The Holy Spirit is a Gift, not a goal!

[stephen]

The Holy Spirit is a Gift, not a Goal!

Living in the Spirit does not mean a life of labour and perfectionism, inventing ways of self-denial to gain credit with God. Self-denial may be necessary in our service for God, but sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice is not a means of grace.

That has been the error of all ascetics. Neither are we supposed to suggest that we have to struggle to be people of the Spirit, worrying about it daily. Perhaps we want to be known as a man of prayer or a woman of the Spirit. That is Pharisaic.

Christ said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt 11:30). He would know, for as a carpenter he once made yokes. His yokes did not chafe oxen, nor do they chafe us. And most people can cope with that.

It is absurd to be anxiously watching every moment exhausting ourselves trying to be Spirit-filled. The promise is that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10).
Living in the Spirit we walk with God with a confident bearing, live more easily, and pray more easily. “Keep in step with the Spirit” is the advice found in Galatians 5:25. Remember, the Holy Spirit is a gift, not a goal.

 

[Boanerges]

Amen. A gift cannot be earned but must be gratefully received.

 

[jiggyfly]

Great post Stephen, we should all examine our motivations and understand that if it is promoting self it is not the Spirit.

 

[Tondaleiyo]

I understand what you are saying, but sometimes its hard to know that its ok to make mistakes and not be dissapointed in yourself, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by my own failures and that makes me feel like I am letting God down, I want to be right and I dont want to make mistakes, why is it so hard to be good? Why does everything drag me away from God, why am I so emotional? I want to live according to Gods will for my life, why do I keep making it up? I need answers yet I cant seem to hold on to the ones that I have whenever I am feeling low. This world is a bummer sometimes. I wish that it would end soon then I wouldnt feel like I'm loosing the battle against it. You know I would like to think that I know what God wants me to be but I think that I make it all up in my mind, is that why I keep failing? How do you do it? I need conformation and I need to know that I am on the right path but its so hard to see sometimes, Its not allways like this but I do get frustrated with myself alot, what is wrong? Please help me what am I missing?

 

[Coconut]

Tondaleiyo I see you are a newborn child of God, and a mommy...

May I offer you a suggestion that might simplify your walk with God for you?

Sit and watch your child (children-not sure how many you have) for awhile...pretend ...just pretend for a moment you are God...and your children are ...well yours...

Now ask yourself...why are these children able to live so carefree?

Why do these children look at you with eyes of trust...and how important is it to you that they know they can trust you?

God is our Heavenly Father...

He takes your hand in His and says trust me, I`m going to lead you..teach you...show you the path that leads to life..

That you see and know and understand and love and relate to Him as your Father is the first step...and determines all the rest of your steps
in your walk with Him.

Blessings