In The Spirit

Jesus said "without me you can do nothing." (John 15: 5)

The Holy Spirit can also say the same. Without the Holy Spirit a man cannot do anything pleasing to God. Men who attempt to please God or come to him without his Holy Spirit are involved in an impossible task. Oftentimes this is not learned by sinners and so they remain lost and give up hope. They try to do things spiritual without the Holy Spirit of God.

Worship in the Spirit

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 23,24)

And Paul wrote similarly, saying:

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3: 3)

Both these verses speak of "worship" to God. Does God accept all worship, whether or not it is done truthfully and "in the Spirit"? Jesus said no.

Praise and worship to God becomes a real chore without the Holy Spirit. It is impossible. Men who attempt such worship without the Holy Spirit soon discover their inability to do anything spiritually pleasing to God by their own power. But, how easy it is to do when the Holy Spirit is present to bless!

Walking in the Spirit

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."

Not only is all acceptable "worship" done by the Holy Spirit, so also to walk humbly and acceptably before the Lord requires the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit of God. To "walk in the Spirit" includes abstaining from a walk in the flesh, a walk in sin. Those who are lost are those who are "sensual (natural)" and who "have not the Spirit of God." (Jude 19)

Living in the Spirit

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5: 16,25)

To "live in" the Spirit is to "dwell" or "abide" in the Spirit, as one dwells in a habitation. This is the case with the Christian. He has received the Holy Spirit into his heart and soul and the Spirit abides there and becomes the ruling power in his life. Life in the Spirit! Oh the many testimonies of Christians to the gloriousness of this blessed state and condition!

Praying & Singing in the Spirit

"What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." (I Corinthians 14: 15)

Many sinners, in times of great suffering and grief, perhaps even when they are convicted of their sins and suffering mental torments thereby, find it the hardest thing in the world to do when they try to pray to God. Why is this? It is because sinners do not yet realize that they cannot pray without the Spirit. They are trying to approach God, in prayer, without the Spirit aiding them in prayer. A man must come to God, in such a condition, and confess that he cannot pray, and beg God for the gift of his Spirit to enable him to pray.

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (I Corinthians 12: 3)

Just as no one can curse Christ and be possessed of the Holy Spirit, so no one can pray or bless Christ without the Holy Spirit.

God has promised to give the Holy Spirit to all those who come in the manner above described. Will you receive his Spirit today? Have you yet realized that you cannot do anything spiritually pleasing to God without his Spirit?