God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, and it’s this Spirit-within that has propelled the Church down through the ages. Satan and his demons stand in opposition to the Church and its Holy Spirit and they are the driving force on the side of the world. So, in order for the Church to accomplish the work God created in advance for it to do, we who are the Church must embrace His Spirit—emptying ourselves as Jesus did so as to be filled more than ever and to become fully equipped to withstand the forces of Satan in the world.

If you look around and see a lukewarm Church today, it’s because believers are quenching the Holy Spirit on a regular basis. We are not spending enough time with the Father in prayer, or worshiping Him with everything we are. We don’t study the Word as we should or give sacrificially of our resources. And as a result, we are limiting the activity of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Church. Satan, on the other hand, is busier than ever and operating with even greater power than before. His numbers are increasing daily as the world yields to the seduction of his schemes for greater wealth, increased power, more fame, abundant fun and a monopolizing emphasis on Self.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish today’s Church from the rest of the world. Oh, we have our huge congregations, but this is of little value if the people are not filled with the Holy Spirit for without Him they have no power.

James and John both wrote about being friends with the world and loving the world. As believers, we can do neither. We must instead allow the Holy Spirit to live in us. Paul explains that our bodies are the temple of God—in other words, the dwelling place of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We must let our bodies be used for the purpose they were intended. Our prayer should be not only that God would fill us with the Holy Spirit, but that He would fill us more and more until we are saturated with the Spirit in every corner of our life.

If we ask, God is faithful and will not delay in answering our request. Lord, give me more of Your Spirit that I might serve you more!