Controlled by the Spirit
Ephesians 5:17-18; Romans 6:13; 12:1; I John 5:14-15

ALL of a man's natural talents and traits, personality and persuasion will not convict and convert one soul to Christ. The real difference in the New Testament church was not in the activity of the saints but in the action of the Spirit of God who had full control. The same power of the Holy Spirit is available to any soul winner today.

It is not a convenience but a command to "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). It is a sin not to be filled with the Spirit. What a comparison! Don't be under the influence or control of alcohol but under the influence or control of the Spirit. Just as a drunk man has a love for all, a boldness, and a loose tongue, so one filled with the Holy Spirit will have a love for the lost, a holy boldness and will speak freely for Christ.

Being filled with the Spirit means to be controlled by the Spirit. The late Dr. Kenneth S. Wuest of Moody Bible Institute said, "It is not putting gas in the tank but a driver at the wheel." When the Holy Spirit controls a person, He provides the boldness and liberty of speech.

How is a man filled with the Spirit? It is not some deep secret or mystery that only some few discover. The conditions are quite clear. The one basic requirement is obedience. This involves "quench not," or don't resist His control (I Thess. 5:19); "grieve not," or don't have unconfessed sin (Eph. 4:30) and "walking," or depending on the Spirit's leading and power (Gal. 5:16, 25). We should pray that hindrances to His control be removed from our lives. We can ask with confidence for God to take control by the Spirit. It certainly is God's will that we be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:17-18). And "if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (I John 5:14-15). If we ask for the Spirit to take control, by faith we know that we have that petition! The minute you sense the works of the flesh because of disobedience, just confess your sin (I John 1:9), yield afresh, and He will take control. This is "walking in the Spirit"--yielding, confessing sin and depending on the Spirit. Just meet these conditions and He will do the rest.