Three times this past week I was confronted with the same thing. What does it mean to be a Spirit-Filled Christian?
Oh, that’s easy… isn’t it?
If I pray for someone, and they get healed… surely that is a sign that I am Spirit-filled? or if I give a prophetic word to someone, if the Holy Spirit reveals something to me about someone, and I can share and encourage them… surely that is a sign?
We look at the Gifts of the Spirit someone shows and we gauge accordingly: Wow, that guy is Spirit-Filled!” but that is not the measure Jesus said we must use.
”By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
(Matthew 7:16-20 NIV)
Yes, the Bible says the Gifts of the Spirit is there to build up and lift up the followers of Christ (1 Cor 14:4)… and that is good, and it should be an active part of every Christian’s life, but the Spirit-filled nature of a man is judged by the Fruits he bears.
The book of Acts tells us that people took handkerchiefs and pieces of clothing that touched Paul, to friends and relatives and they were healed. Great miracles followed him according to Acts 19:12 (…and he probably woke up every morning looking for his other sock that was taken in the night…)
But just a few pages later, we get an inclination as to why miracles followed Paul wherever he went:
“At every place he passed through, he brought words of great comfort and encouragement to the believers.”
(Acts 20:2 TPT)
Yes, miracles followed Paul, but he was known for the Fruits he bore. If you read about his travels and teachings, it sounds like he was a travelling teacher who was in a new city every other day… but if you slow down and look at it a bit deeper, you see a Paul who stayed. He taught for weeks, months or even years in a place until something solid was established. He invested in lives and communities. Built friendships. People loved and cared for Paul and his wellbeing, not because he was there and did awesome stuff for a day, but because he stayed, and became an integral part of their lives.
We know the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, restraint and tolerance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… but we want healing, speaking in tongues, prophetic words and miracles.
Let me put it in a different way…
In your household (or even your office) how will your children know that you are a Spirit-Filled, Man of God? By your Speaking in Tongues or your Gifts of Healing? (I suppose all parents speak prophetically “… if you don’t clean up your room, the wrath of Dada will descend from on high!” but that’s not quite what we are after.)
By my fruits, they will know me…
“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.”
(Galatians 5:22-23)
Joy that overflows,
Peace that subdues,
Patience that endures,
Kindness in action,
A life full of Virtue,
Faith that prevails,
Gentleness of heart,
…and Strength of Spirit.
…they are meant to be limitless.
Something to think about 🙂
Be blessed and be a blessing to those around you!
