May 28 I Sunday

2 Chronicles 4-6

John 10:24-42

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit...”     —Ephesians 5:18

The moment we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we receive the Holy Spirit. God first poured out this immeasurable blessing on believers at Pentecost, but simply receiving the Spirit is not enough. God does not give us His Spirit to remain dormant, but to be in us the equipping and enabling to live the Christian life.

       Being filled with the Spirit is, in itself, a command, and not a suggestion. That makes it vitally important we understand both the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s presence in us and working in us. He is the member of the Godhead who operates in our everyday lives, bringing us in conformity with the likeness of Christ and the will and purposes of Christ. His work in us is an ongoing condition that is lived out in total dependence on Him.

       In Acts chapter 6, the apostles chose seven men known “to be full of the Spirit” to look after the practical needs of the church. These are not men known to have had an experience one day, but were men full of the Spirit every day. If you bump into them at church on Sunday, they are full of the Spirit; on Monday at work, they are full of the Spirit; playing tennis on Friday, full of the Spirit. It is a condition as consistent throughout the week as it is sitting in the pews on Sunday. As Christians, we are not meant to bounce from one experience of God to another, but intended to live in a continuous relationship with Him that is characterized by being full of the Spirit.

       Paul says, “Do not get drunk on wine but instead be filled with the Spirit.” This is not like filling a gas tank or our coffee cup. The Spirit cannot be “topped up,” and we cannot have more or less of Him. He is a personal Being and we either have His presence or we do not. Scripture speaks of people being filled with wonder, joy, amazement, jealousy, anger and envy. These are emotions that have dominated their personalities and determined their behaviour. In the same way, being filled with the Spirit will dominate our personalities and determine our behaviour.

       There is no formula for being filled with the Spirit, because it is a day-to-day relationship of love, dependence and obedience to Jesus Christ. Paul says, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him…” (Colossians 2:6). We receive Christ on the basis of faith, and in intimate relationship with Him, we trust Him for the blessing of being filled with the Spirit.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the incredible gift of your Spirit. I pray for a deeper dependence on You in being filled with your Spirit every day. Thank You, Lord.