How do you prove that something is authentic? Well, you might say, it depends on what it is you want to prove. Suppose I have a bottle of “Loctite” and I need to glue some pottery together. How would I prove that the contents in this bottle were in fact “Loctite”? This is an easy question to answer, if the contents responded like water, it would not be authentic, however if it did what it was supposed to be you better not put any one your finger tips and touch something. The “Loctite” would do its magic and glue two things together, quickly.
How about a Spirit filled believer? How do you prove they are authentic? The opposite of a of a Spirit filled believer of course is a person who says they are a believer but has different responses than that of what the Spirit filled person might. It is the same as the “Loctite” because it is hard for us to see what exactly is in the bottle. In the same way, it is hard for us to see what is inside people. So the true test is to see what comes out. Galatians 5:19-21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (NIV) So to prove the authenticity of a Spirit fill believer is see the Spirit come out so to speak. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Luke 6:45 also says “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
The question for us today then is, “How will other people prove that you are a Spirit filled believer?