Why Charismatically Spirit-Filled?
Acts 13.52 (CSB) And the disciples were filled with joy* and the Holy Spirit.
*Greek-charas:- a state of cheerfulness, joy, gladness and great delight, derived from a root word where we get concepts like: grace, favor, to give freely, to bestow favor/to bless, give thanks, gratitude and gift.)
Philo relates charas (joy) to spiritual intoxication.
That means, dating back to the first century, an outward sign of the joy of the Holy Spirit looked very much like intoxication.
refer to Acts 2.19 – These are not drunk as you suppose…
The apostle Paul used chará to also express the joy of faith (Phil. 1.25) and a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5.22) and as one of the identifying factors of God’s kingdom (Rom. 14.17).
Charízomai denotes the result of cháris as an action, i.e., “proof of favor,” “benefit,” or “gift.
Charísmata refers to gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12.4 (CSB) Now there are different gifts (charismata), but the same Spirit.
Romans 12.6 (CSB) 6 According to the grace (charitos) given to us, we have different gifts (charismata).
1 Peter 4.10–11 (CSB) Just as each one has received a gift (charisma), use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace (charitos) of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Acts 2.32–39 (CSB) “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Our Heavenly Calling and Overcoming
Resisting being conformed to the ways of this worldly age, we are to submit our hearts and minds to the transformational work of Holy Spirit in our lives. As eternal citizens, in this current earthly experience, we aim to overcome, empowered by the Spirit of Christ, in Whom we can accomplish all things, aligning with His will and purpose. We overcome evil with good (Ro 12.21), and through faith we have overcome both the world and the evil one (1 Jn 5.4; 2.13, 14).
Overcome
1 Corinthians 15.57–58 (CSB) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 John 5.1–4 (CSB) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him. This is how we know that we love God’s children: when we love God and obey his commands. For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
Revelation 12.11 (CSB) They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death.
1 John 5.5–8 (CSB) Who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus Christ—he is the one who came by water and blood, not by water only, but by water and by blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify:, the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
John 6.51 (CSB) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
1 Peter 4.12–13 (CSB) Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.
Blessings
As a Spirit-filled Charismatic servant of the Lord, it is my desire to bless, encourage and inspire the Ekklesia Remnant to draw near to God. I long to see us all together, living as a kingdom of priests unto God, and fulfilling our individual call of God in the earth.