Subscription Lists

Ephesians 5:18 says, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." Paul is purposefully setting up a comparison here between drunkenness and the filling of the Spirit. Drunkenness, of course, is wrong, whereas the filling of the Spirit is desirable, even as stated here, commanded. Drunkenness and the filling of the Spirit do have some things in common, which is why Paul would attempt to compare them. In both instances, the person acted upon either by the alcohol or the Spirit of God is controlled by that which is influencing them. The person is totally yielded, submitted, and surrendered to the whims and ways of that which acts upon them and in them. Alcohol brings out the bad desires of the heart without immediately feeling bad about the resultant wrong actions, while the Spirit of God brings about life, godliness, and fruitfulness. Both have great influence upon people, and we can conclude that the filling of the Spirit is a state of being in which the believer lets God have His way in his heart. Self seeking is abandoned and exchanged for seeking the pleasure and purposes of God. This is not a bitter obedience or an obedience which looks to exalt self, but this is an obedience that is consumed totally and exclusively with the glory of God. The filling of the Spirit moves a person to obey with joy as he is consumed with the awe, majesty, and perfection of God. This is a state of utmost freedom and usefulness to God, and it is a state where believers are commanded to be regularly, continually, and on an ongoing basis.

I think it is possible to miss the simplicity of the filling of the Spirit and to get off course chasing some mystical experience which we can call our own filling of the Spirit. We could worry ourselves into a frenzy by trying to pray every day for the filling of the Spirit and wonder if we ever were indeed filled. The filling of the Spirit is available to all believers from day one as a follower of Christ. If we walk in humility and abide with Christ, we can expect to be filled. If we quench the Spirit or grieve Him with sin or pride, we can expect not to be filled. All believers have the Spirit within their hearts; the issue is whether or not they are letting the Spirit have all of their hearts. Filling is thus a yielding to the Spirit’s leading and guiding as we depend upon Him for strength rather than upon ourselves and tremble before the Word of God in humility. It is not some advanced state of being, but it is a yielding. The best way to think of filling is just like going to the gas station. We go to the gas station because our gas tank is empty. We need fuel in order for our vehicle to run and take us where we need to go. Spiritually, we need energy. The Word of God is our food, but it is the Spirit which "metabolizes" the food into useable energy as He gives us insight, understanding, and the will and ability to apply the truth of the Scripture. We need to be refueled on the Spirit which we do by continuing to acknowledge our emptiness apart from God and as we place our faith in Him for strength. We must believe that without His empowerment, we have an empty tank. That is, apart from Him, we can do nothing of spiritual value (John 15:5). Once we understand this, we can be filled to let Him do through us what we could never do on our own. The resultant faithfulness and fruitfulness as God accomplishes great things through us by His Spirit is evidence that we have indeed been filled with the Spirit. We cannot be filled unless we first recognize and admit by faith that we are empty save for the grace and power of God.

How the command to "be filled" is stated is also important. It implies a yielding to the work of God because it commands us to let God do something to us and in us. We do have a choice in the matter, but it is a choice to let God do what God wants to do. Thus, filling requires yielding. The command also implies that we continue to be filled; that is, we are to live as those who are filled with the Spirit. We are not to live sometimes filled, yielding upon the Spirit for grace, while other times depending upon our own strength as we exalt in our own emptiness. Going from filled to empty and back and forth over and over again speaks of a spiritual instability and a pride problem. God’s call is to be continually filled as we continually walk in humility and obedience to Him so that He fills us and empowers us to do His will. Thus, the command says that we are to "be filled." The burden of work is on the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to come to Him empty, humble, and in faith. As we surrender and submit to God, we can rest assured that God will fill us to have the power to obey and do His will.

In Acts 4:31 we read, "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness." In verse 28, prior to God’s answer of their prayer, we see their heart in the matter when they say, "Do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur." This is the key in being filled with the Spirit. There was no question about the humility of the disciples or of their desire to obey. Yet they knew that they needed the power of God to work through them, or they were in a situation too difficult for them to handle. They came to God recognizing their emptiness and their need for His strength and empowerment. They came fully yielded, willing to do whatever God wanted them to do. They submitted fully to the will of God and surrendered to His leading completely. This posture of emptiness is when God delights in filling us with His strength, boldness, courage, and wisdom.

May we humble ourselves to recognize our emptiness and glory in His fullness (Colossians 1:19) so that we can be filled with His Spirit to do His will.

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

The First Sin