But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
—Romans 15:29, NKJV
What a bold statement Paul made! Paul had no doubt that he would walk in the fullness of God’s grace in His life. Paul knew his position in Christ and that God’s power was his. He confidently drew strength from that truth. Do we believe that God also wants us to know His fullness and experience His power? Paul believed and acted with faith in God’s truth. When we believe what is ours in Christ and act upon it, we receive (Matthew 9:29).
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit,” Paul wrote (Galatians 5:25).
Living in the Spirit is the new person you are in Christ, and it is the unchanging position Christ has given you. Walking in the Spirit is the result of knowing who you are in the finished work of Christ. It is conditional upon our minds being renewed by God’s Truth and also upon our openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2). Paul knew his unchanging position of righteousness in Christ. In allowing the Holy Spirit to guide him, he drew from the power that was his.
Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is something that doesn’t happen by chance. It is a choice to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. Some people believe the Holy Spirit turns His power on and off when He chooses. God is always available, and His power is always available. We are the ones who are on and off with Him. Often, we let our flesh determine how we feel instead of being led by the Holy Spirit. But when we choose to believe we have received the power of God’s life within us, we can have the confidence His power will flow out of us. Our responsibility is to exercise our faith and draw from the power of God within us. "He who believes in me," Jesus said, "out of his belly will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).
God’s plans for us are full of hope and an expected future. When we yield and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can expect God’s good results. In Romans 15:29, Paul said he knew when he came to the Romans, that he would come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel. He believed that the message within Him would be received. He believed in the miracle of God’s grace revealed in the lives of those he taught and led. According to what Paul believed and expected, he received. He lived and breathed the fullness of God. Out of his life flowed the power of the Holy Spirit.
God wants us to believe and move in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Paul was human, too. No matter how he felt, he believed in the Resurrection power that was always within him. He believed it was Christ that lived in Him and that in his weakness Christ was strong. The faith by which Paul lived stirred him to act on what he believed.
No matter how we feel, we, too, must stir up the gift we have been given (2 Timothy 1:6) We, too, must draw on God’s Resurrection power from within us. And out of our lives will flow rivers of living water.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
—Ephesians 3:20, NKJV
© 2022 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2022/12/out-of-you-will-flow.html
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