Here are some other scriptures that tell us of how we must let the Holy Spirit equip us so we can grow as Christians;
- Let Him fill you with all things righteous and holy knowledge (Col. 1:9).
- Joy (Acts 13:52; 2 Tim. 1:4)
- Joy and peace (Romans 15:13)
- The fruit of righteousness (Phil. 1:11)
Jack Cottrell writes, “The fact is that the fullness of the Spirit has already been dwelling within us since our baptism (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 12:13). The usual problem is that we do not give the Spirit full access to our personal hose (our body, our life).
We must open all of our lives to the Holy Spirit. If we resist this command and hold back parts of our lives we are grieving the Spirit (Eph. 4:30).
How does being filled with the Spirit show in our lives? In our passage, Paul lists four things that should result when the Spirit gains control. We find this in verses 19-21.
- First, He says (v. 19a) being Spirit filled leads to “addressing one another in Psalms and hyms and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16).
- The second result of allowing the Spirit to fill us is “singing and making melody in your heart (v. 19b).
- The third result of being Spirit-filled is that we will be “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 20).
- The last result flowing from our being filled with the Spirit is that we as Christians will be “submitting” to one another out of reverence for Christ. (v. 21).
Larry Miles is Co-Editor of Word & Work and attends Cherry St. Church of Christ in New Albany, IN.