Last time we looked at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Today let’s look briefly at the “filling of the Holy Spirit.”

Paul the apostle states in Ephesians 5:18 NET “And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit.” 

When a person is drunk with wine the alcohol in the wine controls that person. It determines what the person says and how they say it. It controls their attitude, their emotions, and their thoughts. The alcohol is in control. Paul says don’t be drunk with alcohol (wine) but instead let the Holy Spirit control your thoughts, feelings, attitude, actions, and words; “be filled with the Spirit.” As we think this whole idea through we realize:

1> This experience of being “filled with the Spirit” can happen many times – and, in fact, should be something we pray about and for on a daily basis. Then the Holy Spirit is given fresh, daily permission to fill you and thus influence and guide and direct your every day life.

2> This “filling” and thus “being full” is a present day reality. It is not just a once in a lifetime experience. It is something that can be fresh and new every morning.

3> This refreshing and being refilled by Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).

4> The tense in which Paul wrote “be filled” shows us that this is actually a command to the believer.

5> This ‘filling’ is something we can actually experience and is, of course, very practical as then the Spirit can guide and direct us throughout the day. It is not simply a theory or a theological doctrine. It is a daily encounter and experience of the Holy Spirit of the Living God.

6> The constant filling allows us and enables us to live for Christ regardless of the circumstances we face and the situation that we are in.

7> Allowing ourselves to be “filled with the Spirit” literally means making the Spirit president of our lives. He is in control and we are not. We are yielded to Him.

8> This enables us to share fellowship with the Spirit in a very real way

2 Corinthians 13:13 NET “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

So we can and should pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit daily … and maybe even frequently throughout the day.