The Spirit's Work in the Believer (Sanctification and Filling) – Growing in Grace

Introduction: The Great Gap

There is a gap in the life of every believer. It is the gap between:

• Who you are in Christ (your position) and who you are becoming (your practice).

• What you have received (regeneration) and what you are experiencing (transformation).

• The holiness that is yours in Christ (imputed righteousness) and the holiness that is being worked out in your life (imparted righteousness).

This gap is the source of much of the frustration, guilt, and confusion in the Christian life. You know you are saved. You know the Spirit lives in you. You know you are going to heaven. But why do you still struggle with the same sins? Why do you not love God more? Why does your character not match your confession?

The answer lies in understanding the Spirit's work of sanctification.

Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit progressively transforms you into the image of Jesus Christ. It is not optional. It is not automatic. It is the Spirit's ongoing work in every believer, and it requires your active cooperation.

In Week 4, we saw how the Spirit gives life (regeneration). Now we see how He grows that life (sanctification). Regeneration happens in an instant. Sanctification takes a lifetime. Regeneration is God's work alone. Sanctification is a partnership—God works, and you respond.

Part 1: Understanding Sanctification

A. What Is Sanctification?

The word "sanctification" comes from the same Greek root as "saint" (hagios), which means "holy one" or "set apart one." To be sanctified is to be made holy.

But holiness in the Bible has two aspects:

1. Positional Holiness: Being set apart for God. This happens the moment you are saved. You are declared holy in Christ. You are a saint, not because of your behavior, but because of your position.

2. Progressive Holiness: Becoming in practice what you are in position. This is the lifelong process of being conformed to the image of Christ.

Hebrews 10:10: "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

• This is positional sanctification. It is already complete. You have been made holy in God's sight through Christ's sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:14: "For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

• This is progressive sanctification. It is ongoing. You are being made holy.

2 Corinthians 3:18: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

• This is the Spirit's work. He is transforming you. It is happening gradually—"from glory to glory."

B. The Three Tenses of Salvation

To understand sanctification, it helps to see salvation in three tenses:

• Justification happened in an instant when you believed. It declared you righteous in Christ.

• Glorification will happen in an instant when you see Jesus or when He returns. It will make you perfectly righteous.

• Sanctification is happening now, gradually, as the Spirit works in you to make you more like Christ.

C. The Agent of Sanctification

Scripture is clear: the Holy Spirit is the primary agent of sanctification.

2 Thessalonians 2:13: "God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth."

1 Peter 1:2: "According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit , to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood."

Romans 15:16: "A minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. "

The Spirit is the One who makes you holy. He is the Divine Potter who shapes the clay of your character. He is the Master Gardener who cultivates the fruit of holiness in your life.

The Stunning Truth:
You cannot sanctify yourself. You cannot make yourself holy through effort, discipline, or willpower. Holiness is a gift of the Spirit. But—and this is crucial—you can cooperate with Him, or you can resist Him. You can walk by the Spirit, or you can walk by the flesh.

Part 2: The Conflict – Flesh vs. Spirit

A. The Two Natures

Every believer has within them two opposing forces:

1. The Flesh (Sarx): This is not your physical body (which is not evil). It is your fallen human nature—the ingrained pattern of sin that remains even after regeneration. It is the part of you that still wants to live independently of God.

2. The Spirit (Pneuma): This is the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, producing new desires, new affections, and new power.

Galatians 5:17: "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."

This verse describes an internal civil war. The flesh wants one thing; the Spirit wants another. They are in direct opposition. There is no neutral ground. There is no truce. Every day, every moment, the battle rages.

The Stunning Truth:
If you are not experiencing conflict, you may not be alive. Dead people don't fight. Corpses don't struggle. The very fact that you feel the tension between what you want to do (what the Spirit desires) and what you find yourself doing (what the flesh desires) is evidence that you are alive and that the Spirit is at work in you.

B. The Deeds of the Flesh

Paul provides a catalog of what the flesh produces:

Galatians 5:19-21: "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these."

Notice the range:

• Sexual sins: immorality, impurity, sensuality

• Religious sins: idolatry, sorcery

• Relational sins: enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying

• Indulgent sins: drunkenness, carousing

The flesh is not just about "big" sins like murder or adultery. It manifests in everyday attitudes—jealousy, anger, envy, arguing. These are the evidence that the flesh is active.

Warning: "Of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. "

This does not mean that believers who occasionally fall into these sins lose their salvation. It means that a life characterized by these things—a life that habitually practices them without repentance—is evidence that the new birth has not occurred.

C. The Fruit of the Spirit

In stark contrast, the Spirit produces something beautiful:

Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Notice several things about this fruit:

1. It is "fruit," not "fruits."

• The Greek is singular. This is one cluster of grapes, not nine separate fruits. The Spirit produces a unified character. You cannot pick and choose—love without patience, joy without self-control. If the Spirit is at work, all of these will appear, though some may develop more quickly than others.

2. It is produced by the Spirit, not by effort.

• Fruit grows. You cannot manufacture fruit by pulling on the branches. You can only cultivate the soil, water the plant, and wait. The Spirit produces the fruit; you create the conditions for growth.

3. It is the character of Christ.

• Look at this list and ask: Who is love? Jesus. Who is joy? Jesus. Who is peace? Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is simply Jesus Christ formed in you (Galatians 4:19).

4. It is for relationships.

• Most of these qualities are relational. Love, patience, kindness, gentleness—these are things you experience with others. The Spirit is making you fit for community, both with God and with people.

The Stunning Truth:
The evidence of the Spirit's work in your life is not spectacular gifts or dramatic experiences. It is love. It is patience with difficult people. It is kindness when you want to be cruel. It is self-control when you want to indulge. The Spirit's deepest work is character transformation.

Part 3: Walking by the Spirit

A. The Command to Walk

Galatians 5:16: "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

Galatians 5:25: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. "

The word "walk" in Greek is peripate?, which literally means "to walk around" or "to conduct one's life." It refers to your daily, moment-by-moment pattern of living.

Paul is not giving a suggestion. He is giving a command. Walking by the Spirit is not optional for believers. It is the normal Christian life.

B. What Does It Mean to Walk by the Spirit?

Walking by the Spirit means:

1. Dependence, Not Effort

• Walking requires energy, but the energy comes from the Spirit. You don't generate the power; you receive it. Walking by the Spirit is recognizing that you cannot live the Christian life in your own strength, and consciously relying on the Spirit to live it through you.

2. Direction, Not Drifting

• Walking implies a path. The Spirit has a direction He wants you to go. Walking by the Spirit means following His lead, going where He guides, rather than drifting wherever your flesh takes you.

3. Daily, Not Occasional

• Walking is what you do all day, every day. It is not a special event. Walking by the Spirit is not about mountaintop experiences; it is about the mundane moments—how you respond to a rude cashier, how you treat your spouse when you're tired, what you look at on your phone.

4. Relationship, Not Rule-Keeping

• Walking is something you do with someone. It implies companionship. Walking by the Spirit is not about following a list of rules; it's about staying in step with a Person.

C. How to Walk by the Spirit

How do you actually do this in practical terms?

1. Recognize Your Inability.

• The first step is admitting you can't do it. As long as you think you can overcome sin, love your enemies, or produce patience through willpower, you will fail. Walking by the Spirit begins with the confession: "Lord, I can't. But You can."

2. Yield Control.

• Walking by the Spirit means surrendering the right to run your own life. It is saying to the Spirit, "I want what You want. Go where You want to go. Do what You want to do. I yield."

3. Stay in the Word.

• The Spirit speaks through Scripture. You cannot walk by the Spirit if you are ignorant of His Word. The Bible is the map for the walk.

4. Pray Continually.

• Walking by the Spirit is a conversational relationship. It means staying in touch throughout the day—asking for guidance, confessing when you stumble, thanking Him for help.

5. Obey Promptings.

• The Spirit gives impressions, convictions, and promptings. He may prompt you to apologize, to give generously, to speak up, to be quiet. Walking by the Spirit means obeying those promptings quickly.

6. Confess and Get Back Up.

• When you stumble—and you will—confess immediately and keep walking. The walk is not about perfection; it's about direction.

D. The Result: "You Will Not Carry Out the Desire of the Flesh"

Paul makes a remarkable promise in Galatians 5:16: "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. "

This is not a command to fight the flesh. It is a promise that if you focus on walking by the Spirit, the flesh will be defeated as a byproduct. You don't defeat the flesh by focusing on the flesh; you defeat it by focusing on the Spirit.

Imagine you are trying not to think about pink elephants. The more you try not to think about them, the more you think about them. But if you become completely absorbed in something else—a fascinating conversation, a gripping movie—you forget about pink elephants altogether.

The same is true with sin. If you focus on defeating sin, you will be obsessed with sin. But if you focus on walking with the Spirit—enjoying His presence, following His lead, delighting in Christ—sin loses its power.

Part 4: Being Filled with the Spirit

A. The Command to Be Filled

Ephesians 5:18: "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. "

Paul contrasts two kinds of filling:

• Filled with wine: This produces loss of control, dissipation, debauchery. You are controlled by an external substance.

• Filled with the Spirit: This produces control by God, order, worship, gratitude, and mutual submission. You are controlled by an internal Person.

Important Observations:

1. This is a command.

• Being filled with the Spirit is not optional for some super-spiritual elite. It is commanded of every believer.

2. The verb is passive.

• In Greek, "be filled" is passive. You do not fill yourself; you are filled by Someone else. Your role is to yield, to ask, to place yourself in a position to be filled.

3. The verb is plural.

• "Be filled" is addressed to the whole church. This is a corporate reality as well as an individual one.

4. The verb is present tense.

• Literally: "Be being filled." It is a continuous, repeated action. This is not a one-time experience (though there can be a beginning). It is a ongoing reality.

B. What Does It Mean to Be Filled with the Spirit?

To be "filled" with the Spirit means to be controlled by the Spirit. Just as alcohol controls a drunk person's speech, balance, and judgment, so the Spirit controls the believer who is filled with Him.

The Filling Is Not:

• The same as indwelling. Every believer is indwelt by the Spirit (Romans 8:9). But not every believer is filled with the Spirit. Indwelling is permanent; filling is variable.

• The same as sealing. The Spirit seals every believer for eternity (Ephesians 1:13). Filling is about experience, not security.

• The same as baptism. The Spirit baptizes every believer into the body of Christ at salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13). Filling is about empowerment for life and service.

The Filling Is:

• Being so controlled by the Spirit that His presence overflows in worship, gratitude, and love.

• Being so yielded to the Spirit that His power works through you.

• Being so aware of the Spirit that His priorities become your priorities.

C. The Results of Being Filled

In Ephesians 5:19-21, Paul gives four results of being filled with the Spirit:

1. Worship (v. 19): "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. "

• A Spirit-filled believer worships. Not just in church, but in life. There is a song in the heart that overflows, both to God and to others.

2. Gratitude (v. 20): "Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father."

• A Spirit-filled believer is thankful. Not just for good things, but for all things. Gratitude becomes the default posture of the heart.

3. Submission (v. 21): "Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."

• A Spirit-filled believer is humble. They don't demand their own way. They submit to others out of reverence for Christ. The filling of the Spirit produces a servant heart.

4. Order (implied in contrast with drunkenness): Instead of the chaos and dissipation of drunkenness, the Spirit produces order, clarity, and self-control.

D. How to Be Filled with the Spirit

How do you experience this filling?

1. Desire It.

• Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6). If you don't desire to be filled, you won't be.

2. Ask for It.

• Luke 11:13: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? "

• God is eager to give the Spirit to those who ask. The filling is not something you earn; it's something you receive.

3. Yield Control.

• Being filled means surrendering the throne of your life. You cannot be filled with the Spirit if you are filled with yourself. Confess any known sin. Surrender any area of rebellion.

4. Walk in Obedience.

• The filling is not a one-time experience. It is maintained by continuous obedience. As you walk by the Spirit, you remain filled.

5. Stay in Community.

• The command is plural. You cannot be filled in isolation. The Spirit fills us as we worship together, submit to one another, and encourage one another.

E. The Filling vs. The Fruit

How do the filling and the fruit relate?

• The fruit is the character the Spirit produces. It is the "what"—the qualities of Christ formed in you.

• The filling is the power by which the fruit is produced. It is the "how"—the Spirit's control that enables the fruit to grow.

You cannot produce the fruit by being filled once. You must be filled continually. As you remain under the Spirit's control, the fruit naturally grows.

Part 5: Led by the Spirit

A. The Leadership of the Spirit

Romans 8:14: "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

Galatians 5:18: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."

Being led by the Spirit is another way of describing the Spirit's work in sanctification. The Spirit leads you:

1. Away from sin.

• He convicts, prompts, and redirects when you are heading toward danger.

2. Toward righteousness.

• He guides you into actions and attitudes that please God.

3. Through decisions.

• He provides wisdom, peace, and direction for life's choices.

4. Into truth.

• He leads you into deeper understanding of God's Word and God's ways.

B. How Does the Spirit Lead?

The Spirit leads in multiple ways:

1. Through Scripture.

• The primary way the Spirit leads is through the Word He inspired. He will never lead you contrary to Scripture. The Bible is the plumb line against which all guidance must be measured.

2. Through Inner Promptings.

• The Spirit gives impressions, convictions, and a subjective sense of direction. This must always be tested by Scripture and confirmed by wise counsel.

3. Through Circumstances.

• The Spirit opens and closes doors. He orchestrates events to guide you.

4. Through the Church.

• The Spirit speaks through other believers—through teaching, counsel, and correction.

5. Through Peace.

• Colossians 3:15: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." The word "rule" means "act as umpire." When you have a decision to make, the Spirit often leads through a deep, settled peace—or the lack of it.

C. Discerning the Spirit's Leading

How do you know if it's the Spirit leading or just your own thoughts?

Part 6: The Ongoing Battle – Cooperation and Resistance

A. Your Role: Cooperation

Sanctification is not passive. You are not a robot. The Spirit works, and you must cooperate.

Philippians 2:12-13: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Notice the partnership:

• God works in you (giving you the desire and the power).

• You work out what He works in (living it out in daily life).

You cannot do it without Him. He will not do it without you.

Practical Cooperation Means:

• Putting to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13). This is active resistance to sin.

• Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14). This is active pursuit of righteousness.

• Fleeing from evil (2 Timothy 2:22). This is running from temptation.

• Pursuing righteousness (1 Timothy 6:11). This is running toward holiness.

• Training yourself for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). This is discipline and effort.

B. Your Danger: Resistance

Just as you can cooperate with the Spirit, you can also resist Him.

1. Quenching the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19: "Do not quench the Spirit."

The word "quench" means to put out a fire. The Spirit is a fire—burning with passion, power, and purity. You can quench that fire by:

• Neglecting prayer and the Word.

• Allowing sin to remain unconfessed.

• Refusing to obey His promptings.

• Prioritizing the world over the Spirit.

2. Grieving the Spirit

Ephesians 4:30: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

As we learned in Week 2, the Spirit is a Person who can be grieved. He is grieved when:

• You speak unwholesome words (Ephesians 4:29).

• You harbor bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, or malice (Ephesians 4:31).

• You are unforgiving (Ephesians 4:32).

• You engage in sexual immorality, impurity, or greed (Ephesians 5:3).

The Difference:

• Quenching is about suppressing the Spirit's power and activity.

• Grieving is about wounding the Spirit's heart through sin.

Both are serious. Both hinder sanctification.

C. The Path to Freedom

If you have been quenching or grieving the Spirit, the path back is clear:

1. Confess.

• 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

• Confession is not just saying you're sorry; it's agreeing with God about your sin.

2. Repent.

• Turn from the sin. Change your mind and your direction.

3. Ask to be refilled.

• Return to the posture of dependence. Ask the Spirit to fill you again.

4. Resume walking.

• Get back in step. Don't wallow in guilt. The walk continues.

Part 7: Putting It All Together – Living in This Truth