DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
The victorious Christian life stands in stark contrast with the typical Christian life. It’s one of dependence on God rather than independence from Him. It’s a life of trusting in Him rather than trying in our own power. It’s being emptied of self and filled with God’s Spirit. We’re no longer in control of our lives, but Christ holds the reins of our hearts.
God commands His children to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Yet few know what it means to live in the fullness of His Spirit. There’s much talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit, but very little walk in the power of the Spirit. The Spirit-filled life is one of total abandonment to God.
Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, described being filled with the Holy Spirit as spiritual breathing. “As we confess our sins,” he said, “we are exhaling.” God cleanses us from sin, and we take our position as dead to self. Then, Dr. Bright said, the believer must “inhale.” We must appropriate the fullness of the Spirit by faith.
Control is the key to the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we are filled with the Spirit, that means Christ is in control of our lives. He directs our paths and empowers us to be all that God intended. That’s why the victorious Christian life is one under the control of the Spirit. A life under the control of the Holy Spirit will always produce fruit that’s pleasing to God.
I came across this principle of being filled with the Holy Spirit as a new believer. I studied at Campus Crusade for Christ for two weeks. I heard Dr. Bright teach this great truth of spiritual breathing. He challenged us to get alone and take a piece of paper and write our known sins. “After you’ve written them all on the paper, then pray this prayer: ‘Lord, search my heart and show me if there’s anything displeasing to you.’ If He shows you anything else, then write it down. Agree with God that it’s wrong and turn from it. He will forgive and cleanse you. Then ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.”
I took Dr. Bright up on his challenge. I found a quiet spot where I could be alone with God, and I wrote out all my known sins. Then I prayed and asked God to show me anything in my life that displeased Him. I had to get more paper. God showed me so much that I had called “weaknesses” or “problems.” God showed me they were sin. As I confessed those things and turned from them, He cleansed me.
I then asked God to fill me with His Spirit. I didn’t have an earth-shattering experience. I just allowed Him by faith to have complete control of every area of my life. There was no great sensations to prove I had been filled with the Spirit. But as I have learned to do that daily, the evidence has shown up in my life. As I allow the Holy Spirit to have control of my life, He produces within me the fruit of His righteousness. It works its way out of my heart and is manifested as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In other words, the Spirit-filled life is one of choosing daily to allow the Holy Spirit — rather than self — to be in control.
The choice is yours. It’s victory or defeat; His power or your weakness; the fruit of the Spirit or the deeds of the flesh; Christ in control or self at the center. It’s your choice. Years ago, the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned these words: “Be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). If you’ve been emptied of sin and self, you’re in a position to be filled with the Spirit. Why don’t you ask God to do that in your life right now?
Ephesians : Chapter 5
15) Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16) making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19) speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20) always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instructions for Christian Households
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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