How to experience the abundant life Jesus promised?
Jesus says,
"... I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
It is not a defeated frustrated life, but a full and meaningful life. Receiving Jesus Christ is only the first step towards experiencing the abundant life.
Tragically enough majorities of those who received Jesus Christ go through the rest of their lives without ever experiencing the abundant life, which Jesus promised. They are just satisfied with life as usual as long as they have the assurance that they will go to heaven when they die. They are trying to live this life in their own strength. Something like after we got into a plane we try to help the plane to take off and fly it by waving our hands, instead of depending on the power of the engines to do so.
Three kinds of people
Apostle Paul explained this in 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15, and 3:1-3. He says there are three kinds of people from the biblical perspective.
Natural Man:
(One who has not received Christ)
v.14, "But the natural man does not accept the things of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised"(1 Corinthians 2:14).
Spiritual Man:
(One who is controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.)
"But he who is spiritual appraises all things” (1 Corinthians 2:15).
Some of the personal traits of a Spiritual man are: Christ centered, Empowered by the Holy spirit, Introduces others to Christ, Effective prayer life, Understands God’s Word, Trusts God, Obeys God. He demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Carnal man:
(One who has received Christ, but who lives in defeat because he trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life).
Some or all of the following traits may characterize the Christian who does not fully trust God:
Ignorance of his spiritual heritage, Unbelief, Disobedience, Loss of love for God and for others, Poor prayer life, No desire for Bible Study, Legalistic attitude, Impure thoughts, Jealously, Guilt, Worry, Discouragement, Critical spirit, Frustration, Aimlessness.
How to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Before we can walk in the Spirit, we must make sure that we are controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. So, The question is:
How to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Spiritual Breathing is a concept, taught by Late Dr. Bill Bright that explains how to be filled with the Holy Spirit by Faith. It is something similar to Physical Breathing.
In Physical Breathing you do two things: Exhale the bad air and Inhale the fresh air.
Similarly, in Spiritual Breathing you do two things:
1. Exhale or Confess
Confess your sins – and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, the Bible says,
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
2. Inhale or Receive
Receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith, according to His Command
"Be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
"And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us whatever we ask, we know that we have the request we have asked from" (1 John 5:14,15).
Therefore, we can claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit through a prayer of faith. Here is a suggested prayer of faith:
Suggested Prayer of Faith
Therefore, we can claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit through a prayer of faith.
Here is a suggested prayer of faith:
(confess) "Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have been in control of my life; and as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me.
(receive) "I now invite You to again take control of the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You Promised in Your word that You that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I now thank You for taking control of my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit." Amen.
Now on the basis of God's Command and Promise you can know that you are filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Do not depend on feelings. God's word is our authority.