Living a Spirit-Controlled Life

There’s a difference between just being in a home and being at home. Have you ever noticed that different homes have their own smells? I used to visit a home that always smelled like mothballs, and after I spent time in that home, I smelled like mothballs too.

But then I’ve been to homes where there was some great home cooking taking place. I like being in a room where I can smell the incredible aroma of Italian food, Mexican food, or barbecue. I feel at home in a place like that.

When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit seals us and indwells us. The Bible says, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you” (Romans 8:9 NLT).

Now, does the Holy Spirit live in the heart of every Christian? Yes. But the word for “living” in this verse means “to be at home.” The Holy Spirit has a personality. Yes, He is God and can be sinned against specifically. But we also can insult Him, resist Him, and even make Him sad.

Have you ever done or said something that reduced someone to tears? It’s hard to look at a person who’s crying because of our words or actions. In the same way, the Bible tells us, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live” (Ephesians 4:30 NLT).

Imagine if we decided not to use social media to tear people down. What a different place it would be. Today it seems that we’ve forgotten our manners, and we’re filled with pent-up rage. But that is not living a Spirit-controlled life.

Rage, anger, harsh words, and slander make the Holy Spirit sad. Do you want the Holy Spirit to be at home in your heart? He’s at home in the hearts of Spirit-led believers.