The Gospel is not just about what Jesus did for us; it is also about what He enables us to do. Gospel living means living a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). But here’s the hard truth: we can’t live this kind of life on our own. No amount of willpower or effort will produce the kind of transformation the Gospel promises. Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) We need power beyond ourselves. We need the Holy Spirit. Charles Stanley described what it was like to live without being Spirit-filled. See if this sounds like any Christians you know:
For too many believers the Christian life boils down to simply doing the best they can. There is no power or distinction that sets them apart from the way everyone else in this world exists. The good they do can be attributed to their own discipline, determination, and devotion to God, rather than His activity in their lives.
I meet believers all the time whose doctrine can be summed up in two statements:
- Nobody’s perfect.
- God understands.
For them, life is one long string of joys and sorrows with the distant promise of heaven at the end.
There is often a deep chasm between what Christians sing on Sunday and what they actually do on Monday through Saturday. Many are quick to argue that they should have a meaningful relationship with God and that somehow the truth they hear on Sunday should seep into their daily lives. But somehow the details of their lives are void of the Father’s divine influence.
After all, people feel they have to be realistic—life goes on. There are bills to pay and problems to overcome. Yes, they may believe God will help them, but what does that really mean? It is no wonder that their Monday-through-Saturday theology resembles the flawed principle Ben Franklin taught us: “God helps those who help themselves.”
To an outsider looking in, there is often little or no difference between the lifestyle, thought life, and habits of the believer and those of his non-Christian neighbor. Oh, the believer may experience a foreboding sense of what ought to be done and what should be said, but any change in him or her is usually motivated by guilt and consequently is often short-lived.[1]
This can be true of Christians. It can be true of church-goers. Charles Stanley says it was true of him.
The Power We Cannot Create
For many Christians, living the Christian life feels like a constant struggle. We know what we’re supposed to do, but we find ourselves falling short. We try to love difficult people, but our patience wears thin. We try to find peace, but anxiety keeps us up at night. We try to have joy, but life’s circumstances weigh us down. We try to forgive, but it feels impossible. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Charles Stanley writes:
The Christian life is not difficult. It is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Impossible. Let that word sink in. That is exactly what Jesus says. All progress is on the other side of the realization that we cannot do this on our own.
Living the Christian life without the Holy Spirit is like trying to drive a car without gas. You can sit in the driver’s seat, adjust the mirrors, and grip the steering wheel, but you’re not going anywhere without fuel. Or it’s like trying to drill a hole with an electric drill when the power cord isn’t connected. You might look like you’re doing something useful, but without power, the tool is useless.
The Christian life is not about trying harder; it is about surrendering more deeply. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to do through us what we cannot do on our own.
Life in the Spirit
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that life in the Spirit is essential to Gospel living. In Galatians 5, Paul contrasts life in the flesh with life in the Spirit:
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:16-17, NIV)
To “walk by the Spirit” means to live in continual dependence on the Holy Spirit. It means recognizing that the Christian life is not something we achieve; it is something we receive. When we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to bear fruit—not because of our striving, but because of His indwelling power.
Paul goes on to describe the fruit of the Spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)
Notice that Paul calls these qualities “the fruit of the Spirit,” not the fruit of trying hard to be good. They are the natural result of a life surrendered to the Spirit’s work.
Be Filled with the Spirit
If we are to experience life in the Spirit, we must be filled with the Spirit. Paul gives this command in Ephesians 5:
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18, NIV)
The phrase “be filled” is significant. In the original Greek, it is a present-tense imperative, meaning that being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process. Jack Hayford, a respected pastor and author, explains it this way:
The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a single experience, but a lifelong pursuit of God’s presence and power.
To be filled with the Spirit means to continually yield ourselves to God. It means daily surrendering our will, our desires, and our plans to the Holy Spirit. It is not about trying harder to be good; it is about allowing the Spirit to work in and through us.
How to Be Spirit-Filled
Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, taught extensively on the Spirit-filled life. He described the Spirit-filled life as the key to experiencing God’s power, presence, and peace. Bright outlined three practical steps to living a Spirit-filled life:
Confess Your Sin: Sin blocks the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Confession restores our fellowship with God and allows His Spirit to work freely.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, NIV)
Surrender Control: Yield every area of your life to God. Give Him control of your thoughts, your decisions, and your actions. Trust Him to lead you.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1, NIV)
Ask to Be Filled: God promises to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. We don’t need to beg or bargain; we simply need to ask in faith.
How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13, NIV)
Bright reminds us that being filled with the Spirit is not about feelings or emotions; it is about faith. When we ask God to fill us with His Spirit, we can trust that He will.
If you can’t remember all three steps, I would reduce it down to one word: Ask. If you want to be filled with the Spirit, ask. Ask often. Ask every day. Ask urgently. Keep asking.
The Results of Life in the Spirit
What happens when we live in the Spirit’s power? We begin to experience the life Jesus promised—a life of abundance, purpose, and freedom.
Love: The Spirit enables us to love others as Christ has loved us, even when it’s difficult.
Joy: The Spirit produces a joy that is not dependent on circumstances but anchored in God’s presence.
Peace: The Spirit gives us peace that surpasses understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
I don’t think this is an exhaustive list. I think gratitude, humility, and power are all fruit of the Spirit. There may be others.
Charles Stanley puts it this way:
The Holy Spirit does not simply assist us; He empowers us. He equips us to live the life God calls us to live.
This is the essence of life in the Spirit. It is not a life of striving but a life of abiding—abiding in God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s love.
Spirit-Filled Communities
Life in the Spirit is not just for individuals; it is for communities. When a church is filled with the Holy Spirit, it becomes a place of love, joy, and peace. It becomes a place where people are transformed, relationships are healed, and the Gospel is proclaimed.
Jack Hayford describes the Spirit-filled church as a “place where heaven touches earth.” Spirit-filled communities reflect the Kingdom of God. They love one another deeply, serve one another sacrificially, and welcome others joyfully. They are places where grace abounds, truth is spoken, and lives are changed.
A Daily Invitation
Living a Spirit-filled life is not a one-time decision; it is a daily invitation. Each day, we have the opportunity to yield to the Holy Spirit, to ask Him to fill us, and to walk in His power. When we do, we experience the life Jesus promised—a life marked by love, joy, peace, and the fullness of God’s presence.
This is the Gospel made simple: We cannot live the Christian life on our own, but we don’t have to. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live the life we were created for—a life of abundance, purpose, and grace. All we have to do is surrender, ask, and receive.
[1] Charles F. Stanley, The Spirit-Filled Life: Discover the Joy of Surrendering to the Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014).
