Embrace the Word study: The Holy Spirit: Welcoming the Comforter – Week Four

Welcome to week four of our Embrace the Word study on “The Holy Spirit: Welcoming the Comforter.” Last week’s focus was the Holy Spirit as an Inner Witness. We were reminded that the Spirit of God lives in us and lets us know that we are His. The proof of a Spirit-filled life is the fruit of the Spirit being evident in our lives. The proof is in the fruit! 

This week’s reading and writing focus has been Life in the Spirit. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). What a precious reality. Paul said because He lives in us, we should honor God with our bodies and live in a way that brings Him glory. As we aim to live Spirit-filled lives, we must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

A War is Going On

There is a constant war that rages between your flesh and your spirit. The flesh seeks to satisfy its longings in any way it can. Pride, greed, and sexual immorality are things that please the flesh. A transformed spirit that has been made alive in Christ aims to please God. 

The Mind Governed By The Flesh 

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

As you seek to be the person God has called you to be, having your mind governed by the flesh will leave you tired, frustrated, disheartened, and ready to give up if you hadn’t already. It is death to the purposes of God in your life. The flesh governing your mind and dictating your steps will lead you to a greater disappointment than when you began because a mind focused on the flesh is at war against God (vs. 7, 8). 

The Mind Governed By The Spirit

But we don’t live in that way! So how do you have your mind governed by the Spirit? We live by the Spirit! We walk closely in step with Him. Paul says in Galatians 5:16-17: 

So, I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not able to do whatever you want. 

Again, we see the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. We must resist the flesh’s urgings and, instead, walk in accordance with the Holy Spirit. Seek His will and respond to His promptings as soon as you feel Him prompting you. All-in-all, to walk in the Spirit is to walk in obedience and allow our minds to be governed by the Spirit. The more we yield our will and agree with His will, the more we will resist the desire to find pleasure and satisfaction in the flesh. Our Spirit and our flesh will always war, ALWAYS. We have to learn to obey the dictates of the Holy Spirit. 

Life and Peace

Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we cannot please God. All of our striving and all of our effort will never produce God’s righteousness. But because of the Holy Spirit, we can stop striving! The Holy Spirit brings us peace. He helps us. The more we yield, the more we experience the active work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The more we trust His leading, the more we find rest. The more we give our lives, the more life we experience.

It may seem strange, but through faith, it is true. We fail when we try to control our lives through our efforts. But when we yield control to the Holy Spirit, we have life–real, abundant life.

Today, yield to the Holy Spirit. Yield your mind and your life! Endeavor, every day, to walk in the Spirit. With the Spirit’s help, say no to selfish desires and a mind governed by the flesh. Say no to walking in your own way. Then say yes to the Holy Spirit! 

Think About It 

• Are you experiencing life and peace through your relationship with the Holy Spirit? 
• In what ways do you need to yield your life to the Holy Spirit? 

Let’s Pray

Father, 

Thank You for Your Spirit that helps me to live a life that pleases You. Help me yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading and walk by His guidance so that my life may be filled with life and peace. Help me say no to my sinful, selfish desires so I can say yes to You every day. 

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen

As I always say, the Word WORKS! We are walking in WHOLENESS, OBEDIENCE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and KINGDOM SUCCESS through the Word of God!

Your friend in the journey, 

**This teaching contains excerpts from the book Dwell: Living Life Fully, Knowing that the Holy Spirit Lives in You by Erica Bryant. Want to read more? Dwell: Living Life Fully, Knowing that the Holy Spirit Lives in You is available  here , or wherever books are sold.