“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
At conversion you receive the justified life. You are made righteous. This is followed by a consecrated life when we acknowledge the Lord's ownership of our lives (I Cor. 6:19-20). At the altar of consecration we yield our lives and our will to God (Matt. 26:39). This is followed by the emptied life when we cast aside evil and selfishness. But you cannot live in a vacuum. Your life must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is a very strong New Testament command.
At conversion you are complete in Christ but generally you do not enter into the fullness of his spiritual inheritance until sometime later. As you yield the control of your life He will fill you more and more of His Spirit (Luke 11:13). We are taught here to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost speaks of the indwelling of Christ while Luke, pleads for the filling and fullness of the Holy Spirit. Is this a crisis experience separate from conversion? It need not be, but in many cases it is a harder struggle to surrender our will than our sins.
The disciples were to tarry in Jerusalem waiting for Pentecost (Luke 24:49). Acts 2:4 was the fulfillment of this promise when the Spirit came to abide. When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, you have the Spirit, but the Spirit does not control you. You still have your own will. You may pray or not, give or not, witness or not, surrender or not. You may obey or resist and grieve the Spirit.
The crowning act of faith is when you abdicate your will to God’s Spirit. Then and only then can you be Spirit-filled. The infilling is received when you consciously recognize that God’s Spirit is in full control of your life, completely governing every detail of life.
Is this wonderful experience a luxury for a few people? No! It ought to be the experience of every believer. Ephesians 5:18 is not an optional command. The picture presented in this verse is a contrast between a man under the influence, completely directed by another power, either wine (earthly) or the spirit (heavenly). The Greek language is in the imperative progressive, keep on being filled. Let the filling be constant and continuous in your life. Each day needs its own new fullness.
Every believer needs the filling of the Holy Spirit. The filling is for pastors, preachers, fathers, mothers and young people. We each need it for our own benefit in order to be the best possible disciple for Christ. Without it you cannot achieve the Lord's will for you regarding character and service.
The Holy Spirit cannot illuminate our mind, warm our affections, purge our conscience or energize our will until we surrender to Him and keep surrendered.
Sometimes unwise, extravagant and fanatical things are done in the name of the filling of the Holy Spirit. Because of this some shun the filling. The church needs Spirit-filled believers. If the filling is lacking, the church is plagued with disorders, dissensions, strife, backbiting, jealousy and scandal.
The world expects us to be spirit-filled. Our spiritual walk is twofold: God ward and outward to our fellowmen. The world expects us to be almost perfect. To live up to the world's imaginary standard every believer desperately needs the Spirit's filling.
You cannot be an effective witness if you are not Spirit-filled. To do the work of the Lord in the energy of the flesh can only lead to disappointment and failure. Spirit-filled believers, living the crucified life in relation to the world, are an effective means in the Lord's hands to convict and convince sinners.
CONDITIONS OF FILLING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. Desire: John 7:37-39; Isa. 44:3
B. Faith: John 7:39; Gal. 3:13-14
C. Obedience: Acts 5:32
D. Prayer: Luke 11:13; Acts 4:31
The secret of being filled with the Holy Spirit is surrender, surrendering our will, body, possessions and every aspect of our lives to His control.
RESULTS OF BEING SPIRIT-FILLED
A. Power to witness: Acts 1:8
B. Power to live victorious: Acts 20:22-24
C. Glory to the Lord: John 16:14
The infilling of the Spirit is the indispensable qualification for all holy living. The Holy Spirit quickens the intellect, affections, conscience, will and personality.
We are not reservoirs but channels. We must overflow. Blessings must pour out. Conversion first, then filling and overflowing. Remember the filling is not a once-for all experience. It must be repeated daily.
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