Receiving the Holy Spirit Pt.6
Step Six: BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The words I want us to look at are well known to those who have the Holy Ghost living within them. You will find in Acts 2:4 the following words: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” And in Ephesians 4:18 Paul tells us, from the original text; “Be filled with the Spirit.”
The scripture in our opening text is a narrative; it tells us what actually happened to the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. While the text in Ephesians is a command; it tells us what we ought to be or be filled with.
Now, in case we doubt in our minds about it actually being a command, let’s look at how it links to another command, “Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
I am sure if I asked you, do you obey the command: “Be not drunk with wine.” Your answer would be: “Of course, as a Christian, I obey the command.” But now, what about the other – “Be filled with the Spirit,” do you obey that? Is that the life you are living? Are you willing to take up that command today, and to say: Lord Jesus help me, I want to obey? I will not give myself rest until I’m filled with the Spirit every day.
We said yesterday that we have one Holy Ghost baptism but several infillings. That means you are supposed to ask the Lord to fill you daily with the Holy Spirit before you leave home. When Paul said to the Ephesians: “be filled with the Spirit" the word for “be filled” is actually in the present continuous tense, giving the verse the meaning, “Be continually filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.”
In other words, each encounter with the Holy Spirit is unique and powerful in its own right. After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, He received the Holy Spirit as it descended on Him as gently as a dove (Matthew 3:16). On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit with amazing manifestations.
In Acts 4, when the disciples were being persecuted by the religious leaders for preaching and doing miracles in the name of Jesus, They came together to pray for God’s help. And the Bible says, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31) So you see, this experience is different from the one they had in the upper room.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I ask you to fill me with Your precious Holy Spirit today as I go out to do my business. Help me to walk in victory and live a fruitful life in Jesus name.