This is a big one, as we continue our discussion in the study series of Seven Habits of a Godly Lifestyle.
Dependency is continuous walking in the Spirit - surrendering your life to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus lived in continuous inward fellowship with His Father, so we are to be continuously dependent on God. As we do this, the Holy Spirit changes us.
Living in constant inward fellowship with God means living minute by minute in the inward presence of the Lord Jesus by His Spirit. This does not necessarily involve emotions and feelings, but it is a spiritual consciousness of the presence of God, a lifestyle of drawing life, wisdom, peace, and strength from His life. Total dependence on God continuously looks at Him with the eyes of our hearts.
Ah-ha! Yes. God opens our minds and hearts through His Spirit. I like to say we get “Ah-has!”
“...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened...” - Ephesians 1:17-18
How does this happen? By invitation. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He does not come where He is not invited. It’s just that simple. Have you prayed and asked Jesus into your heart and life? Have you embraced all that He is - Father, Son, AND Holy Spirit?
Jesus gave us a wonderful promise of abiding fellowship with God (John 14:21-23):
… He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him … My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
The Spirit gives us an understanding of the gospel and makes it effective in our lives (1 Cor. 2:4, 12; 1 Thess. 1:4-5).
The kingdom of God consists of life and joy in the Spirit (Rom. 14:17), and the Spirit causes us to abound in hope (Rom. 15:13).
We know that we abide in God and God in us because He has given us His Spirit (1 John 3:24; 4:13).
It's obvious, isn't it? We are dependent on the Spirit for everything relating to our life and walk in Christ.
The Holy Spirit is Our Helper
Do you ever find yourself stuck in a quandary, not knowing what to do about a particular situation? Literally, wondering which way to turn?
The decision-making process is difficult, especially when left to our own devices. God’s wisdom is far greater than what we have as humans. His Word tells us we are not left on our own, He has given us a Helper.
John 14:26 -
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My [Jesus’] name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
When you accept ALL of who God is - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, you will never walk alone. He will be with you in every aspect of your life, every step of the way.
Forget not ALL His benefits. I think of Psalm 103:2 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits...”. All means all! We cannot separate God from the triune being that He is - Father, Son, AND Holy Spirit.
So, how do we access this help? Simply by asking!
The power of the Holy Spirit will rest upon you and is available to you today - right now for the asking. You are not alone! Isn’t that exciting?!
Ask, Seek, Knock
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Matthew 7:7-8
We can rely on the Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit - to lead, guide, and direct us in the way to go. In our moment-by-moment decision-making, He is there, always with us, an ever-present help to us.
There’s no need to flounder around life on your own. Don’t wait for another second!! Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now!
And now, may - “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” - 2 Corinthians 13:14 - both now and forevermore.
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