God is also the authority in wit nessing (Acts 1:8). If we think carefully upon these areas of action it is apparent that no phase of right behavior is be yond the Holy Spirit. Improper behavior exhibits bondage to sin ful self and servitude to Satan. There is no freedom in a carnal life. This is why we are exhorted, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)." This verse suggests that the fullness of complete control is commanded. It is a continuing process. All believers are commanded to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Acknowledge and submit fully to the Holy Spirit as your au thority. In doing so, you also will be acknowledging and submitting to the authority of Jesus Christ and to the authority of the Holy Scrip tures. Discover the real liberty which is available to you. Only the Word of God can give this proper and wonderful balance between authority and freedom. Dr. Pipkin is the founder and Pres ident of the Appalachian Bible Fellowship in Bradley, West Vir ginia.
in the pew and in the pulpit. Hon esty often is good when conven ient. Falsehood is useful at times for personal advantage. Perhaps the greatest need of the hour is the Holy Spirit's authoritative control of Christian actions. The gospel of Luke presents Jesus Christ as the perfect Man living under the control of the Holy Spirit. What an example for His followers. The Holy Ghost de scended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him (Luke 3:22). We find His victory over temptation as recorded in chapter four. After this He returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee. He rightly applied Isaiah's prophecy to Himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, be cause He hath anointed me to preach the gospel of Jesus, the perfect Man, our Master, our Ex ample, received the Holy Spirit, was filled by the Holy Spirit, was led by the Holy Spirit, was empow ered by the Holy Spirit, and was anointed by the Holy Spirit." Un der such control, He knew the lib erty of living perfectly. The Holy Spirit authorizes the same liberty and behavior for us. Liberty, limited by the Spirit, is de lightful and productive. The free dom of the flesh is really bondage to dark tyranny. He alone has authority to regenerate (John 3:5). He is the authority who gives a person unshakable assurance of being in the Father's family (Ro mans 8:16). He sets apart the be liever as property belonging to and sacred to God (Ephesians 4:30, I Peter 1:2). The Holy Spirit is the fruitbearer of virtuous behavior in the believer (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit alone gives under standing (Isaiah 11:2). The Spirit of
Page 57
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online