Be "filled" with the Spirit

Eph 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit....

There is a definite distinction between being “sealed” by the Holy Spirit and being “filled” with the Spirit.

At the point of initial salvation, when we repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are instantly transformed from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of his beloved Son. It’s a wholesale radical transformation of what what were, children of darkness, to now being children of the light. At that point, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as a “seal” of our inheritance. 

But now, beyond being “sealed”, the Apostle Paul specifically exhorts us to be “filled” with the Spirit. Why?

The “sealing” happens once, but the “filling” is something that we ourselves are required to continually tend to and maintain. At any particular point in time you are maintaining a “level” of the Holy Spirits filling that influences everything about you, your demeanor, how you walk, how you respond to things and ultimately your usefulness in the kingdom of God. Those who are “filled” with the Spirit are the ones who are effective for the purposes of God. Steven, the first martyr, was specifically recognized as one “full” of the Holy Spirit, and therefore carried a distinction above that of his other brethren. When Peter addressed the elders and scribes in Acts 4, it was specially noted that he was “filled” with the Holy Spirit. There are numerous other examples in scripture.

It has nothing to do with the “office” you hold, but everything to do with the level of the Holy Spirit’s filling that you personally maintain. A pastor/preacher/missionary is no better equipped to effectively serve God than any other person simply by virtue of their office, it all hinges on how “full” of the Holy Spirit a person is at any given time. Anyone can minster, but in order to minister effectively requires a sufficient filling of the Holy Spirit.

The responsibility is upon US the be filled with the Spirit, as a Christian, we alone determine the level of the Holy Spirit’s filling that is present at any given time within us, this is why the scripture implores us to “grieve not” the Holy Spirit in Eph 4:30. It is Gods desire that his people would continually be “filled” with the Spirit. The Greek word for “filled” literally means to “make replete” to “cram” to “level up”.

How do we obtain and maintain this “filling”? By actively and consistently "sowing" to the things of the Spirit, and steadfastly resisting anything that would grieve the Holy Spirit.

Gal 6:7-8 - Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Since it is possible to be "depleted" of the Spirit's filling, we must consistently pursue it as a matter of daily habit, primarily through earnest prayer and worship. Seek, and ye shall find, knock and the door shall shall be opened to you.....

The very next verse, right after the Apostle implores us to be filled with the Spirit also gives us something of a clue: Eph 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

This may seem somewhat strange to us, what kind of person, really, regularly “speaks to themselves” in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs?  Who, as a matter of daily practice, is of such a joyful demeanor that they “make melody in their heart to the Lord”? This is a picture of a person with a fervent, earnest prayer/devotional life that is driven by deep commitment to the Lord. A person who maintains a close and regular communion with Him that drives them to fellowship with Him every day in a deep and abiding relationship. A heart that delights in His word and precepts, desires to do his will and walks in it. A person that produces the fruit of righteousness in their daily walk.

How vital is it that we maintain this filling?  The parable of the 10 virgins gives us a stark picture. All 10 virgins were “waiting for the bridegroom”, much like any Christian today who will say they are eagerly awaiting Christ’s return. But five were wise, and five were foolish. Oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit, five of the virgins had enough oil to carry them through the door, and five did not. The door was shut to the five who did not maintain the “level” of oil needed to carry them through and they were rejected.

Let’s take heed this parable and be like the five wise virgins. Let’s seek to daily be “filled” with the Spirit.