HOW I CAN BE FILLED With the Holy Spirit

HOW I CAN BE FILLED With the Holy Spirit?

Just as it is impossible to become a Christian by our human desire, it is also impossible to live the Christian life in our human strength. The real Christian life is totally dependent upon the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. With that in mind, what is the difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit?

• • The indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs when a person receives Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Just as our natural birth gave us our physical life, when we were born again by the power of the Holy Spirit, we were given our spiritual life. The Holy Spirit transformed our hearts from indifference and hostility toward God to a love of, and for God, as well as a new desire for righteousness and holiness. The Holy Spirit convicted us of our sins and our need for a Savior. He convinced us to repent of those sins and to receive Jesus Christ as the Savior we needed. At that moment, the Holy Spirit began conforming our lives to Christ.

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  (John 3:5-8)

“By this, we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:13-14).

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:38-39).

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs when we believe in Christ, and while our sinful actions will grieve Him, He will never leave us.

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought
at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the
Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
(Ephesians 1:13-14).

• • The filling of the Holy Spirit is a repeated experience based upon the specific task, assignment, or need of the believer at that moment. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be empowered to live the Christian life.

“Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16)

In the Scripture, “walking” illustrates one’s relationship with God. To walk with the Lord is to live in obedience to God’s Word. To walk according to the flesh is to live in disobedience to God’s Word. Therefore, the level of one’s intimacy with God is based upon their willingness to yield their lives unto the control of the Holy Spirit within them.

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal,
as to babes in Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:1)

Notice, Paul referred to them as “brethren,” – i.e., fellow believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but who were not walking in the Spirit, but in the flesh. Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but not every Christian is constantly filled with the Holy Spirit, but they are commanded to be.

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled
with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

The Apostle Paul contrasted a person under the control of the Holy Spirit with a person whose body is affected by the abuse of alcohol. The issue is that of control. When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, they are controlled by the Holy Spirit, and the command in Ephesians 5:18 is for the believer to be “continually filled” so as to be continually controlled by the Holy Spirit.

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption.”  (Ephesians 4:30)

When sin enters the life of a Christian, the Holy Spirit is hindered in His ministry and He is “grieved.” It is a dangerous thing for a Christian to live outside the will of God, for if they do not confess their sin, God will discipline them for their shortcomings either through physical illness, or even death.

However, it is clear that the Christian remains saved because he is saved by grace and not by works; but he will not enjoy his salvation to the full if he is not yielded to God’s Spirit, and he will lose his eternal rewards in heaven.

• • The Effects of Being Filled with the Holy Spirit are temporal, with eternal rewards.
    
    • Progressive Sanctification – after salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify the Christian – to “set them apart” for God’s use, and to conform their lives to the image of Christ. The result will be that he will manifest the fruit of the Spirit as illustrated in Galatians 5:22-23.
    • The Use of Spiritual Gifts – at the moment of salvation, each believer is given a special assignment for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The work of the Holy Spirit is to surface that “calling,” and to show the believer how to use God’s supernatural power to accomplish the work God has called them to do. (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Ephesians 4:11-14)
    • Guidance of the Spirit – not only in the understanding of God’s Word, but in the discernment of God’s Will, through the study of God’s Word. (Romans 12:1-2, Romans8:14)
    • The Assurance of Salvation – the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is the evidence that we are a child of God. (Romans 8:16, Galatians 4:6, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:13)

• • To be filled with the Holy Spirit the believer must empty themselves of all pride, self-sufficiency, independence, and the desire for self-control. The Holy Spirit will not share the throne of our heart with anyone, or anything. Once we are sure we want to be filled, we must:
    • Present our body unto the Lord – God will not fill what is not dedicated to Him. Are you ready to surrender your body, your mind, your will, and your emotions to the Lord? (Romans 12:1-2)
    • Ask – in Luke 11:13, Jesus chided his disciples – “If ye then, being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?”
    • Obey – are you ready to obey what the Holy Spirit prompts you to do without hesitation, reservation, qualification, or equivocation? To study the Scriptures is one thing, and to know them is another, but to LIVE by them is revolutionary, and only a few will walk in His ways. (Acts 5:32)
    • Believe – which means to act upon your faith – to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Join us next week as we focus on “HOW CAN I GET ALONE WITH GOD FOR AN HOUR, OR FOR A DAY“?