There are so many misconceptions about life in the Spirit. If we have been part of the charismatic church for very long, we have probably participated in or witnessed the fruit of these errors. To maintain balance in living a Jesus-centered relationship with the Holy Spirit, we must embrace the mission of the Holy Spirit — glorifying Jesus by developing in us the maturity and mercy of Jesus, through the same process Jesus endured, the cross and the resurrection.
The maturity (holiness) of Jesus displays itself in us through the ongoing development and consistency of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. How mature we are will always be revealed through our Christ-like or un-Christ like reactions during the difficult times in our lives.
The maturity must be balanced by the mercy (compassion) of Jesus for others and ourselves. Mercy says, “You’re not where you are supposed to be, but I love you and accept you where you are.”
Unfortunately, as humans who usually seek to escape pain, maturity and mercy are developed in us not through study but through the practicum of the cross. The Holy Spirit leads us, like Jesus, into situations where we are tested by difficult life situations. Whether these are brought about by the actions of others, or ourselves in each trial the Holy Spirit is there to walk with us.
Gloriously, after the suffering of the cross, the resurrection comes, proof of the might and power of God! We are guaranteed that He will work each situation to our good, developing us into the image of Jesus.
There is no substitute for the Spirit-filled Jesus-centered life! But reality is not the stuff of occasional mountaintop experiences. It is the reality of living life, with its good and its bad, in the presence of, filled with, guided by, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Pat Hein