Marks of a Spirit-Filled Life

Since I last blogged it has been very busy at my house. We have had lots of hospitality going on. I guess that is one reason I haven't sat down and blogged too much. Kevin went out of town 4 days for a revival in Roxboro, NC. I always miss him when he is gone but I know that he is blessing others so that makes it a little easier to let him go. We have been super busy at church doing many things.

I have been learning more about David in my Bible study. One of the things that really strikes me is how he was anointed by Samuel approximately 22 years before he became the king of Israel. There is a great lesson about patience there. It is so easy to get ahead of God and say "Okay already, God! I am waiting for you to use me for that big assignment." Sometimes we are just not ready for that big assignment yet. Sometimes it takes time for us to be ready. Sometimes it takes trials for us to be ready. God often is using a "holding pattern" to align things for Him to use us the way he wants to. A lot of times I want to run ahead of Him and figure it all out myself. Are you this way?

David was anointed (through the prophet Samuel) by God and we are too (not by Samuel though)! We have the anointing of the Holy Spirit if we are Christians. In his book Flying Closer to the Flame, Chuck Swindoll lists some marks of a Spirit-filled life. Although no one is perfect, these are some great guidelines.

-We have an inner dynamic to handle life's pressures.

-We can be joyful...regardless.

-We have the capacity to grasp the deep things of God that He discloses to us in His Book.

-We have little difficulty maintaining a positive attitude of unselfishness, servant hood, and humility.

-We have a keen sense of intuition and discernment; we sense evil.

-We can love and be loved in return.

-We don't need to fear evil or demonic and satanic assault.

-We are enabled to stand alone in confidence.

-We experience inner assurance regarding decisions as well as right and wrong.

-We can actually live worry free.

-We are able to minister to others through our spiritual gift(s).

-We have an intimate, abiding "Abba relationship" with the living God.

It is really amazing to think that the SAME GOD that gave David the strength to do the many miraculous things that he did is the same God who lives in us! We can live this way! The power is there. We must tap into it. We must desire it.

You must first be a Christian, though. I think there are so many people who really want these things but they fail time and time again because they have never really tapped into the source of this Spirit. They don't really know the source. We must make sure we are "plugged into" The Source. Then we must do like David and jump into servant hood. He served for 22 years before he was "recognized" as king. Not many people want to serve anymore. Most people in the church just want to be served. Remember, in Matthew 22:23 Jesus said, "You have been faithful in a little, so I will put you over much."

Do we have the marks of a spirit-filled life? No one is perfect, not even David! That doesn't mean that we don't strive for God's best! It is what He desires and expects from us. The power to achieve this rests in the...Spirit, not in us.