July 10, 2017 BE FILLED
Ephesians 5:18: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”
Acts 13:52: “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
There is much discussion and needless debate about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Focusing on one scripture while neglecting the totality of the scriptures often leads to error or misinterpretation. Certainly, we are blessed by, and benefit from those who devote their life to the study and proclamation of the scriptures. However, God’s word is amazing in that the message of the gospel can be grasped by anyone who is able to read and has a desire to know God. Until Jesus came, the Holy Spirit did not indwell believers, but when Jesus came, everything changed! Once the sin issue had been death with by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and man had been restored to God, the Holy Spirit would be sent to indwell all believers. In John 16, Jesus is conversing with His disciples about His returning to the Father and in verse 7 he says: ”But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you,” and in verse 13 He says: “But when the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak of His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” No one could live the Christian life and no one could live according to the gospel without the Holy Spirit of God indwelling and equipping. God sent the Holy Spirit for a purpose-to guide, to convict, to empower, and to give understanding in the things of God. At the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit is given to the believer, but it is not a one-time occurrence. We know form scripture that a believer can choose to stop walking according to the Spirit and revert back to walking according to the flesh and grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:20). God desires a living, dynamic relationship with those who belong to Him and He desires to reveal His ways to us and He desires that we work with Him as He works in us. Walking with God and relating to God is to be an ongoing daily happening. We are in a battle with Satan and the world, and we need His continual working in us to be overcomers. It should be our mind-set to be continually being filled with the Spirit. We are filled with the Spirit by acknowledging that we are dependent on God for everything and my surrendering our will to His will, and then following His leading.
Galatians 5:25: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Ephesians 5:18: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”
Acts 13:52: “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
There is much discussion and needless debate about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Focusing on one scripture while neglecting the totality of the scriptures often leads to error or misinterpretation. Certainly, we are blessed by, and benefit from those who devote their life to the study and proclamation of the scriptures. However, God’s word is amazing in that the message of the gospel can be grasped by anyone who is able to read and has a desire to know God. Until Jesus came, the Holy Spirit did not indwell believers, but when Jesus came, everything changed! Once the sin issue had been death with by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and man had been restored to God, the Holy Spirit would be sent to indwell all believers. In John 16, Jesus is conversing with His disciples about His returning to the Father and in verse 7 he says: ”But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you,” and in verse 13 He says: “But when the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak of His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” No one could live the Christian life and no one could live according to the gospel without the Holy Spirit of God indwelling and equipping. God sent the Holy Spirit for a purpose-to guide, to convict, to empower, and to give understanding in the things of God. At the point of salvation, the Holy Spirit is given to the believer, but it is not a one-time occurrence. We know form scripture that a believer can choose to stop walking according to the Spirit and revert back to walking according to the flesh and grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:20). God desires a living, dynamic relationship with those who belong to Him and He desires to reveal His ways to us and He desires that we work with Him as He works in us. Walking with God and relating to God is to be an ongoing daily happening. We are in a battle with Satan and the world, and we need His continual working in us to be overcomers. It should be our mind-set to be continually being filled with the Spirit. We are filled with the Spirit by acknowledging that we are dependent on God for everything and my surrendering our will to His will, and then following His leading.
Galatians 5:25: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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