In The Spirit 

Having received the Spirit at conversion, and having Him dwelling in us and filling us, the life of the believer is now to be lived “in the Spirit.” What does that mean?  Simply put, living “in the Spirit” means living under His guiding, always a Presence in our lives, overshadowing everything we do and every thought we have.  Living “in the Spirit” can be compared to living like the ancient Israelites under the pillar of cloud. In the Bible, we may observe that there are certain privileges and blessings that can be enjoyed only by those who are living “in the Spirit.”  Let’s note the following— 

1.  God must be worshiped.  It is clear from Philippians 3:3 that God is to be worshiped in the Spirit.  God is a Spirit and therefore it is through our spirit that we must worship Him (John4:24).  However, it does not stop there.   Indeed, our spirit must worship in the Spirit of God.  It is possible to be  sincere and solemn in our worship of God and yet not be in the Spirit.  When this happens, and I believe it happens often, our worship is not acceptable to God.  Anyone who worships God in such a fashion, no matter how earnest, is worshiping what they do not know.  It brings to mind the situation in Athens and the people there, of whom it was said, “They are too superstitious.”  Many a modern believer approaches God is nothing more than a superstitious way, completely devoid of Spirit and faith. 

2.  God’s voice is heard and His glory witnessed.  The thrilling words of Revelation ring in our ears, as John said, “I was in the Spirit, and heard a great voice from behind me…and I saw the Son of Man clothed in glory,” (Rev. 1:10—18).  Those who are continually in the Spirit are continually seeing the glory of God.  Those who are not in the Spirit may talk fluently about the “voice” and the “glory,” but both phenomena are foreign to their hearts. When you are “in the Spirit,” it is not the still small voice you hear, difficult to discern and understand.  No, when we are in the Spirit, His voice is as the voice of a great trumpet, about which there can be no doubt. 

3.  The mysteries of heaven are understood.  Again, from John, we read of how when he was “in the Spirit,” he was told by God to “come up here,” for God would show John things no man had ever seen:  the future of the world!  (Revelation 4:1, 2).  While it is true that we cannot possibly fathom the depths of God’s mind, by the Spirit we may discern the things of God.  It interesting that the book of Revelation may be divided into four main sections:  (1) 1:10; (2) 4:2; (3) 17:3; and (4) 21:10, and at the start of each new section, we are reminded that John is “in the Spirit.”  There was no possible way John could understand the mysteries he was seeing apart from the Spirit.  How can we possibly understand the things of God with the Spirit?  The apostle Paul undoubtedly understood the unspeakable words he heard in Paradise, although it was impossible for him to repeat them, 2 Corinthians 12:4.  Everyone who lives “in the Spirit” is unspeakable above those who are not for they understand the deep things of God.  This way of life is available to each and every believer who seeks after it. 

4.  Man’s helplessness and God’s power are seen.  We read in Ezekiel 37:1—10 of the prophet’s amazing vision of the valley of the dry bones.  Ezekiel records that he was carried in the Spirit to see the vision.  It was while he was “in the Spirit” that he saw how dead and dry the bones were, and when he prophesied so successfully.  Those “in the Spirit” are able to see the needs others cannot, and so have place faith  in man’s remedies, but rather, they,  are able to speak the Word as God commanded (verses 7—10), and so witness the life-giving power of the breath of God. 

5.  Divine strength and comfort enjoyed.  In Acts 20:22—24, we read these fascinating verses:  I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem… bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me…When is living “in the Spirit,” he lives in an unmistakable calm despite the circumstances swirling around him.  The peace of God keeps his heart.  Psalm 46:1—4 contains some of the most powerful promises of peace in the Scriptures:  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. 

6.  Is the proof of His indwelling in us.  Romans 8:9 suggests that if the Spirit of God is not abiding in us, then we cannot live in the Spirit.  It is easy to preach on the infilling and indwelling of the Spirit, but living in the Spirit is the manifestation of our confession.  The Spirit does not indwell us in secret; He does not come and in us, a hermit whose presence cannot be seen or felt by the outside world!  No, the Spirit comes into us as a mighty life-giver and a spiritual wonder-worker whose presence cannot be hid. 

7.  All service is to be rendered.  The early Church did all they did in the Spirit.  Paul’s preaching was in demonstration of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:4); Apollos’ teaching was a manifestation of the power of the Spirit (Acts 18:25); Paul taught that we are to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). 

To be “in the Spirit” is to be in immediate contact with the God of the universe!  To be out of contact with God is to be out of fellowship and consequently of little use to God (John 15:6).