Lip Service

I've been thinking a lot about lip service. For several reasons :

1. For what I view in the world around me in other Believers lives
2. For those who aren't filled w/the Spirit and their lives
3. Primarily of course, from the Word of God, which as I view my own life, continues to be the mirror by which I ascertain my position (not position in Christ, Praise God that is secure) but my position in my lifelong process of becoming sanctified. Where am I at and where do I need to be molded more perfectly into His image?

It's so easy to give lip service to God. Easy to meander through my day, spouting off niceties to anyone who wants to listen about my convictions, passions and desires. I have so much desire for the Spirit sometimes it just consumes and overwhelms me. During those times I give lip service to my Great High Priest. Which I should. However, I just battle so much w/what my flesh does and what my heart desires. What my flesh does so often is a physical manisfestation of the sin that still threatens me every second. I cry out one thing w/my heart and 10 minutes later my sinful nature exumes those wicked tendencies that I fight so hard to control. It's hit me: That's because I am trying to control these things and not allowing the Spirit of God to control me. A few weeks ago, our pastor just finished a series on revival. One thing he said stuck out to me, and this will be paraphrasing, but it was something like this:

"You get as much of the Spirit as you want"

What does that mean?

Obviously there was so much more behind what he said, but once we have the Spirit of God, we have ALL we need for life and Godliness. So why is it that so often I feel opressed by the status of my faith when I sin? Why is it that I know the Spirit indwells me, but I feel defeated and weak? Is it because I am limiting the Holy Spirit and supressing Him by keeping the control within me and not allowing Him the room to work? The room to show His power? So often I pray for the awesome power of the Holy Spirit to become evident within my life---but wait...if I am blood bought, don't I already have the power--all that I need, I just need to tap into it?

I found this passage in Romans 8

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Oh, I DO NOT want to be that person who lives according to my sinful nature! I am purchased. I am redeemed. I am alive forevermore to praise and glorify the King of Kings. Look at verse 15..I did not receive a Spirit that makes me a slave to fear!

Here I will echo Psalms 19:13-14

13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let
them not have dominion over me!Then I shall be blameless, and
innocent of great transgression.

14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer