WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Rev. Mike Jones,
We are never commanded to be indwelt, sealed, or baptized with the Holy Spirit because these are the work of God at Salvation. We are, however, commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit {Ep 5:18}.
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT?
The analogy between being Drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit occurs several times in the NT: Luke 1:15, Acts 2:4, 13, and Ep 5:18. A drunken person is under the control of alcohol and will think, speak, and act in ways not natural when sober. A Christian who is filled with the Spirit will think, speak, and act in ways not natural when he or she is controlled by the flesh.
There are many things in Scripture that "Fill" us:
FEAR- Luke 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today. (When the man was healed of Palsy). The fear controlled their lives and caused them to act differently.
MADNESS- Luke 6:6-11 when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath They were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. Once again, Control.
SORROW- Jn 16:6 Because I have said these things unto you, Sorrow hath filled your heart. Sorrow replaced Joy and controlled them.
SATAN- Acts 5:1-4 Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Instead of being controlled by the Spirit Ananias was controlled by Satan.
At the new Birth the absolute control the sinful nature had over a person is broken and he how has a Spiritual nature as well. The Holy Spirit seeks to control the life of the individual in order to produce the fruits of the Spirit in his life. He cannot do this unless the person's "Will" will allow Him to. Being filled with the Spirit is simply allowing the Spirit to do in your life what the Spirit wants to do (and which only He can do).
Being Filled with the Spirit means that the Spirit controls the behavior of the Christian and performs His ministries through the believer. This is very important because only as the believer walks by means of the Spirit (Gal 5:16), being continually filled with the Spirit (Ep 5:18), will he be enabled to fulfill all God's plan for his life and carry out the program of good works for which he is saved (Ep 2:10).
The filling with the Spirit, radically affects Christian life and service. It produces Christian character in the ninefold fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), power for testimony (Acts 1:8), boldness for witnessing (Acts 4:31), and victory over the flesh (Gal 5:10). It results in the Spirit's teaching (Jn 16:13; I Jn 2:27), true praise and worship (Ep 5:18-20), guidance (Rom 8:14), and effective prayer (Rom 8:27). The Disciples were filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost in order to PREACH {Acts 2:4}. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit in order to TESTIFY {Acts 4:8} and the disciples were filled with the Spirit again in order to BOLDLY SPEAK God's Word {Acts 4:31}. Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost when he was COMMISSIONED TO SERVE GOD {Acts 9:17} and again when he WITHSTOOD Elymas the sorcerer {Acts 13:8-10}.
It appears then that the Filling with the Spirit affects every area of the Christian life and is necessary to effectively do the work God has for you to do.
The knowledge that the Holy Spirit is seeking to control every part of the Believer may (could I say usually??) comes to the Believer after they're saved. Because of all the confusion about the Filling of the Spirit, it's hard to find a word to describe this second time of "crisis" in a person's life (The first time is when you become aware of your wickedness and the need of Salvation. Now you are aware of your weakness and the need of Strength).
But regardless of the name you use you'll never do an effective work for the Lord without it (To try to do the work of God without the power of God is like trying to empty the ocean with a pitchfork; you'll work yourself to death and never accomplish anything.).
Satan has sought to greatly confuse this matter because it is the Pivotal Point in Christian Service. He tries to get people involved in "wildfire" emotional experiences that have great outward signs ("miracles", tongues, etc), or he tries to scare people away from the Spirit so they will live a life of self-control instead of Spirit- control (Thus making their life and service for the Lord ineffective). The Spirit controlled life is one of death to Self. This will destroy your need of "signs" to show the world and of the Pride that keeps you from yielding to God.
The simple rule of thumb I use to tell the difference between those that are controlled by the Spirit and those that are not is: The Non-spirit controlled person is taken up with his SALVATION (He still majors on self and what God has done for HIM). The Spirit controlled person is taken up with his SAVIOR (Not I but Christ. Remember that the Spirit will always magnify Christ.).
II. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM A SPIRIT FILLED LIFE:
A) Power- To Witness for Christ -Acts 1:8 4:31-32. Lost people are DEAD in trespasses and sins. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can “raise the dead” into new life in Christ.
B) Persecution- From the enemies of Christ Acts 7:55-60 I Pet 4:14
C) Peace- From Abiding in Christ Ep 4:3 John 14:26-27
D) Productivity: Spirit Filled Christians--
1. Build the Church- (Wisdom to do the work in the Church that needs to be done if it is to operate effectively) Ex 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. To devise cunning works,...Ex 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. See also Ex 35:30-35
2. Build the Ministry (One of the Qualification of Deacons who were chosen in order to enable the Disciples to more effectively do their job). [These men needed to be filled with the Spirit IN ORDER TO WAIT ON TABLES!!!]- Acts 6:3-4 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:17-18)