Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

 I believe that most believers do not really understand what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I think that some of the confusion comes from the fact that on the day of Pentecost that the Spirit came with the sound of a rushing mighty wind and filled the room. Then, the tongues that looked like fire sat on them. At that time they received the Holy Spirit from God for the first time. The Spirit came from above.

However, after that day they were filled with the Spirit in a different way. (Acts 4:31)  Luke was inspired to tell us that when the group of disciples had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. These believers were filled from the inside, not from the outside.

When we come to know Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He is a Person, the third Person of the Trinity. We don't have part of the Spirit, we have all of the Spirit living in us. Therefore, to be filled with the Spirit is to allow the Spirit to take control of our life. Then, we are able to speak and act by His direction and in His power. We are commanded to stay filled with the Spirit all of the time. (Ephesians 5:18)

That is what happened when the disciples prayed. God shook the place where they were gathered. They gave themselves fully to the Lord as they saw Him working, and the Spirit empowered them to speak the word of God with boldness. God can and does do the same thing for us today, as we pray and seek His presence in our lives. The room may not shake, but as we yield, He takes over our lives to do His will.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 5-8.