Spiritual Epic Fail

Have you ever experienced wanting to do what is right, but end up failing miserably by still doing the wrong thing? Sometimes you feel that you don’t have enough willpower to do what is right? Have you ever felt like that? You are not alone. The statements in Romans 7:15-25, were from the Apostle Paul when he’s describing his life before he learned how to live the victorious Christian life. Today, in our lesson we’re going to look at how to change from a life of defeat to a life of victory.

From 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3, we can say that there are three kinds of people.

1. The natural man does not know Jesus as Savior and Lord. The natural man carries out the desires of the flesh and of the mind.
2. On the other hand, the spiritual man is described as having Jesus in control of his life and yielding to Christ. Moreover, the fruit of the Spirit manifests in the life of the spiritual man. The Holy Spirit working in the life of this person is the source of these qualities.
3. The carnal man trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life. Yes, this person has Christ in his life, but does not allow Jesus to have control of his life. The carnal man lives a defeated Christian life because he trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life. One becomes carnal when he refuses to confess his sins and knowingly takes control of his life.

Which of the three descriptions above would best describe your life right now?

In the life of a Christian, there’s a constant opposition between living by the Spirit and the sinful nature. But we are commanded to be filled by the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit means to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit in such a way that we can live as He wants us to live.

When a person receives Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell or live in him. Although the Holy Spirit lives within every Christian, He only fills those who let Him.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith, as an act of our wills. As we allow the Holy Spirit to direct us and empower our lives we will overcome the desires of the flesh. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a moment-by-moment, day-by-day experience. The verb, “be filled”, means in the original language, “to be continually filled.”

Ephesians 5:18 told us of His specific command for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Since it is God’s will for us to be filled with the Spirit let us then consider how we can do that.

How to be filled with the Spirit?

1. You must sincerely desire to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
2. Confess your sins. God will not fill a dirty vessel; through confession we become clean. Confession is agreeing with God concerning our sin, thanking Him for His forgiveness because of Christ’s death on the cross, and repenting (turning away from our sin and turning toward God). As discussed yesterday, God has already forgiven us; but as we confess our sins, we experience anew what He has already done for us on the cross.
3. Present every area of your life to God.
4. By faith, claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit. According to His command (Ephesians 5:18) and His promise (1 John 5:14, 15) We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. Prayer is one way of expressing faith.
5. You can express your faith through prayer.

“Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have been in control of my life and that as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take control of the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as you command me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I now thank You for taking control of my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does, I would like to give you an opportunity to pray that prayer

Remember, we said in order to be filled we need to confess any known sin in our lives and present every area of our lives to Christ. Let’s have a moment of silent prayer to do that now.

Now that you have asked God to fill you, consider how you can know you are filled.

In 1 John 5:14, 15 God promises that if we ask anything according to His will He will do it. He cannot lie. You can know that you are filled, not on the basis of feelings, but on the trustworthiness of God.