Day 40 – Spirit-Filled Christian Is Determined

When we are devoted and dedicated in our walk with the Holy Spirit, when we are in His presence there's a fullness of joy. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, a spiritual Christian will be devoted to God, will be dedicated to God as discussed over the last two days, but you will also be determined. You will be determined that nothing can stop your walk. Paul was determined. He said, nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. Nothing can keep the Holy Spirit from working in our lives and us following him, if we choose to follow like Paul did.

But here is the kicker, we have that choice. The Holy Spirit's not going to make us follow him. When you invite the Holy Spirit in, do you invite him to the guest room, or do you invite him into the kitchen and let him be in charge of your household? Paul could say that all sufferings and problems could not move him or discourage him from his walk. Luke writes about Paul in Acts 20:24, but I do not, this is what Paul said, “But I do not account my life of any value, nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish the course of ministry that I received from Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.” Paul was determined. He was determined to finish the race. And to be determined, we must also be disciplined.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wealth, a wealth that will disappear. We do it for a prize that is imperishable. So I don't run aimlessly, I do not box as one, as beating in the air, but I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified.” He is determined to be obedient to God's Word and to proclaim God's Word to everybody that he met. Paul is determined, he is not running in circles, not boxing the air; he has purpose and everything he does is purposeful with the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 15:4, Paul writes, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, and through endurance and through encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” Where does that hope come from? Our hope comes from Christ. Where do we learn that hope? We learn it in the Scriptures that were written and passed down for us. In Philippians 3:12-14, he writes, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I keep pressing forward and no one can stop me from preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone that I meet. There are no hurdles too big, storms too strong, hate too much, that will stop Paul from obeying the Holy Spirit. Paul tells the Thessalonians, the 2 Thessalonians 3:13, “As for you brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” Be disciplined. Be determined. Don't be discouraged. And look back at everything he’s endured. Paul reminds us and them that “I've endured all this and I still press forward. Being whipped, shipwrecked, venomous bites, I still press forward.” In Proverbs 16:3, Solomon writes, “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” If you work for the Lord, He will make a way, He will establish the plans. He will make it so it's achievable and worthwhile. If we do it on our own, when we take control and kick the Holy Spirit out of the driver’s seat, that's when we face hiccups and failures.

But by testing, the suffering for Christ, was a test for Paul. Paul said that his suffering was for Christ. He endured that testing. He was determined to live for the Lord regardless of the cost. Nothing could deter Paul. All the stuff that he endured, he kept pressing forward regardless of the cost. And he tells us in Galatians 6:9-10, “And do not grow weary of doing good. For in due season you will reap if we do not give up. So then, as we have an opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially for those who are in the household of faith.” He doesn't say just do good for those who are fellow believers. He says do good for everyone and especially those in the household of faith. We are called to love everyone. And in 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul writes, “Which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed in and I am convinced that he is able to guard until the Day that he has been trusted to me.” Paul was not embarrassed about being in prisoned or whipped or even stoned. He knew where his trust was deposited, he knew the Holy Spirit was there each and every step and believed every promise and Word of God.

In 1 Thessalonians 3:8, Paul says, “For now we live if you are standing fast in the Lord.” Because we go through testing, we also go through trials. Christians should be happy to endure the trials that come their way. I have often said, if you are not experiencing trials then are you really following the Lord. Are you really obeying the Holy Spirit? When the Holy Spirit gives you marching orders and you follow, there is a target on your back. The enemy is not concerned about the “Sunday Sitters” that just sit in church on Sunday morning and do nothing with the Word of God. NO! He is concerned and will target those that are being led by the Spirit and obeying. When we are determined like Paul to go where the Spirit says go and do what the Spirit says to do, we ransack hell, we take ground away from the enemy and we lead souls back to the Father. The enemy is not happy with that and he strikes back.

Does the joy of the Lord carry you through trials? Paul was joyful. James was. In James 5:11 he says, “Behold, we consider those blessed to remain steadfast. For you have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and full of mercy.” Job did not curse God and die like his wife told him too. Job did not listen to his friends that spoke incorrectly of God. Job remained steadfast and the Lord rewarded him for it. James starts off with James 1:2-4 where he commands us, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet various kinds of trials. For you know that the testing of your faith for this steadfastness and steadfastness will have its full effect, that you may become perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” He doesn’t say try to be joyful or if you encounter trials. He emphatically states, “When you encounter trials! Count it as Joy!” Then he states the benefits of having a God-centered view of trials.

In addition to trials and testing, we face temptation. The person who endures temptation is blessed by God. Again, in James 1:12 he tells us, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” When we face those trials, when we face those temptations and we overcome them, we receive the crown of life. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 Paul writes, “No temptation is overcoming you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” The same temptations we face today have been the same temptations from the very existence. They just come in new ways. There are new ways of delivering the temptation, but the temptations are always there. But don’t worry about being tempted, being tempted isn’t a sin. And we don’t have to worry because “God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure.” You have the way of escape, you just have to be plugged into Him. The Holy Spirit will give you the way out if you're plugged into Him and listen to Him.

But if you don't listen to Him on a good day, how are you going to hear His voice on a bad day? If you're not hearing His voice when the road is smooth and there's no traffic, how are you going to hear His voice when the car horns are blurring, people are slamming on their brakes and the music is loud? You've got to know His voice before you face those trials. And if you do and you stay plugged into Him, He will provide a way out. And in James 4:7 and then in 27, he says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, he will flee from you.” But then he also says in 27, but “Give no opportunity to the devil.” Don't put yourself in a place of temptation. If you're an alcoholic, don't go to the bar to share the gospel. Don't give the devil an opportunity to make you fall. Be smart about it. And if you're plugged into the Holy Spirit, you won't walk in blindly into those situations where you can give the devil an opportunity.

Peter writes in 2 Peter 2:9, “Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.” The Lord knows, the Holy Spirit knows how to rescue us from ungodly trials. He sent Job Elihu. He brought David and Jonathan together. That is why fellowship is so important. He knows how to bring us out of trials. And when you allow yourself to be a spirit-filled believer, Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.” If you're plugged into the Holy Spirit and you're allowing Him to guide you and direct you, don't be surprised when you start to face trials. Don't be surprised when the fiery darts come upon you. The devil wants nothing to do with those CEWF Christians, those that only come to church Christmas and Easter, weddings and funeral, because they are doing nothing for God. They are not a threat to him. But when you're reading every day, when you're praying every day, when you come faithfully to church, when you do Bible study, when you're doing other things with other believers, you're taking ground away from sin and the enemy, then your target becomes bigger on your back. Don't let that be a disturbance for you though. God always provides a way out.

And Paul said no matter what suffering he did, it wasn't equal to the suffering that Christ did for us. So he will suffer all the more gladly. Be glad when those trials come your way because you're taking ground away from the enemy. Be glad that you're so in tune to the Holy Spirit that He's your guiding force. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and don't be surprised when those trials come your way. Be surprised when you're not facing any trials. Be concerned if you're not having any fiery darts shot in your way. Are you still plugged into the Holy Spirit?

What does it look like to invite the Holy Spirit into every part of your life — not just some rooms of your heart?

When life gets difficult, how can remembering God’s promises help you keep going?

What is one area where you need to become more determined to follow Jesus, no matter what?

How can you tell when the Holy Spirit is leading you to do something — and what helps you say “yes” to Him?

When you face temptation, what’s one way you can look for the “way of escape” God provides?

🔥 Where have you let comfort or discouragement dull your determination to follow the Holy Spirit fully?

🔥 How do you discern whether a current hardship is a test, a temptation, or a spiritual attack — and how does that shape your response?

🔥 In what ways have you seen discipline and devotion shape your spiritual resilience over time?

🔥 How do you remain joyful and steadfast when your obedience to the Holy Spirit brings opposition, trials, or spiritual resistance?

🔥 Where might you be giving the enemy a foothold — and how is the Spirit calling you to close that door with obedience and wisdom?