We need an awakening to spiritual purpose! Several years ago, I did a study of the Scriptures to see if I could find a corresponding relationship between having spiritual purpose and being filled with the Spirit. I must tell you that my findings amazed me. In virtually every instance I found that the Holy Spirit came in power solely in conjunction with spiritual purpose. Study the following passages, and see for yourself the relationship between the Spirit’s power and spiritual purpose:
• Ephesians 5:15–18 “Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
• Acts 5:28–32 When religious leaders ordered Peter and the other apostles not to teach about Jesus Christ, Peter replied: “We must obey God rather than men . . . We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
• Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . . .”
• Acts 4:31 “After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.”
• John 20:21–22 “Again Jesus said, ‘. . . As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.”
• Isaiah 61:1–3 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion . . .”
As you can see, the fullness of the Holy Spirit is always given in conjunction with spiritual purpose. Spiritual purpose for Christians is characterized by such things as having an earnest desire to please God; to live a life worthy of Him; to exalt Him and bring Him glory; to draw others to Him; to show forth His power and love to a desperately needy yet skeptical world.
One major problem in our society is our extreme narcissism. To a frightening degree, this malady has carried over into many churches. Large numbers have come to see the filling of the Holy Spirit as a means to spiritual thrills and experiences. “Touch me,” “bless me,” “fill me,” “thrill me,” “heal me” . . . me—Me—ME!!! Not that God is reluctant to touch us and bless us; He wants to. But He longs to see in us hearts that seek Him and His Kingdom first. So many of us are so preoccupied with ourselves, with our experiences and pleasures and comforts, that we scarcely if ever think or pray in terms of our making a difference in this world for Christ.
The Holy Spirit was not given to create “bless me clubs” for spiritual elites. He didn’t come to entertain us with thrills, or to satisfy our appetites for more intense experiences, or to gratify our inclinations toward self-aggrandizement, or to flatter us with increased spiritual prowess, or to indulge our egos in any way.
He was not given for emotional ecstasy. He wants to produce DYNAMIC DISCIPLESHIP and EFFECTIVE ENABLEMENT! He wants to reproduce, in and through us, the life, character, and ministry of Jesus Christ. We cannot expect a release into the Spirit’s fullness unless we have enough spiritual purpose to want to serve Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God the Father. (Excerpt from my book Called to High Adventure, pp. 45-47)