Life Ministries

Do’in’ The Best I Can

    Let’s begin with this quote from Charles Stanley on the spirit filled life; “Far too many believers think the Christian life boils down to “do’in the best they can.” But if that were true, then there was no need for God to send the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16 - “But it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.”( NKJV) If we don’t need any help; if the Christian life is just a matter of  do’in the best we can, then why send a “Helper”?  This was Jesus way of tipping us off to a pro-found truth about the Christian life…Guess what, It’s impossible to attempt to live it in our power and will. The kind of life and lifestyle God has called us to as Christians, is impossible to attain apart from divine intervention. And, let me take that a step further; I don’t believe God intended nor does He expect us to live it without His help. This is why Jesus said in John 15:5 “apart from me, you can do nothing.”

    If there was ever a group who should have been able to live a consistent Christian walk by just do’in their best, it was the disciples. Think of all the advantages they had over you and I. They had been trained personally by Jesus himself; (Now, I may be a good teacher, but the greatest teacher in the world doesn’t even come close!) They had seen the lame walk and the blind see and the dead raised to life; They had even performed a few miracles themselves. No one could have been more motivated than the Disciples. Yet, in their last hours with the Master, he let them know that they were still missing something of great importance in their lives! He knew they would need more than human spirit, or their own willpower and sheer determination to get the job done. So he told them to go to Jerusalem and “wait for the gift.”
    For some Christians, the Holy Spirit is like waiting to pick someone up at the airport that they don’t know and have never seen. They desperately look for someone or something they can’t possibly recognize. There was a movie once where a guy came out of the airport and there were all these people holding signs with names on them. Rather than take a taxi, he just walked up and said; “I’m so-and-so”…and they loaded him in the car! 
    Some Christians may feel that being “led” by the Spirit like a slave tied to a rope is led by his master. It’s kind of like the big sheep dog we used to have! When we would go for a walk, she was the master; I was the slave being pulled along! We all know we are to be “led” by the Spirit, and “filled” with the Spirit, but what does that mean? And, how do we really know it’s true in our own lives? 
    Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit does several things in our lives; He convicts of “the guilt of sin and judgment”; (John 16:8-11) He illuminates; (John 16:12-15) By the way, the term illuminate means “able to see; dispel darkness; or give understanding.” He teaches; (John 16:12-15) As it concerns “teaching” let me interject something here; there is an old saying that “unless there is learning, there has been no teaching.” The Holy Spirit can only teach the teachable. He guides; (Romans 8:14) He directs; (Acts 20:22) What is the difference between “guide” and “direct”?  In one instance He leads the way – that’s “guide”; and in the other He points the way that’s “direct”. He assures; (Romans 8:16) He intercedes; (Romans 8:26) And, He warns us. (Acts 20:23)
    The reason I bring these things to you is two-fold; first, to make sure you know these things from scripture. And second, so that when one of these things happens in your life, you will recognize the Holy Spirit. It will help increase our awareness of the Holy Spirit’s “active” role in our daily lives. He was sent to assist us in all the practical matters of the Christian life. As Jesus said, He is our “helper”!
    Having grown up a devout Jew, Paul had a great deal of respect for the Temple. It represented the presence of God among his people. The glory of the gospel is that because God through Christ had removed the barrier of sin, He no longer needed a building, a cloud of smoke, a pillar of fire, or a mountain top. He could take up residency in the hearts of His people through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
    There is another role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. In Ephesians 1:13 we are told that “having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance”. Why do you put a “seal” on something? In those days kings and other important people of great authority wore a ring with some kind of an insignia on it that they would stamp into a wax seal on documents and letters. This would show that it was sent, and was to be received, with all the authority and integrity of the sender. The Holy Spirit was sent, and is to be received, with all the authority of the sender!
    In Ephesians 5:15-18 it says this; “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Notice that Paul uses the terms “drunk with wine” and “filled with the Holy Spirit” together. To be drunk means more than “to drink.” It means more than to be “filled up.” It means to be “under the influence and control” of alcohol. It means our mind, body, and spirits are all under its control. To be “filled with the Spirit” means the same thing! I see it as something that goes beyond “rededication” which amounts to us telling God that we messed up, but we will do better next time! To be filled with the Spirit requires total surrender with a realization that we can’t do anything “better” without help!