Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

As a believer, God has provided the Holy Spirit for you and I so that we can experience the power of the gospel that allows us to live the Christian life. When a person is filled with the Spirit, they are allowing His presence to fill their entire life — every “room” in their life, every closet and every junk drawer of their life.

People were never meant to live segmented lives where they give God one part and another to the flesh or the Devil. To be filled with His presence means that you allow Him to fill every part of you. It’s only in giving Him access to every part that you experience the presence of His transforming grace, even in those areas that you have walled off and hidden.

In the book of Acts, the Apostles when referring to be filled with the Spirit, use the Greek word Pimplemi several times. It carries the idea - to be filled, wholly imbued, affected, and influenced. This word implies a single event taking place and empowering believers for a work of service. However, being filled with the Spirit is not only a single event, but it is a continual process, and it bears fruit in growth and spiritual maturity while serving the body of Christ and ultimately glorifying God.

Another Greek word in the New Testament applicable to being Spirit-filled is the word Pleroo which is “to make full.” This type of filling is seen in Ephesians 5:18-20: 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. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

As believers, we are filled as we seek His guidance in all areas of life.  When we yield to the instruction of the Word of God, we yield to the continual filling of the Holy Spirit. This type of filling means relinquishing control of our selves. To experience being filled with the Spirit means allowing Him unrestricted access to every aspect of our existence, where He can lead and govern us. Jesus said in John14: 16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is a continual process of growth and maturity, and this type of maturity comes from being moulded by the Word of God. To be filled with the Spirit means that as a followers of Jesus we are empowered to live the life God intended for us by submitting to the presence, power and purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

 

PASTOR ABRAHAM GEORGE