Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.** 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)**
Christians are to be filled with the Holy Spirit rather than quenching the Spirit’s fire within. We are to be zealous for the Lord. As Paul writes in Romans 12:11-12 (NIV): “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Our lives, our attitudes of heart and our words are to be a testimony of His faithfulness. It is God’s desire for us to be a new creation, Paul also writes, the old has gone the new has come.
As wine controls the drunkard, we are to allow the Holy Spirit to control us rather than us seeking to control ourselves – which normally gets us nowhere fast. As we yield to the Lord - controlled by the power of His Spirit – we will begin to manifest His fruit, against such things there is no law, Scripture tells us. The Fruit of the Spirit is love - agape love, not the cheap Hollywood variety of love. Agape love calls for action not predominantly emotion. It is patient, kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, rude or self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres and it never, ever fails. The next is joy – not so much joy in our circumstances per se, rather joy in Jesus, knowing He has our best interest in all He allows. Joy is followed by peace – a peace which passes all understanding guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Patience is next which describes mercy under provocation. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control follow and are to be manifested in our lives through His power as well - as the Holy Spirit controls us rather than us seeking to control ourselves. Futhermore, not quenching these things in our lives by our own poor choices, equips us to walk as Jesus walked, making great impact for the kingdom, “against such things there is no law,” Scripture tells us.
If we want to impact our world for Christ, we are to yield to the Lord Jesus – His will and His ways - denying self and seeking to be controlled by His Spirit rather than by selfish ambitions or vain conceits – and He changes our hearts which changes our ways, transforming us more and more into His image. As believers, we are to make our lives a walking and pristinely clear testimony - as a stream in which you can view the stones in the bottom, so that our love for God is so visible that the world could not help but see it. Jesus knew nothing of a private faith. He brought God to the world to bring the world to God.
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24 (NIV)