In (Ephesians 5:15-20), we read a very important portion of Scripture about the role of the Holy Spirit: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
According to the above section of Scripture we are told that God wants all of His children to be “filled with the Spirit.” Sadly, many Christians believe that being filled with the Spirit is only for those believers who have ascended to some special high level of Christianity. This, however is not the case and the admonition to be filled with the Spirit is clearly for all Christians. I like the way A. W. Tozer refers to the believers relationship with the Holy Spirit: “The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.”1
But just what does being filled with the Spirit mean and why does the Bible call this need to be filled, normative for believers?
To me being filled with the Holy Spirit means yielding daily our wills to God by submission and obedience to His Word. It means turning our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions, or in other words every part of our lives, to the control of the Lord. And I believe as we draw closer to the Lord this filling of the Spirit should become more intense and evident to all those around us.
Some of the key signs of being filled with the Spirit include a strong manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit in the believer, some of which include love, joy, peace, and patience. Being filled with the Spirit also gives a Christian a greater desire and ability to serve others. In addition, a servant of the Lord will have a deeper commitment to prayer and worship and will show forth a powerful change in behavior and attitudes such as always being thankful, even during the trials of life.
And the reason I say this total transformation of character should be normative in the life of a Christian is because that my friends is what Jesus expects from His children. At salvation the believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit and it should be his great joy to hand the keys of his heart over to the Lord. When he does this all the power to live the Christian life and serve humanity should be at the believer’s disposal. All we have to do is obey God’s will and get set to live the adventure of a lifetime with Jesus watching over us and cheering us on each step of the way.
So, Christian if you are not filled with the Holy Spirit, why not take the time to fall more in love with Jesus and let His love so motivate and empower you to let the Holy Spirit run your life – I guarantee you will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!