Never Slacking

Story time! John learned about the Spirit-controlled life and prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Things seemed to be going pretty well for him and he had a new sense of joy and inner peace.

However, during the week, because of pressure from his friends, he spent part of his tuition money to treat his friends to a movie. Then he lied, and told his parents that he needed more money because of a tuition increase. For the rest of the week he felt guilty and tried to avoid his mother and father. When he remembered that he had asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit just a few days earlier, he felt frustrated with himself. He thought that the Christian life was just too difficult and complicated to live.

It is possible to experience the Spirit-filled life moment-by-moment. This is called walking in the Spirit. However, we need to remember that when we try to walk in the Spirit, we can expect difficulty, even opposition. So let’s consider four principles that will help us walk in the Spirit moment by moment.

1. We must be filled with the Spirit. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit.
2. We must be prepared for spiritual conflict. There are three forces that prevent us from walking in the Spirit: the flesh, the world and the devil. Yet, we can overcome these forces when we put on the armor of God.
3. We must know our rights as children of God. As God’s children we have the right to ask Him for everything we need.
4. We must live by faith. Faith is simply taking God at His word, and believing what He has promised, He will do.

Based on what you learned, what advice would you give John?