Being Filled with the Spirit Part 1

The Spirit-Filled Life

"Be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18

The Sahara Desert is the world's largest desert. Sahara is an Arabic word that means desert. That desert stretches 3,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean across North Africa to Saudi Arabia. It runs south into Africa for 1,200 miles. We might say that the Sahara is "full of sand."

The oceans are "full of water." The sky is filled with air. When the sun is shining on a cloudless day we say that the earth is "filled with light."

Christians need to think about being "filled" with the Holy Spirit. We need to have a life that is "overflowing" with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 states that we are to "be filled with the Spirit." The words in reality are, "Be being filled with the Spirit." Those words of Paul were directed to the Ephesians who were believers in an area that is now Turkey. The message was not to professional church leaders, but rather to ordinary Christians. The message is for us today in the place where we live. The "The Fullness of the Spirit" is for all Christians. All of us need a fresh touch from God, a fresh anointing, a fresh filling, and a walk that invigorates us by the Spirit of the Living God. God intends for us to have this kind of spiritual life and walk. Let's look at the meaning of "Being filled by the Spirit." What does this mean for us now?

I

When we are "filled with the Spirit," Christ is in control of our lives. He occupies the "throne" of life. Jesus is at the center of life. He has the rule in life. The Holy Spirit's fullness in life is to honor Christ and place him at the center of all we think and do.

The Holy Spirit's work is to exalt Jesus and let Him be the "Lord" of life. This means we walk with Jesus. We have communion with him. David wrote in Psalms 84:10, "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." When we are filled with the Spirit, Jesus permeates every fiber of our being. Our body, our mind, our spirit, our total self is under the dominion of Christ. The Spirit-filled life puts Christ in the center of all we do.

The Holy Spirit leads us to worship Jesus. One Scripture verse that is most instructive comes at the end of the Gospel of Luke. The moment had come for Jesus to return to heaven following his death on the cross and his bodily resurrection. Eleven apostles followed Jesus just outside the "Holy City." Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed that small group of followers. As Christ ascended into heaven, the disciples "worshipped Jesus, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:51-52). When the Spirit of God fills us, we turn every place we go into a "worship center." We worship Jesus in our church buildings, in our homes, in school, at play, at work, and all places. The Holy Spirit leads us to applaud Jesus and praise and worship him.