What does being filled with the Spirit mean to you? Do you think of it as having the Spirit in you, accessible like a genie when you need him? Do you consciously think to ask God to guide you and listen for the Spirit? Or do you forget you have been given the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is often ignored, not talked about much. We do not conduct many classes in our churches about the Holy Spirit. He is often viewed as this mystical person we know little about. People often have confusing and conflicting views of who he is.
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to be filled with the Spirit. He juxtaposes being filled with the Spirit with being drunk. How does that help us understand the Spirit? When we think of someone drinking until they are drunk, we know that it takes a little time for that to happen. We can interpret that to mean that we need to continually ask God to fill us with his Spirit.
In addition to asking God to fill us with his Spirit, we should ask God to help us hear his Spirit. The Spirit speaks to us in various forms. He may speak as a voice in our head, though that is not often. More often, he speaks through nudging’s or gut feelings, letting us know the right thing to do. He grants us peace with decisions as opposed to continued worry.
Not only are we to be filled with the Spirit but we are to sing with gladness in our heart to God. We are to give thanks to God the Father for the blessing of his Spirit. That thanks should be given through the name of Jesus. The more we ask, sing, and give thanks, the more we please God.
I pray we all ask God to fill us with his Spirit. I pray we sing praises to God. I pray each of us will listen to the Holy Spirit and give thank through Jesus for God’s gift of his Spirit. Ask God to fill you with his Spirit. Listen for the Spirit. Sing praises to God. Give thanks to God. Do everything in the name of Jesus.
Ephesians 5:18-20 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Marty Pressey 