IX. Transition Points in Spiritual Growth

Grace is Holy Spirit Enabled Gifts

When a believer fully yields to the Lordship of the indwelling Christ as defined by Romans 12:1-2, that believer-priest is consecrated by God to minister before Him as His "ambassador" (II Corinthians 5:20) and minister of "reconciliation" (II Corinthians 5:18). The conditions of Romans 12:1-2 are necessary before any believer-priest can be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). Once the believer-priest is consecrated by God to do the "work of the ministry" (Ephesians 4:12), the "gifts" the believer-priest possesses will be divinely energized. This is the actual meaning of Spirit empowerment.