LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 12
Philippians 2:6-8
Luke 4:1-15

“I had rather be a doorkeeper
in the house of my God…”

THE SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE (I)

Our Lord Jesus is the perfect example of a Spirit-filled life. In Him we see the God-man, Emmanuel, the Word made flesh, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). John the Baptist bore record of Him, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him” (John 1:32). He went to face the tempter in the wilderness “full of the Holy Ghost… led by the Spirit” (Luke 4:1). “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9).

If we want to live the Spirit-filled life we must look to Jesus, study His life and follow in His steps. His life is worthy of our contemplation and imitation. He came as “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ” (Isa 53:3), to do the Father’s will. His was a life of poverty and selfsacrifice. “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matt 8:20). He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich (2 Cor 8:9).

So ought we His servants and disciples to learn the lesson of humility and poverty, especially those who hold positions of leadership in the Church. The Spirit-filled life is not to jet around in private aircrafts, live in lavish luxury mansions and draw six-figure salaries while claiming to be “renewed in the Spirit” or “filled by the Spirit,” or to be able to babble in tongues. Our Lord Jesus never took a cent from anybody, had no “gift of tongues,” made no empty claims like today’s tele-evangelists.

“Come unto me… learn of me… for I am meek and lowly in heart…” (Matt 11:28-29). Look to Him and imitate His lowliness and purity, His hatred of sin but love for sinners, His self-denial and gentleness. Above all, let us learn His obedience and submission to the Father.

THOUGHT: Spirit-filling must show in Christ-like living.
PRAYER: Lord, may Thy Spirit fill me now.