What are “Spirit-filled Christians?” I looked for and could not find any teaching in the Bible which would lead me to believe there is any other kind of Christian—all professed Christians should be “Spirit-filled!” In fact we hear over and over that Jews and Gentiles were included in the gift of the Spirit.
When St. Peter delivered that opening sermon on the Day of Pentecost, he promised the “gift of the holy Spirit” to all who would “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38). St. Paul also wrote to the Romans and said that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
All who are Christians have been given the Spirit. So why is it that many do not all show the influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and choices? Is it just a matter of utilizing the gift? We know we can receive a gift and fail to use it. For all practical purposes it is like one being given a tractor to plow a field but never using it. The power was there, at hand and ready, but it was not employed. The problem arises when we fail to allow the Spirit to influence and reign over all the elements of our life. We heard Jesus recently give a very clear way to determine whether the influence in a person's life was good or bad. He said, “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.” (Luke 6:43). That is pretty clear; fruit is the thing one looks for in matters of judgment and discernment.
What fruit do we look for in “Spirit-filled Christians?” St. Paul tells us the list of attributes of the influence of the Spirit in Galatians: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Do you want to know if your life is truly filled with the Spirit? Then use this yardstick of the Spirit's own words for reconciliation and decision. If you do not see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your own or other’s lives and choices, then you are not seeing a life producing the fruit of the Spirit. St. Paul builds on this thought with these words: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25).
Since we are all “Spirit-filled Christians,” let us resolve that we will live in such a way that even our worst enemy cannot fail to see the fruit of the Spirit clearly exemplified in the lives we live. In all things we are called to witness in word and deed!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
When St. Peter delivered that opening sermon on the Day of Pentecost, he promised the “gift of the holy Spirit” to all who would “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38). St. Paul also wrote to the Romans and said that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
All who are Christians have been given the Spirit. So why is it that many do not all show the influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and choices? Is it just a matter of utilizing the gift? We know we can receive a gift and fail to use it. For all practical purposes it is like one being given a tractor to plow a field but never using it. The power was there, at hand and ready, but it was not employed. The problem arises when we fail to allow the Spirit to influence and reign over all the elements of our life. We heard Jesus recently give a very clear way to determine whether the influence in a person's life was good or bad. He said, “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.” (Luke 6:43). That is pretty clear; fruit is the thing one looks for in matters of judgment and discernment.
What fruit do we look for in “Spirit-filled Christians?” St. Paul tells us the list of attributes of the influence of the Spirit in Galatians: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Do you want to know if your life is truly filled with the Spirit? Then use this yardstick of the Spirit's own words for reconciliation and decision. If you do not see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your own or other’s lives and choices, then you are not seeing a life producing the fruit of the Spirit. St. Paul builds on this thought with these words: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25).
Since we are all “Spirit-filled Christians,” let us resolve that we will live in such a way that even our worst enemy cannot fail to see the fruit of the Spirit clearly exemplified in the lives we live. In all things we are called to witness in word and deed!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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