Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

by Shirley Bickley

There is a lot of talk about the Holy Spirit today. People speak of visions,dreams,tongues,etc.
Many outward displays on television are said to be a working of the Holy Spirit.

We must take a look at what scripture says about this. The Word of GOD should be our authority. Ephesians 5:18 says : And do not get drunk with wine,for this is dissipation,but be filled with the Holy Spirit.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is just a daily surrender to Jesus Christ,a self denial,to forsake the world. Paul tells us to be imitators of God and to walk in Love just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, as an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma (Ephesians 5:1).

We can't be filled with the Holy Spirit when we are so filled with the world. We just do not have a hatred of sin. The truth about most of us is that we do not walk in the light but are conformed to the world. Paul gives us a list of things that are not fitting for a saint in Ephesians 5:3,4

1.Immorality- this can be a movie we watch,revealing clothing.a dirty joke at our work place

2.Greed- we all have to fight this

3.Filthiness and silly talk,coarse jesting

Paul says these things must not even be named among you, He also said that we must understand the will of God in Ephesians 5:17--His will for us is to be filled with the Holy Spirit!!!

When one is filled with the Holy Spirit instead of speaking in tongues we will be speaking psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, our hearts will be in love with Jesus and we will be making melody to Him, this will produce an attitude of thanksgiving, wives will be submissive to husbands, and husbands will love wives as Christ loved the church. Marriage will be a man and a woman. Children will obey parents.

This is what the world is waiting to see, a true outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

I would like to recommend that you all read Ephesians 4,5,6. Study it, pray through it, practice it, teach it to your children. Then we will experience the true filling of the Holy Spirit and GOD will be glorified !!