You are empowered to manifest good morals
Introduction:
Paul the apostle proclaimed “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Phil. 4:13. He being strengthened was his empowerment. Empowerment is the resource (authority) to aid or assist one to perform effectively or perfectly.
The Christian is different from others spiritually but if we do not realize it then wrong doings will overtake us. God forbid.
Good morals are expected of us and for us to manifest it we need empowerment.
What is that empowerment?
The Holy Spirit that dwells in us. Very unfortunately, many of us do not seem to know much about the indwelling measure of the Holy Spirit. We even allow many who do not know much to talk more of and threaten us with the Holy Spirit hence many of us are terrified and ashamed. There must be a change.
Interestingly, almost all the books of the New Testament have written about the Holy Spirit.
Background concerning the Holy Spirit
Has been at work from the beginning of creation – Gen. 1:2
Has been very active in God’s prophets – 2Sam. 23:2; 1Pet. 1:10-12.
Was promised to God’s children in the later days – Joel 2:28-32
There was the 400 silent years in Israel when there was no true prophet. After this long period of time John was the one whom angel Gabriel said in Luke 1:15
The angel did not only speak of John, he also spoke of our Lord Jesus Christ promising Mary in answer to her question in Lk. 1:35
This is that Jesus revealed in John 3:34 that “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.” Because He had the Spirit without measure He was able to give direct to the apostles after His resurrection as in John 20:22-23
Manifestation to the Apostles
The Divine event, that is, the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2 encourages us to trust in our God the more as in verses 1-4. It was to fulfil what the Lord promised in Lk. 24:49; Jn. 14:26; 15:25 and 16:7-13.
To every other disciple, for one to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit one needed to repent and be baptised for remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be given – Acts 2:38-39
God is the giver of the Holy Spirit
Acts 5:32 says “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” I will encourage you to obey the Lord Jesus Christ today and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be given to you.
The Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian to empower us to manifest good morals
Rom. 8:8-11 says So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The fruit the Spirit will bear for
Gal. 5:22-23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law.”
What is dwelling in you? What is manifesting in you and from you?
Your outward appearance or performance manifests what is in you for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” – Matt. 12:33-35.
If only you are a Christian
You will consciously live as a Christian by recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit in you. Eph. 1:13-14 says a Christian is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit is given – 1Thess. 4:8 (1-7). The Spirit dwells in us – James 4:5. Jude says pray in the Holy Spirit – Jude 20. To the Corinthians, Paul revealed to the them matters of the Spirit in 1Cor. 2:10-16; 12:1-13. By now all of us should know that we are guided and not left alone. Or are you still alone?
Conclusion
We are empowered to manifest good morals. Eph. 5:9-11 says “(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth). Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” We can easily discern the right from the wrong like the works of the flesh in Gal. 5:19-21.
Lord, help us to be filled with the Spirit in Christ name – Amen