The Lord Jesus promised that all whose faith is in Him would receive the Holy Spirit from the Heavenly Father to dwell within them and “be with them forever.” However, many who belong to God, though intellectually aware that they have the Holy Spirit, live as if they do not. They follow God habitually through their own efforts and piety, yet they have not experienced the “power of the Holy Spirit.” As a result, they find themselves powerless in pursuing a holy life, and their service to the Lord bears little spiritual fruit.

        The Bible commands us: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18). The phrase “be filled with the Spirit” is both an imperative and a present-tense command, meaning that God instructs us to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is in parallel with “do not get drunk on wine” to remind us not to let other things control our lives, but rather to live under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. The late Dr. Billy Graham once said, “I believe that the greatest need of those who trust in the holy name of the Lord Jesus today is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit, you are sinning against God.”

        Though we experience weaknesses in life, the Holy Spirit remains within us and will never leave us. However, our failures and sins can suppress the Holy Spirit, preventing Him from “filling” us. The Bible commands us: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” Just before this, it says: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” (Ephesians 4:29-30). If our speech and acts become corrupt and defiled, we grieve the Holy Spirit, who loves us and lives within us. Similarly, Scripture exhorts us: “Do not quench the Spirit.” When we ignore the Spirit’s reminders and promptings in our hearts and insist on following our own ways, we “extinguish” the Spirit’s fire, preventing Him from filling us.

         On the positive side, Romans clearly points out: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14). It also says, “…those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5). Those who seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit follow the Spirit: they keep their hearts constantly fixed on the Lord, attentively seeking His will, and obeying Him with sensitivity (set your mind on what the Spirit desires). It is like a servant watching his master closely, discerning his every move, and responding immediately to his wishes. Some may feel that the Spirit’s guidance is elusive, but if they truly believe they have the Holy Spirit, they will intentionally quiet their hearts and wait upon Him. In doing so, they will come to know the Spirit. They will recognize that every act of obedience and every moment of surrender allows them to experience the Spirit’s power overcoming their weakness. As they are increasingly filled with the Holy Spirit, they will belong more wholly to the Lord. Such a person’s heart will be satisfied. It is not because they consider themselves more spiritual than others, but because they find fulfilment in walking with the Lord on life’s journey and in wholly belonging to Him.