Spirit-Filled

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power (Acts 10:38a).

In his ministry on earth, Jesus spoke about being guided by the Spirit of God. Warren Wiersbe writes, "If the sinless Son of God needed the Spirit's power for ministry, where does that leave us, his weak and sinful followers?" In the days of the early church, people were astonished at what God did though ordinary men like Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Early followers lacked many things our churches have today, and yet they managed to accomplish much.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Luke 4:18a).

The secret of a successful Christian life in any place in any time is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him. In the case of the early church, the Spirit's fullness wasn't a privilege for just a few leaders. It was a common, everyday experience for the whole congregation. Also remember that all true Christians have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit from the moment they accept Christ into their hearts. It's a matter of learning to listen to Him and allowing Him to lead.

Wiersbe also says, "Any so-called spiritual experience that robs people of their God-given intelligence and self-control is not from the Holy Spirit. Perhaps some people who think they are filled with the Spirit are in actuality fooled by the spirits. ... However, let's not allow the excesses and counterfeits of some people to rob us of the blessings that the Spirit alone can confer on all who yield to him." As A.W. Tozer wrote, "The Spirit-filled life is not a special edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people."

*Warren Wiersbe, 10 Power Principles of Christian Service

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