FW: "The Spirit Filled Life" Pt 6 - Wednesday May 20, 2026

 

 

From: Gerald Carnes
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 10:14 PM
To: 'blog' <mariettanaz.mariettafirstnaz@blogger.com>; 'mailchimp' <us9-036feab685-bf4cf57256@inbound.mailchimp.com>
Subject: "The Spirit Filled Life" Pt 6 - Wednesday May 20, 2026

 

“The Spirit Filled Life” Pt 6:

We closed yesterday’s devotional with a series of things to get out of our lives as recorded in Ephesians 4: 3-32. If you didn’t see that blog, get a Bible and read the passage. God doesn’t expect us to live perfect lives, but He does want us to live a life of holiness.

 

Many people say they want to live a Christian life but think they are incapable of doing so. Some feel their past sins are so great, even a loving God couldn’t or wouldn’t forgive them. I’ve said it before, we tend to overestimate the power of Satan and underestimate the power of God. People have habits and addictions they would do anything to break (and have tried) but feel it’s impossible to do at this juncture in their life.

 

At salvation, Jesus forgives us of every sin. Keep in mind, He knows everything about you – your strengths, weaknesses, attitude, desires, and habits. Despite what you’ve done, God is your Creator. He brought you into this world. His Son Jesus died a brutal death on the Cross so that you could repent of everything you’ve ever done wrong and be set free. Repenting is the first step toward Godliness. Don’t be surprised when Satan throws everything in hell at you. There’s no way he will give up easily and let you serve God.

 

Many say, “I just can’t do it!” This might shock someone, but the second step toward Godliness is admitting, “I can’t do this!” And you can’t. Satan is more powerful than you are and knows every evil trick in the book to confuse you, wipe away your confidence, self-worth, throw temptations at you, and will attack when you become vulnerable by letting your guard down. Satan wants you to quit – give up. He’s a master at convincing people of what they can’t do.

 

We find the devil’s mission in John 10:10 which is to destroy our lives. It says, “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. But “I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion; seeking someone to devour.” Despite every attempt of Satan to destroy you, remember God is on your side. You are His child and despite the attacks of the evil one, God says, “You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.”

 

Pastor Carnes

"The Spirit Filled Life" Pt 6 - Wednesday May 20, 2026

“The Spirit Filled Life” Pt 6:

We closed yesterday’s devotional with a series of things to get out of our lives as recorded in Ephesians 4: 3-32. If you didn’t see that blog, get a Bible and read the passage. God doesn’t expect us to live perfect lives, but He does want us to live a life of holiness.

 

Many people say they want to live a Christian life but think they are incapable of doing so. Some feel their past sins are so great, even a loving God couldn’t or wouldn’t forgive them. I’ve said it before, we tend to overestimate the power of Satan and underestimate the power of God. People have habits and addictions they would do anything to break (and have tried) but feel it’s impossible to do at this juncture in their life.

 

At salvation, Jesus forgives us of every sin. Keep in mind, He knows everything about you – your strengths, weaknesses, attitude, desires, and habits. Despite what you’ve done, God is your Creator. He brought you into this world. His Son Jesus died a brutal death on the Cross so that you could repent of everything you’ve ever done wrong and be set free. Repenting is the first step toward Godliness. Don’t be surprised when Satan throws everything in hell at you. There’s no way he will give up easily and let you serve God.

 

Many say, “I just can’t do it!” This might shock someone, but the second step toward Godliness is admitting, “I can’t do this!” And you can’t. Satan is more powerful than you are and knows every evil trick in the book to confuse you, wipe away your confidence, self-worth, throw temptations at you, and will attack when you become vulnerable by letting your guard down. Satan wants you to quit – give up. He’s a master at convincing people of what they can’t do.

 

We find the devil’s mission in John 10:10 which is to destroy our lives. It says, “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. But “I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion; seeking someone to devour.” Despite every attempt of Satan to destroy you, remember God is on your side. You are His child and despite the attacks of the evil one, God says, “You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.”

 

Pastor Carnes

"The Spirit Controlled Life" Pt 5 - Tuesday May 19, 2026

“The Spirit Controlled Life” Pt 5:

The Bible says, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (I Thessalonians 4:7).

 

A person becomes a Christian the moment they humbly repent of their sins. Instantaneously, they are born-again. But God wants us to be more than followers, He wants us to be like Him. He calls us to live a life of holiness. In order to be holy, lets consider a vessel you want to put drinking water in. Before filling it, you’ll wash it, scrub, and be sure it was clean before filling with pure water. Nothing contaminated would remain in it.

 

Your sins may be forgiven, but if like the rest of us, there are some things that need to be emptied out if you have a desire to desire to be filled with God’s Spirit. In case you’re wondering about what might need emptying, the Bible is very clear. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…”. I Peter 1:13-16 adds, “Prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled, as obedient children do not conform to evil desires you had when living in ignorance (before accepting Christ as Savior), but be holy for I am holy.”

 

There’s more; Ephesians admonishes us to, “put off falsehood and speak truthfully. In your anger sin not, do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not let the devil get a foothold. He who steals, must stop and go to work doing something useful. Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths (translation: negativity, gossip, etc) but build others up” (4:3-29). Buckle your belt because we’re just getting started.

 

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32). Whew!! That’s enough for today, but as you evaluate your heart and mind, are you holding onto to one or more of these vices which hold you back from what God wants you to be? (Tomorrow – How do we  get rid of these things?).

 

Pastor Carnes

"The Spirit Controlled Life" Pt 4 - Monday May 18, 2026

“The Spirit Controlled Life” Pt 4:

A crisis can a life-changing event. Such experiences may bring heartbreak and sadness or much happiness. A serious injury, illness, or devasting loss could be lifechanging, but getting married, having a child, is a happier crisis.

 

There are two parts to our lives – the time lived before accepting Jesus as our Savior and the time after becoming a Christian. Becoming a Christian involves acknowledging sin in our life and humbly asking the Lord to forgive us of all those sins. At the moment of repentance, we become a new creature (person) in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Receiving Christ into your heart is a crisis experience because it truly is a life-changing experience.

 

You didn’t become a Christian on your own. The Holy Spirit spoke convincing you the road being traveled was not the right one and showed you a more excellent way (I Corinthians 12:31). You may look the same, but there’s a transformation that begins to take place as your mind is being renewed (Romans 12:2). Serious thoughts begin to develop because you want to become more like Jesus. There’s a spiritual hunger you’ve never had before. This is all good, but you also realize while your sins have been forgiven, there’s a struggle to put first. Satan will not give you up without a fight and will through every temptation possible at you.

 

Fortunate for all of us, we don’t have to fight this battle “of self” alone. The early disciples were followers of Christ, but they had issues like you and me. Plus, they were given the Great Commission which was to spread the Gospel to every part of the earth. They couldn’t do this on their own. The Lord instructed them to return to Jerusalem and pray “UNTIL” they received power from on high (Luke 24:49).

 

Acts 19:1-6 shares the Apostle Paul meeting up with some Christians in Ephesus and asked, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” There answer was, “No.” The point is, as born-again Christians, followers of Jesus, or believers – whatever term you want to use – God has called us to live a holy life, and we can’t without the power of His Spirit abiding with us. Read I Peter 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; and I Thessalonians 4:7. (To be continued).

 

Pastor Carnes

 

"The Spirit Controlled Life" Pt 3 - Friday May 15, 2026

“The Spirit Controlled Life” Pt 3:

Many people are discouraged in their spiritual journey. It’s like they take two steps forward and are happy with their progress but then slip three steps backwards. They define their relationship with God as “good at times,” or “I’m trying but have a lot of ups and downs.” Here’s a thought to ponder. Is it possible discouragement in our relationship with God comes because we “unintentionally” try to reshape Jesus into our own image rather than being shaped into His?

 

Maybe we want God to be like us, instead us becoming like Him. There’s a danger in attempting to customize Jesus and an added danger is allowing culture to influence how we interpret Scripture. Don’t put more stock in what people say especially when what they’re saying is contradictory to God’s Word. The question isn’t, “Do you love Jesus?” It’s “Do you love Jesus MORE than everything else?”  (See John 21:15). Is God someone you’re trying to hang onto or one you love and adore?

 

Living the Spirit filled life isn’t a casual comfortable stroll with Jesus. It’s a life that has moved from comfort to surrender. It’s a life that desires God’s will take the place of our will. It’s believing God’s Word trumps everyone else’s. He has the final say in EVERYTHING. This life comes by a thorough dedication and submission to the Lord which includes, “I can’t live the life You want me to live without the power of Your Spirit living within me!”

 

The early disciples loved Jesus and followed Him, but their lives were transformed at Pentecost (Acts 2) after they had prayed and the Holy Spirit filled them. This same Spirit – this same power is available to each one of us today. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for THEY SHALL BE FILLED”.

 

This is God’s promise. The “IF” isn’t on Him, it’s on us. If we have a hunger and thirst for more of God, He will fill us with His Spirit. He’s faithful and will never break a promise. I’ll send more on this topic next week. Have a great weekend but let me encourage you to find time and read Ephesians 3:14-20 and Ephesians 4:17-32.

 

Pastor Carnes

 

 

"The Spirit Controlled Life" Pt 2 - Thursday May 14, 2026

“The Spirit Controlled Life” Pt 2:

There’s a difference between Jesus being your Savior and Jesus being Lord of your life. He becomes your Savior when you repent of your sins. At that moment, you receive all of God. He becomes Lord when He receives ALL of you – not just your sins – you and everything about you.

 

The idea of giving Jesus full control sounds deeply spiritual, yet the daily practice of it can be one of the greatest challenges of our faith. There are things easily submitted to Him but there are also things we tend to hang onto.  We give God our careers but hold tightly to our relationships. We surrender certain things but fail to let go of the ones we enjoy or that bring personal pleasure to us. We want to trust Him but have this deep-seated desire to be in the driver’s seat, to manage the outcomes and steer our lives in the direction we think best. It’s this instinct to control, while natural, that is the very thing that can keep us from experiencing the fullness of God’s peace and provision.

 

True surrender is not a one-time declaration but a daily, moment by moment decision to trust. It’s the conscious choice to unclench our fists and open our hands, palms down (we hang on to nothing) offering every plan, every desire, and every fear to Him. It’s whispering, “I TRUST YOU,” when our circumstances scream for us to worry.

 

When we stop leaning on our limited understanding and start submitting to His infinite wisdom, something miraculous happens. The burden of carrying the world on our shoulders is lifted. We can now freely walk in the purpose He has designed for us.

 

Letting go can be frightening because we are releasing the known for the unknown. But we aren’t releasing control to some unexplainable force, but to a loving Savior and Father who knows the end from the beginning. He has a plan and purpose for each one of us. We have been uniquely made by a perfect designer. His plans for you are good and His timing is always perfect. Today – at this very moment He may be asking you to put your life, possessions, hopes, and desires in His hands. Don’t struggle or resist. Intentionally say, “God, here I am, I give You ALL OF ME!” And let go!

 

Pastor Carnes

 

 

"The Spirit Controlled Life" Pt 1 - Wednesday May 13, 2026

“The Spirit Controlled Life” Pt 1:

I’ve met many people through the years who worked really hard at trying to improve themselves. I have to be honest, I was one of those people and most likely, you were too. There are common battles like, fits of anger, jealousy, bad feelings toward certain individuals, or holding grudges. Some desire to break bad habits or addictions.

 

Thoughts of improving oneself is noteworthy, but rarely is it successful. Self-help books give ideas, but not lasting change. One person told me, “This is just who I am and I’ll never change!” It was easier to accept improper behavior than to change. The Bible says, “So be careful how you live. Don’t act like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT).

 

Paul continues, “Don’t be drunk with wine because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 18). The effects of alcohol are obvious. A person under the influence is not the same person they are when sober which is a reason some alcohol beverages are called “spirits”. They cause people to do things often regretted and never would have been done had they been in their right mind. But they weren’t! They lost control of their mind.

 

The Apostle contrasts getting drunk with wine, which produces a temporary “high,” to being filled with the Spirit, which produces lasting joy. Getting drunk is associated with the old way of life and its selfish desires. In Christ, we have a better joy, an indescribable peace, along with a God given drive that leads to hope, a cure for depression, monotony, tension, and self control.

 

We shouldn’t be concerned with how much of the Holy Spirit we have but with how much of us the Holy Spirit has. God saves us at salvation and wants to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He can’t do this until we TOTALLY surrender our lives to Him. This is not a “one and done” experience but something to make a habit of doing every morning. There’s more to say, so come back tomorrow for some noticable characteristics of the Spirit Filled life.

 

Pastor Carnes