ZIklag 12.7 - InSpirited
Holy Versus Worldly Spirit in the Kingdom of Jesus
Triumph Over Folly
The human spirit, without the Holy Spirit, stumbles like a blind man in the dark.
You leans on your own shadow, clinging to fleeting bits of knowledge, but always missing the mark you think you’re aiming for.
The result? Chaos in the soul. This is the self-destruction of separation from God’s truth. Proverbs warns, “Lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), yet man’s natural inclination is to do just that. The result is a heart lost in the shadows, fumbling through life, a captive of sin’s grip.
Sin isn’t just about bad deeds. It’s deeper—a condition of estrangement from God. The Hebrew word חָטָא (chata) means “to miss the mark,” while the Greek ἁμαρτία (hamartia) expands it to mean deviation from divine purpose. Sin is the great divide—a life lived apart from God’s Spirit, stumbling in darkness, lost in foolishness.
Scripture declares, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Without the Holy Spirit, even our best intentions lead to ruin. The human spirit left to its own devices is like a builder creating a house on sand—it collapses under the weight of its own inadequacy.
The Holy Spirit: The Great Restorer
But God, in His infinite mercy, doesn’t leave us in the dark. The Holy Spirit is sent to breathe life into dead bones, to transform foolish hearts into vessels of wisdom, and to lead us into God’s perfect light.
1. Regeneration: Bringing the Dead to Life
The Spirit of God breathes new life into the lost, reordering desires and aligning them with God’s will. Romans declares, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). Through the Spirit, the heart once lost in foolishness is made wise and purposeful.
2. Illumination: Lighting the Path
Where there was darkness, the Spirit shines His light, revealing truth and guiding our steps. “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). He transforms wandering into obedience, destruction into renewal. The Spirit doesn’t just illuminate truth—He empowers us to live it.
3. Sanctification: Refining and Transforming
The Spirit doesn’t stop with regeneration. Like a master potter, He molds us, refining our hearts and minds to reflect God’s holiness. Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). This sanctification is relentless, a daily work of grace, preparing us to glorify the Lord.
The Call: Repent, Believe, Walk
Repentance: Acknowledge the folly of self-reliance. Turn from sin and confess the need for the Spirit’s work. “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).
Faith: Receive the Holy Spirit as God’s gift through faith in Christ. “That we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14).
Renewal: Commit to walking by the Spirit, allowing His transformative power to bear fruit in your life. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
Advent: A Season in the Spirit’s Work
As we enter the season of Advent, let us prepare our hearts for the coming King. The Spirit calls us to watch, wait, and worship as we anticipate Christ’s return. This is a time to give thanks for the Spirit’s work, which aligns our hearts with God’s purposes:
• For His Message: The Spirit reveals Christ, the Light of the world, and points us to His saving work.
• For His Intercession: The Spirit intercedes for us, guiding our prayers and bringing our worship into harmony with heaven.
• For His Grace: The Spirit transforms us, making us ready to receive the Lord with joy and holiness.
Advent isn’t just a season of waiting—it’s a call to action. Prepare your heart, light your lamp, and walk in the Spirit. As the angelic proclamation reminds us:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).
