inspiration – a Divine Influence on the Mind & Soul

The Body of Christ—indwelt by the Holy Spirit—was ordained by Christ to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation…”   To that end, believers are inspired (influenced in mind and soul) with knowledge and understanding and given various gifts enabling them to accomplish His purpose.

The Gifts of the Spirit

To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit;
To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit;
To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues.
All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. 1 Corinthians 12:8-12 Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Body of Christ has been transferred out of the kingdom of darkness, and into the kingdom of God’s Beloved Son. In that kingdom we have redemption, and the forgiveness of sins. Living rooted in ‘the forgiven life’ produces fruit

The Fruit of the Spirit

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

As a believer, you are a member of The Body of Christ (Romans 12:5). For that reason you are “a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)  With the passing away of your ‘old’ life, there will be changes and certain things will be eliminated altogether.

The Works of the Flesh

Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication [immorality], impurity, licentiousness [indecency], idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit,  envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. Galatians 5:19-21

The inspiration part of all of this comes with the understanding of Paul’s instructions to to Galatians. The Apostle Paul did NOT say, “you get your life together, stop all your evil practices, and maybe, then the Holy Spirit can use you.”

No! What he said was “… when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us… Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Then we won’t need to look for honors and popularity, which lead to jealousy and hard feelings.

Get over the ‘religious’ notion that your spiritual well-being is your responsibility. God has given believers His Spirit to produce fruit in us, to enable us to carry out His great commission, and to bring glory and honor to Him in all that we say and do.  And, IF we fall short...”there is now NO condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)