the Spirit. Being filled indicates being controlled in other Biblical contexts, as well. In Luke 5:26 people were “filled with fear” when they saw Jesus heal a sick man. When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, the Pharisees were “filled with madness.” When the disciples learned that Jesus was leaving them, Jesus said to them, “sorrow hath filled your heart.” In these cases the idea behind “filled” is that of control. When the Holy Spirit fills the believer, that believer is under the Spirit's control.

            Unlike other ministries of Holy Spirit in the believer's life, His filling ministry is conditional. The Bible does not command the believer to be regenerated by, indwelt with, sealed by or baptized by the Holy Spirit. These ministries are unconditionally performed by God when we are saved. We have nothing to do about it. He does it all. Believers are, however, commanded to be “filled with the Spirit.” We must submit to His control. Like any other command, we can obey or disobey it.

            The filling ministry of the Holy Spirit is a repeated experience, unlike the unconditional ministries which occurred at conversion. The present tense of the verb carries the idea of “be continually filled” or “keep being filled.” The book of Acts illustrates that the filling of the Holy Spirit is a repeated experience. The disciples, including Peter, were initially filled with the Holy Spirit in 2:4. Peter was again filled in 4:8, and all the disciples again in 4:31.

            Since the filling ministry of the Holy Spirit is repeated, then the believer can stop being controlled by the Spirit. It also may indicate that some believers may never allow control by the Holy Spirit. How sad it would be, indeed, for a blood bought saint to be so self seeking and head strong as never to experience the blessedness of the Spirit's control!

            By comparing Ephesians 5:18-20 with Colossians 3:15-17, we see that the Spirit filled life and the Word filled life bring forth the same results. Clearly, being Spirit filled is inseparable from being filled with God's Word.

            Being filled with the Spirit is the beginning of a victorious life. It is the first step of learning to “walk in the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:16), and living daily under His control (Galatians 5:25). To live victoriously by walking in the Spirit, the first steps must be taken cautiously. With practice, personal discipline, and conscious concentration, the believer can develop the skill of walking in the Spirit. Even as a baby's first steps are careful and determined ones, so must ours be as we learn to walk in the Spirit. Those first baby steps eventually become matters of habit. However, even the mature adult who has walked for a lifetime occasionally falls.

            Having the Holy Spirit in control in one's life brings spiritual victory. It includes the power to defeat sin in one's life. Paul wrote to the Galatians,

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:16,17).

            Living under the Holy Spirit's control not only will give me victory over my sinful flesh, it will develop Christ like character in me. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” (Galatians 5:22, 23a). The life of the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated these wonderful character traits. I also can develop them in my life if I live under the Holy Spirit's control.

            Spirit control is also the key to soul winning power. Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me,” (Acts 1:8a). There are examples of this throughout the book of Acts. The key to world evangelism and church growth is not expensive or novel programming. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer under His control to bear witness of His saving grace. This is the only “program” God has for evangelism and missions.

            In the context following Ephesians 5:18, Paul gives several other results of Holy Spirit control. The Spirit controlled believer gives outward praise of God and has an inward attitude of worship and thankfulness (5:19,20). This believer also demonstrates a Christ-like submissiveness in relationships (husband-wife; parent-child; employer-employee, 5:21-6:9). The Spirit filled believer is empowered and equipped to defeat Satan and his powers in spiritual battle (6:10-18).

            Though it is not a short-cut or an easy formula, the only way to have a spiritually satisfying, victorious and empowered life is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then learn to walk in Him.