Serving in the Spirit

The Bible makes it clear that we are to live, walk, and pray in the Spirit.

“I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh … Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit … We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Galatians, 5:16, 25; Romans 8:26)

But, we are also told of our need to serve in the Spirit.

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son.” (Romans 1:9a)

What does it mean to serve in the Spirit?

It means that we give the whole of ourselves over to God in our service of Him. It is called being a bondservant. It is where we serve the Lord as our Master from a willing heart.

When we willingly allow the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, we then willingly surrender control of our lives over to Him. The Holy Spirit then controls our body and soul, and when our body and soul are under the control and direction of the Holy Spirit, it is only then that we will serve effectively.

The Apostle Paul chided the Galatian church for trying to do it differently.

“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)

Today, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives and serve in the Spirit as the Spirit directs.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)