The Spirit Filled Life- Part 2 and 3

II

When we are filled with the Spirit, we have a happy funeral service. We die to self. A pastor had a funeral service for an elderly man. At the end of the service someone said to him, "Hey, this has been a wonderful day." The man continued speaking, saying, "I love funeral services where we can celebrate and praise the Lord for the home-going of one of God's people."

Every church needs to have a big number of funerals. Everyone needs to die to him or herself. Galatians 2:20 has some thrilling words, "I am crucified with Christ." The death by crucifixion is not a pleasant experience. Certainly the death of Jesus for us was one in which he suffered more than we can understand. We don't suffer like Jesus did when we "crucify ourselves," but we do come to the end of our self-lives, or we need to do that. Look again at the words in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ." The expression is "present tense." This means an "on going" experience. In other words, it means that continuously I am being crucified with Christ.

As Christians we need to "die." We die to self, to selfish wishes, plans, and dreams. This death is one "with Christ." The Holy Spirit wants us to die with Jesus. We need the cross to be directly in our pathway every day. And yet, this death doesn't put an end to life, but really the crucified life is the life that God wants us to have.

Notice that when we die with Jesus that we begin to live. "Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Can we get this message? Do we apply it to our own lives? Have we died? Have you and I died?

None of us can fully understand the depths of Romans chapter six. In that chapter the Apostle Paul wrote about his personal experience. He said that what he didn't want to do, he did! What he wanted to do, he didn't do! You have been there and, haven't you?

The struggle between the "carnal, self life" and the "spiritual life" goes on. It will go on until God calls us home. The "fullness of the Spirit" helps us have a spiritual walk, and not a carnal, selfish life.

One man described the experience of a double life in this way. He said life for him was like having two dogs - - a good one and a bad one. The bad dog sometimes dominated and sometimes the good one became the master. The man said that the one who became the master was the one who received the most feeding. We need to "starve" the carnal life, crucify self, and let the Christ-life dominate.

We have a big problem with the ego or self-life. We want control rather than surrendering life to the Holy Spirit's control. We have an "I" problem which is a one-letter problem "i." The letter "I" is the central letter in sin.

"I" is the central letter in pride. The self-life needs to go to the cross. We need to be crucified, don't we?

We need to have a funeral service one time in life. But again, it's an every day experience. Paul wrote "I die daily" (I Corinthians 15:31). Where do you and I stand in relation to self-funerals? A new day will come in the life of every church when we all die! The spiritual life means death to our ways. Are we ready for our own funeral today?

III

When we are filled with the Spirit we will have life blessed with the fruit of the Spirit. Look briefly at fantastic words in Galatians 5:22-23.

We need to be known as people who love one another. The rumor got started in New Testament days that the followers of Jesus loved one another. Let's get that same rumor going where you and I live, will we?

The potential qualities of life for a Christian may astound us. What about joy? That's one fruit of the Christian life. We go places and carry on a ton of activities in search of joy. Some people travel all over the world, spending fortunes, simply to be happy. The recipe for joy is given in the list of spiritual fruit.

Another great word pops up in Galatians 5:22. Here we find "peace." So much of the world finds itself in turmoil. We don't have peace between nations, between denominations, between churches, and often within families. Too often peace is a missing ingredient. When we let the Holy Spirit fill us we'll be filled with "the peace of God that passes all understanding." Get down to the truth of God's control and His peace will overflow in life (Philippians 4:7).

Add a few other qualities to your life such as long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control and you'll find people staring at you in disbelief and amazement every place you go. The pastor may not recognize you. The spouse will discover that a "new creation" in the house. The children will become beautiful beyond words. The "Fullness of the Spirit" will do wonders for every person..