A Christian needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit. When a person trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, the Holy Spirit immediately indwells that person (1 Corinthians 3:16.) However, there’s a difference between indwelling and being filled with the Holy Spirit. All saved people have the Spirit of God, but it doesn’t mean they are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Realize the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the work of God (Acts 1:8.) Many Christians are willing to serve God but try to do it with their power. While it is true that God gave us different spiritual gifts to use in the ministry, you also need to understand that we are fighting a spiritual battle. And the only way we can win this spiritual warfare is to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6.)
One of the biggest mistakes Christians make nowadays is focusing on improving their skills and abilities, but they neglect the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they end up unfruitful, unaccomplished and burnt out. That’s why the Bible commands us to be filled with the Spirit.
We understand the importance of being filled with the Spirit. However, it is also essential to know how to do it.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Ephesians 5:18
Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
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?
Luke 11:13
If we desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must pray to God and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit. We ask for many things in prayer. But when did you last ask for the Spirit of God to fill you?
We pray for the things we desire. The reality is that most of our desires are temporal. We pray for material things, financial gain, and career advances. This truth shows us what we desire in our hearts. We want material things more than spiritual things.
If we want the power to do more for God, let’s pray and ask the Spirit of God to fill us.
Don’t let sin fill your heart.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Ephesians 5:18
Paul shows us the contrast between two things that fill the heart of a Christian. Sin had filled the heart of some Christians. In contrast, the Spirit had filled the heart of others.
The Apostle also teaches us that sin or the Holy Spirit will fill your heart. In verse, being drunk with wine represents a heart filled with worldly lust. And where worldly lust abounds, sin enters.
If sin fills the heart of a Christian, it would mean that worldly lust dictates his actions. As a result, Christians would do things contrary to Christ’s teachings. Remember how Ananias and Sapphira stole the money they promised to the church? The Scriptures revealed later that Ananias had done it because Satan had filled his heart (Acts 5:3.)
On the other hand, a Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit will do the right thing. The Holy Spirit will reprove you of sin so that you will continue in holiness (John 16:7-8.) Also, the Spirit will guide you into all truth so that the devil’s lies won’t deceive you (John 16:13.)
Therefore, if we want the Spirit of God to fill us, we must avoid sin at all costs.
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