Last time we focused on the fruit
of the Spirit and we saw that it was His fruit to be
displayed through us, not our fruit that we need to try and
display. He is the One living within us, our job is mainly to
provide Him the access to work through us. Our problem most of the
time is that we are trying so hard on our own and making so many
mistakes that we grieve Him and do not give Him the chance to work.
That is why Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:19:
"Do not quench the
Spirit."
Quench in Greek means to
extinguish. So Paul is asking us here, please do not live in a
manner that will extinguish the workings of the Spirit in your
life. His Spirit wants to work mightily through you, He wants to
change your life as well as the lives of those around you, but you
need to allow Him to and live a life open to His workings. Paul
describes this in Ephesians 4:30-5:1:
"And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put
away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ
forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear
children."
Be imitators of God, copycat God,
and be like Him in every aspect. As we have discussed it is
possible and it is what God wants us to do. It grieves the Holy
Spirit when we lie, it grieves Him when we watch movies that do not
please Him, and it grieves Him when we say we are Christians but we
deceive our fellow brothers. He is sad when we rush after money
like a god. It really makes it difficult to work through us. You
see we are His representatives and when He works through us in
mighty ways, He wants us to display His characteristics too.
Imagine He works with healing powers through us, but we yell at
others, we cheat and we get upset if we do not get our own way.
Will that honour Him? Will people start to think that that type of
behaviour is okay, because they see how God works through you with
healing power?
I believe God can and does use
anyone, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey. But I
truly believe that God's main aim is that everyone grow in maturity
and represent Him in a mighty way. I believe that He wants people
to be open and to allow Him to just flow through. He wants mature
sons of God, representing Him. Then we will start to see
unprecedented miracles. Then we will see His Spirit performing
mighty deeds. The main reason that we haven't seen much of it in
the past decades is not because God hasn't been moving, it is
because people haven't been open to His leading. God wants revival,
He wants people on fire for Him. Please open yourself up and allow
Him to move. Stop extinguishing the fire that can change the world.
This world is in desperate need of a Saviour. Allow Him to make an
impact on this world through you.
Father I want to make You proud. I
want to be an open vessel for You to use. Mould me and shape me as
the perfect one for Your plan. Thank you for the opportunity to
present You to this world. Amen