Living by the Spirit and God’s Word: Power for Lasting Christian Service

Summary

This article explains how learning to be filled with the Holy Spirit and consistently memorizing Scripture transformed the author’s Christian service. Trusting the Spirit replaced self-effort, while systematic Scripture memory deepened spiritual power and readiness. God commands believers to rely on the Spirit and promises to answer such prayers. Storing God’s Word in the heart equips believers for fruitful service, sustained growth, and effective ministry.

Power for Lasting Christian Service

Learning how to be filled with the Holy Spirit started the engine of my spiritual service. It added the dimension of trusting the Holy Spirit of Jesus to live the Christian life through me. That provided power for lasting Christian service, which replaced relying on my strength and willpower, which rendered me ineffective, insufficient, and frustrated.

God’s Command and Promise to Fill Us

Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International, wrote “How to Be Filled with the Spirit." The gist is that God commands us to be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18: “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

God promises to answer our prayers when we pray in harmony with His will. “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for” (1 John 5:14-15 NLT).

The Holy Spirit as the Source of Power

God’s will is for us to be filled with His Spirit. When we ask Him to fill us with the Holy Spirit, He will because we are asking for what He wants to give us. The power of the Spirit is to Christian service like the engine in an automobile. God doesn’t expect us to strain and sweat to push that car mile after mile. The Holy Spirit is the engine and the designated driver.

Recovering the Discipline of Scripture Memory

I memorized Scripture when men from The Navigators were discipling me and when I was on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru). Many years of neglect followed.

A Systematic Approach to Hiding God’s Word

Perhaps 25 years ago, I came across a list of verses Dr. Waylon Moore recommended for memorization. About 20 years ago, God convinced me to begin memorizing them. I added a few verses from 31 Steps Toward Christian Maturity to his list, which follows.

The Word - Matthew 4:4, Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 15:16; Prayer - John 16:24, Matthew 21:22, Philippians 4:6-7; Obedience - Romans 12:1, John 14:21, Hebrews 5:8; Witnessing- Matthew 4:19, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20; Salvation - Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 5:24, John 1:12, Revelation 3:20; Assurance - 1 John 5:13, John 5:24; Guidance- James 1:5, Isaiah 30:18, Proverbs 3:5-6; Victory - 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 8:37; Christ the Lord - John 3:30, Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:15; The Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, John 14:26; The Father - John 4:23, Psalm 103:13-14; His Love - John 3:16, Jeremiah 31:3; His Presence- Isaiah 49:15-16, Hebrews 13:5; His Peace - Isaiah 26:3, John 14:2-3; His Provision - Romans 8:32, Philippians 4:19, Luke 6:38; His Power- Psalm 147:3-5, Psalm 62:11, 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Photographs of Christ - Matthew 11:28-30, John 1:14, Hebrews 1:9; His Faithfulness- 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 1:9; His Grace - 2 Corinthians 9:8, 2 Peter 1:2-3, Hebrews 4:15-16; His Strength - Psalm 18:2, 2 Corinthians 12:9; His Attitude - Philippians 4:13, Colossians 3:23-24, Proverbs 13:10; Humility- Philippians 2:3-4, John 13:13-14; Handling Pressure - Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 46:1,10, Psalm 18:1-2; Disaster - Isaiah 63:9, Psalm 61:2; Prosperity and Provision - Psalm 1, Psalm 23, Psalm 84:11; Waiting on God - Psalm 62:5, Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31; Return of Christ - 2 Peter 3:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16, Revelation 20:15; Praise and Adoration- 1 Chronicles 16:10-12, 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; The Tongue - Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 17:27-28, James 1:19-20; Faith- Hebrews 11:6, Romans 4:17b, 20, 21, Hebrews 10:38; Christ’s Disciples - Luke 9:23, Matthew 28:19-20, John 8:31; Holy Walk -Isaiah 32:17, Colossians 2:6-7; Seeking God - Psalm 27:4, 8, Psalm 107:9; Multiply Your Life - Isaiah 43:4, Deuteronomy 1:11; Family Promises- Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Genesis 22:18, Isaiah 59:21; Consequences - Galatians 6:7, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 8:11, 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

Additional verses from 31 Steps Toward Spiritual Maturity include John 15:5, Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 1:18, John 14:15, 1 Peter 2:2, Psalm 119:9-11, Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 John 2:16, Ephesians 6:10-11, Proverbs 3:34, 1 Corinthians 6:12, Psalm 119:15-16, Matthew 22:37-39, John 4:24, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 Corinthians 11:26, John 15:8, Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 2:2, Romans 12:11, 1 Corinthians 12:7, Isaiah 64:8, 1 Corinthians 4:2, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13.

It took me five years to learn all these verses. I know some better than others. I review about seven to eight verses daily while I eat breakfast, taking two weeks to review the entire list. I have followed that pattern for the last ten years. Regular review keeps them from leaking away.

God’s Word Producing Fruitful Service

I frequently quote some of these verses in my teaching and preaching. Memorizing and systematically reviewing them has increased their power and sway in my life. God's word in our hearts equips and prepares us to do good works (2 Timothy 3:17).

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