The Holy Spirit indwells the believer (Rev 3:20)

Be filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18

To be “filled with the Spirit” is never presented in the Holy Scriptures as an option. It is in fact a command by the One to whom we owe our allegiance. And we must obey.

Alas, there is no three step rule or 15 day regimen to follow to achieve this. There is but one way and one way alone to be filled with the Spirit of God. That requires us to empty ourselves, of everything, even our very selves, completely and allow Him to fill us to the point of overflowing.

In order to live the Christian life in which God delights we need to live a life of “Spirit-filledness”. Sadly, experience shows that we do not always remain filled with the Spirit. As Padre Iggulden would say, we are “leaking vessels” and we may grieve him with our pride and unrepentant ways. Being filled with the Spirit is to be a continuous process of dying to self and acknowledging the need to repent and receive forgiveness and direction from Christ.
God gave us the Holy Spirit because He knows that it is entirely impossible for us to live the Christian life in our own strength. The Christian life is a supernatural life and we need supernatural help to live it. As John 15:5 puts it “without Me you can do nothing”.
There none other than God who works in us the desire to do His will and good pleasure and the Holy Spirit helps us work it out in our lives (Eph 2:12,13; Hebrews 13:21). When we know the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in us deeply, completely and fully, old things will pass away and all things will become new. We will have new desires, new perspectives, new direction for our lives, a new understanding of God’s word and a new empowerment to share the love of God with others, like those first disciples at Pentecost.

Jesus poured out His life on the cross that His resurrection love and power may be poured into us by His Holy Spirit. He held nothing back but gave all of Himself. How much of ourselves have we given Him?

Prayer

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy; Act in me O Holy Spirit that my works, too, may be holy; Draw my heart O Holy Spirit that I love but what is holy; Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend that is holy; Guard me then O Holy Spirit that I always may be holy . St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)

By Corinne Nathaniel | May 28th, 2017