The Spirit-filled life is to be the normal experience of all believers and we have seen why it is necessary for a child of God to be filled with the Spirit. Now, continuing this vital study, we identify the marks of a life that is filled with the Holy Spirit. We begin by identifying what the evidences of being filled are not:
(1) If a person is filled with the Holy Spirit he/she will not necessarily be noisy, highly excited or full of physical strength. The Spirit-filled life is a life of calm poise and quiet confidence (Isaiah 30:15).
(2) To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not to reach a state of sinless perfection or to attain a state where the old nature is eradicated (1 John 1:8, 10).
(3) The Spirit-filled life is not a life free from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
(4) The Spirit-filled life is not a life where further and fuller growth is impossible or unnecessary (2 Peter 3:18).
Galatians 5:25: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit”
- Grammatical Usage: “keep in step” or in the Greek, “stoicheó” meaning, “walk in an orderly row; be directed, guided”
- Literal Interpretation: If our lives are centered in the Spirit, let us be guided by the Spirit.
- Contextual/Comparison: God keeps His Word: God continually uses His Word. There are at least seven ways in which we may study the characteristics of the Spirit-filled life:
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ARE SEEN IN THE LIFE OF OUR LORD.
The Christian life is the life of the Lord Jesus reproduced in us by the Holy Spirit:
- Spirit-filled – allowing the Holy Spirit inside you to do what He wills with you
- Godly – constantly mindful of God’s perspective on your life and mission
- Resilient – keeping your calling any time tough things try to move you off course
- Peaceful – living with peace even in difficult circumstances
- Obedient – living your life before an audience of One – God
- Patient – invested fully in the now while allowing God to direct future results
- Unafraid – not moved by fear in any dimension
- Valuable – making other’s lives better by your involvement with them
- Discerning – determined the source of an action or circumstance – from God, from the enemy, or from a person
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ARE SEEN IN OUR LORD’S TEACHING ON THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
This teaching is particularly emphasized in the Gospel of John 14-16:
- He is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17), therefore He makes us truthful.
- He is our Teacher (John 14:26), therefore He gives us knowledge and wisdom.
- He is our Guide (John 16:13), therefore He leads us in the right path.
- He glorifies the Lord Jesus (John 16:14), therefore He girds us.
- He reveals things to come (John 16:13), making us wise concerning God’s program.
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ARE SEEN IN THE LIVES OF THE APOSTLES AND THE EARLY CHRISTIANS.
Notice particularly the characteristics of those men of whom we are definitely told that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. (1) Peter (Acts 2:4,14); (2) the Church (Acts 4:31); (3) the first Deacons (Acts 6:3, 5, 7); (4) Stephen (Acts 6:15; 7:60); (5) Saul (Acts 9:17-18); (6) Paul (Acts 13:9,10); (7) the Disciples (Acts 13:52).
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ARE SEEN IN GALATIANS 5:22-23.
In this passage we have the nine-fold fruit of the Holy Spirit.
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ARE SEEN IN EPHESIANS 5, WHERE WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
Read this chapter right through, and particularly notice verses 19, 20, 21, 22, 25; and in chapter 6 notice vv. 1, 4, 5, 9. Here we are told how Spirit-filled wives, husbands, children, fathers, masters and servants should act.
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ARE SEEN BY A STUDY OF THE NAMES AND TITLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
For example, He is the Spirit of:
- LIFE (Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:6). He fills us with His life.
- HOLINESS (1 Peter 1:2). He fills us to be set apart; distinct; doers of the Word
- GRACE (Hebrews 10:29). He fills us with favor toward the unworthy
- TRUTH (John 14:13-17). He fills us with Righteous conviction
- POWER (Acts 1:8). He fills us with energy to advance the Kingdom of God
- THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE ARE SEEN BY A STUDY OF THE EMBLEMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
There are at least fourteen of these, seven being:
- The Dove: indicating the beauty and gentleness of the Spirit’s character ( 3:16; 10:16).
- The Seal: indicating the security of the Spirit’s grace ( 1:13; 4:30; 2 Tim. 2:19; Rev. 7:3-8).
- The Oil: indicating the Spirit’s grace and the illumination of His teaching (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; 2 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 2:27).
- The Fire: indicating His work of purification ( 3:11; Heb. 12:29; Rev. 4:5).
- The Wind: indicating the searching nature of His power (John 3:8; Acts 2:2).
- The Dew: indicating the refreshing grace of His presence (Psalm 133:3; Isaiah 18:4).
- The Water: indicating His sufficiency (John 4:14; 7:37-38).
- Conclusion: Am I yielded to the Holy Spirit, characteristics evident in my life?
