I want to speak to you out of Ephesians 5, about characteristics of a spirit-filled life. When someone says they believe in a spirit-filled life, they are not referring to an abstract concept. The Bible describes specific signs that follow a life heavily influenced by the Holy Spirit's presence. It is not God's will that only some would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. It is a second baptism that all believers are invited to partake of.

If you live very long, you'll receive bad news at some point. Life is full of discouragement. The various events of life are guaranteed to leave you with at least a few scars. Therefore, the importance is not what happens to us but how we respond. The discouraging thoughts that come to us, do not have to go through us. We have talked about Joshua in the Old Testament and his response to discouragement, but I'd like to talk to you now about how Paul is our example in the Church Age of dealing with discouragement. We are never alone in our battle to stay encouraged.

If you live very long, you are going to face some discouragement, it is a natural part of life. When you go to the Old Testament in the book of Joshua, you see that one of the primary things God told the next leader of the Israelites was to not be discouraged -- "be of good courage." Israel faced a great task, that of setting the promised land. God knew they would face adversity and wanted to encourage them, thus these words. In the modern church age God's message carries on to us: regardless of what darkness we see in the world, we must remember God is in control.