Journey with the Holy Spirit
I believe women play a key role in the world – to be either a positive or a negative influence in the lives of those around them – husbands, children, other family members, neighbors, coworkers.
Women can be either a creative or a destructive influence. Only as we allow our personalities to be controlled by Jesus Christ can we be assured of positive, creative results. What an awesome responsibility God has put into our hands!
Two Christ-controlled women had a creative influence on my life at an early age:
- My Sunday school teacher, who taught me 2 Corinthians 5:17, “When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same any more. A new life has begun.”
- My mother, who explained the verse and led me to accept Christ later that same day.
My parents provided my two brothers and me with a home filled with LOVE. They lived their convictions before us daily.
Revelations of youth
Back when I was a young, single woman traveling in Europe – away from my family, friends and church – God showed me how shallow my Christian life was. I wasn’t able to fulfill the command in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
This was one of my motivations for enrolling in Bible college when I returned to Canada. My courses there gave me head knowledge, but no practical experience. I was still tongue-tied when it came to telling others what I believed. It was as if I had taken a swimming course without ever getting into the water. I vividly recall being asked to be a counselor at a Youth for Christ rally and worrying all evening that I would leave out some important part of the plan of salvation.
Discovering the Holy Spirit
Glen and I were married between my second and third year of college in 1966. This was also the year we first heard of Campus Crusade for Christ. A couple on their staff taught us how to live a consistent Christ-controlled, or Spirit-filled, life. Unfortunately in a few months we stopped practicing these new, exciting truths.
Our next contact with Campus Crusade came in 1971 when we traveled to North Carolina to attend a week-long Lay Institute for Evangelism. This time these same truths had a lasting impact. We saw the importance of experiencing God’s love and forgiveness continually so that the Holy Spirit would empower us to live the Christian life (resist temptation, demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit and witness effectively for Christ.) Whenever we refused to acknowledge sin (usually self-centeredness) in our lives, we would see negative! results in our relationships.
While at this conference God caused me to take an honest, painful look at myself – to face specific sins in my life. One truth that I had to come to terms with was: “People and circumstances don’t cause our reactions, they merely reveal our spiritual condition.”
Power for the challenges of motherhood
My angry outbursts at my children and my niece who lived with us couldn’t be blamed on them. They merely revealed that I was trying to control everyone and everything rather than allowing Christ to be in control.
In John 15:12, God commands that we “love one another.” I acknowledged my lack of love for my niece as sin, thanked God for His forgiveness, and asked Him to give me His unconditional love for her.
As a mother, one of the biggest challenges I faced was to discipline in LOVE. At one point I really believed I had to get angry and raise my voice to discipline effectively. Then I read in Ephesians 6:4, “Parents, don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful, or discouraged, so they quit trying. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord Himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice.”
Our son was hyperactive, but was no real problem when his energy was channeled into creative activities. When on his own, he usually got into mischief. When he defied my authority and I reacted negatively, there was quite a scene. If, on the other hand, I reflected God’s LOVE, I saw Geoff snap out of an ornery streak and give back my LOVE. LOVE is not not taking action; it is choosing to act in a way that would please God. Christ must be in control or I will not see the desired results in my children’s lives.
A truly positive attitude
Sarcasm is a trait my husband and I both have had to deal with periodically. As our LOVE grew, we were honest enough to admit that cutting remarks really hurt. We had never stopped to think the effect our words would have on others. We just wanted to sound “clever.” When Christ is in control of our lives, we make a conscious effort to build up instead of cutting down one another in private and in public.
I read once that all human beings tend to comment only on the things others do wrong. To be worth listening to, you have to be more positive than negative. My temperament has a natural tendency to be negative and critical. I hadn’t realized how bad it was until I had a close call one day.
We were at a conference and were asked to stand up and introduce our spouse by telling his name and the quality we most admired. My mind drew a blank! I was so glad I was sitting six rows back so I had time to think.
When Christ is in control, the Holy Spirit enables me to fulfill Philippians 4:8 and refocus my thoughts to dwell on whatever is honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute and worthy of praise. This goes a long way to keep romance alive in our LOVE.
Loving people who are “different”
As I have worked along side a variety of people, I’ve discovered it does not always bring out the best in me. Many different ideas and personalities must come together. I emphasize the word “different” because usually it is not “good and bad” or “right and wrong.”
Some want open blinds to watch the world outside while others keep the blinds closed to cut down the glare on the computer screens. Some are always willing to help those overloaded by filing or stuffing envelopes, while others are content to do as little as possible.
These little things tend to build up out of proportion. When I sense this happening inside, I talk it over with God. I admit my sin and ask God to forgive me and to give me His LOVE for others.
Asking forgiveness of the people involved is often necessary for things said in anger or under duress. When I relate to others with God’s LOVE, their irritating habits and opinions fade away and I again appreciate their strengths.
Letting go of our children
When our children were in their twenties, we had to release them to God. This was a challenge emotionally for me – particularly when we didn’t always approve of their choices. We assured them that our LOVE would go with them whatever their choices, but our LOVE would not allow us to support or “enable” a lifestyle in conflict with our standards taken from the Bible.
When Jesus Christ is in control of our life, we will demonstrate the Love described in I Corinthians 13: LOVE is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Never haughty or selfish or rude. LOVE does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. LOVE does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. LOVE is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you LOVE someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in Him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
Abundant life that overflows
Another result of the Christ-controlled or Spirit-filled life is a fruitful witness. Christ said, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
My husband I had been involved in evangelism before we attended Campus Crusade training. However, we were frustrated because we did not see any results. Although we gave a clear gospel presentation, we discovered the primary problem was that we were not confessing our sins on a regular basis. We would confess generally, “Please forgive me for anything I might have done wrong. I can’t think of anything, but there must have been something.”
We had to come to the place where we took the time to write down everything that the Holy Spirit brought to our minds to confess. Next we claimed I John 1:9 and thanked God for His forgiveness and cleansing.
Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.
If we have confessed every sin that God has brought to mind, we can share in confidence that God the Holy Spirit has filled us and will empower our witness to have eternal results – whether or not we see them. More than once, people have come back to us to say that they had prayed to receive Christ days, weeks or months after we initially shared the Four Spiritual Laws with them. God’s Word will not return void.
Your journey with the Holy Spirit
I have shared some changes that have taken place in my life, changes that would not have been possible, without understanding how to be controlled by Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. I would like to share how anyone can make the wonderful discovery of the Spirit-filled life.
1. Confess your sins
Why not take a moment now to reflect on some things that God is pointing out to us that we recognize as sins we need to confess? You may have identified with Glen and I and our “generalized confessions” and realize the need to acknowledge specific sins.
On a blank piece of paper, jot down those things that God has brought to your mind. Confession is agreeing with God that these things are sin. It is hard to admit when we are wrong. We want to blame circumstances, bad timing, our parents or someone else. Be completely honest as this is just between you and God. We will take a few minutes of quiet to do this right now. Until we consciously have clean hearts before God, He cannot fill us (Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:2).
After completing your list, write over it he promise of 1 John 1:9 , “If we admit our sins – make a clean breast of them – He won’t let us down. He’ll be true to Himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing” (The Message).
2. Present every area of your life to God and By faith claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit according to His command to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and His promise that He will always answer when we pray according to His will (I John 5:14, 15). Faith can be expressed through prayer.
Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite God to fill you with His Spirit:
Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. 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 His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded 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 thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grateful to learn these truths when I did to enrich our marriage, our family and every area of our life. Jesus said in John 15:5 “for you can do nothing without me.” I still catch myself attempting to use my resources and not God’s but then I confess this and appropriate His promise in Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
WOW. good instructions