What Are The Marks Of A Spirit-Led Believer?
Jesus told his disciples as he was getting ready to ascend to heaven, Luke 24:49 (NKJV) “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
The disciples had not experienced the power from the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 (TEV) “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 2:1-20 (TEV) When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak…They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages...How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages?.. Then Peter stood up and said this is what the prophet Joel spoke about: 'This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams. Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message. I will perform miracles in the sky above and wonders on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke; the sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.
Far too many believers think there is no dynamic, no power, no real distinctive that can be attributed to anything other than discipline and determination.
Fortunately, their wrong! A Christian lifestyle are supposed to be empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit!
Three Marks of a Spirit Led Believer
The believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit is going to be a person of generous, joyful, and overflowing praise and thanksgiving to God
Ephesians 5:18-20 (NLT) “Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The spirit filled believer cannot help but be overflowing with praise and joy.
Ephesians 5:21 (NLT) “And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
A spirit filled believer is going to be so filled with love for God and others, and so willing to trust God to work in his/her life and in the lives of others, that he/she will be willing to submit to others rather than demand his/her own way.
You will not only lay down your pride before God, but also before others.
2. I am going to be willing to submit to others in the fear of God
Does this mean the Spirit-filled believer becomes a door mat or a weakling in the face of evil and persecution? No Way!
The spirit filled believer receives the full benefit of all the spiritual fruit permeating through their spirit.
The more you submit your life to the Lord, and to the working of the Lord through other Spirit-filled believers, the more you are growing in faith and the stronger you are going to become.
Submitting is not a sign of weakness, it is a key to becoming strong.
Ephesians 5:21 (NLT) “And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
3. I am going to have a great desire to win souls and build up other believers.
The person who is filled with the Spirit is going to:
Acts 4:29-30 (NCV) “Lord, help us, your servants, to speak your word without fear. Help us to be brave by showing us your power to heal. Give proofs and make miracles happen by the power of Jesus, your holy servant."
Acts 8:12 (NCV) “when Philip told them the Good News about the kingdom of God and the power of Jesus Christ, men and women believed Philip and were baptized.”
Acts 9:17 (CEV) “Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, "Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 10:19-20 (NLT) The Holy Spirit said to Peter, "Three men have come looking for you. Go down and go with them without hesitation. All is well, for I have sent them."
There are two essential to understanding and entering into the wonderful Spirit-filled life.
The Spirit-filled life begins with an over-whelming realization that you are absolutely helpless and hopeless apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Many believers live independently of the Holy Spirit every day.
Surrender to His will follows the surrender of your own. Surrender is the foundation upon this moment-by-moment relationship is built and maintained.
Your command is to live in dependency on and sensitivity to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:24-25 (NLT) “If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.”
You can’t follow and lead at the same time! Somewhere along the way there is going to be a conflict. Somebody is going to loose out. Usually it’s the Holy Spirit.
As powerful as He is, he will never force Himself on anyone.
To walk by the Spirit is to live moment-by-moment dependency on and sensitivity to the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit. It’s a lifestyle.
Publisher's Note: Gerry White is the pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church and Christian Academy in Hurricane.
