Countdown to Pentecost – Day 1
“Embracing the Spirit-Filled Life”
“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)
Though many of us may be able to recall our initial filling of the Holy Spirit which may have been accompanied by speaking in a heavenly language, the scripture encourages us to “be filled” with the Holy Spirit not merely “get filled” with the Holy Spirit. After we get filled, we must do what is necessary to “stay filled” with the Holy Spirit. Just as a drunk person is under the control of the alcohol that they have consumed, a “spirit-filled” person is under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit.
What do you have to do to “stay filled” with the Holy Spirit? Each of us must be able to answer this for ourselves but here are a few recommendations.
- Regularly spend time alone with the Lord:
This may be in the morning, your lunch time, or in the evening. It should be a time when you are uninterrupted by the TV, the radio, email, or even social media. With all the time that Jesus spent with his disciples and the time that he spent ministering to the multitudes, he still took time to get alone with his father (Mark 1:35). During this time, read the word, pray, and/or just sit to meditate and hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to you about your life. He is always speaking but we must take time to hear.
- Judge yourself:
The bible says that if we would judge ourselves, the Lord won’t have to judge us (I Cor. 11:31). When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, he both convicts us and convinces us of what is right and what is wrong. As the Holy Spirit convicts us, we should immediately repent. Stop at that moment and say: “Father I repent for _____________ and I ask you to strengthen me in this area of my life.”
- Watch your mouth:
What we say can seal or uproot. Make sure that you are sealing and solidifying positive things and uprooting negative things in our lives by the words we speak. Allow the Holy Spirit to govern the words of your mouths (Psalm 19:24, Eph. 4:29).
Let’s determine to “be filled”, not just “get filled” with the Holy Spirit.