Spiritual Authority – Restored In Christ: Living by the Spirit

“What spirit we are full of is what will lead us.” — Pastor Chad Everett

In this message from Spiritual Authority – Restored In Christ, Pastor Chad Everett teaches a foundational truth for every believer: spiritual authority flows from Living By The Spirit, not from effort, emotion, or religious habit. Drawing from Ephesians, Luke, and the book of Acts, this teaching calls the church back to maturity, discipleship, and a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Purpose of the Church: More Than Attendance

Scripture clearly shows that the church exists for more than weekly services. In Ephesians 4: 11–13, Jesus gave gifts to the church to equip the saints—not to perform for them.

Living By The Spirit means the church enters people into the fullness of Christ and trains them to live as disciples every day of the week.

When believers fail to live out their faith beyond Sunday, spiritual growth stalls. God designed the church for transformation, not consumption.

Spiritual Authority Requires Cooperation With God

God remains the source of all power, authority, and life. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. At the same time, Scripture shows that God entrusts responsibility to His people.

From the beginning, God gave humanity dominion. Spiritual authority operates through cooperation—what we agree with, align with, and yield to. Living By The Spirit calls believers to cooperate daily with God’s will rather than follow personal reasoning or emotions.

The direction of our lives often reflects how willingly we cooperate with God’s leading.

Why Being Filled With the Holy Spirit Matters

Jesus modeled Living By The Spirit. Luke 4: 1 shows that Jesus lived filled with the Holy Spirit and followed the Spirit’s leading.

If Jesus, the Son of God, relied on the Holy Spirit to walk in authority, believers need the Spirit even more.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not describe a one-time event. It describes an ongoing relationship with a Person. Scripture repeatedly shows believers receiving fresh filling as they walked with God.

Living By The Spirit requires continual filling.

The Difference Between the Spirit in You and the Spirit Upon You

The Bible reveals a clear distinction between the Holy Spirit working in us and coming upon us.

The Holy Spirit in us brings regeneration and new life.
The Holy Spirit upon us brings power, boldness, and authority.

Throughout the book of Acts, believers who already followed Jesus received fresh empowerment through the Holy Spirit. Living By The Spirit welcomes both salvation and empowerment.

What Fills You Will Lead You

One of the most practical truths in this message remains simple and powerful: what fills us leads us.

When bitterness, fear, lust, or unforgiveness fill the heart, those influences guide decisions. When the Spirit of God fills a believer, the Spirit directs thoughts, responses, and actions.

Living By The Spirit does not depend on resisting sin through effort. It depends on allowing God’s Spirit to fill every space until no room remains for competing influences.

Spiritual Maturity Means Being Led by the Spirit

Romans 8: 14 teaches that those led by the Spirit of God live as sons and daughters of God. Scripture points to maturity, not position.

Living By The Spirit moves believers from spiritual infancy toward spiritual maturity. As faith grows, believers surrender control and trust the Spirit’s leading more fully.

Maturity shows itself not by church attendance but by consistent obedience to the Spirit of God.

Making Room for God’s Presence

This message also challenges a culture that rushes out as soon as the sermon ends. God often works beyond preaching through prayer, response, and reverence.

Living By The Spirit honors God’s presence and creates space for Him to move in hearts and lives, both personally and corporately.

God’s work does not end when the sermon ends.

Living By The Spirit Every Day

Jesus restored spiritual authority so believers could live transformed lives. Living By The Spirit equips followers of Christ to walk in freedom, resist the flesh, and partner with God’s purposes wherever they go.

This life does not grow from religious effort. It grows from relationship, filling, and obedience.

When believers live filled with the Spirit, they walk led by the Spirit. When they follow the Spirit’s leading, they walk in the authority Christ restored.

Key Scriptures
Ephesians 4: 11–13 • Luke 4: 1 • Acts 1: 8 • Acts 2: 4 • Acts 4: 31