Personal Spiritual Growth Of The Christ Follower: Part Two!

In order to grow in the things of God, it's imperative that we have a very sound understanding of the role of the Person who is called the Holy Spirit! This is because, one way that the Lord God is conforming Christ followers into the image of Jesus Christ is through the effective work and empowerment (filling) of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Because of much confusion in our day, allow me to spell out what it is and then clarify what it is not. To be filled with the Spirit is to live with every conscious area of your life yielded to the Spirit's control! Listen to the words of apostle Paul. He says, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). Just as the person filled with wine is under the influence and control of the wine, so the person filled with the Spirit is under the Spirit's influence and control! Paul is talking here about a condition of increasing spiritual growth and maturity, not about a momentary experience. I have spoken with many sincere Christ followers about the subject of being filled. When asked if they were Spirit filled, many times their answer was, "Yes, I was filled at such and such a time." They were relegating being Spirit filled with a particular time or experience. This is not what apostle Paul is teaching! In the Greek text, the command "be filled" means," be being filled." In other words, being filled with the Spirit is an on-going experience. It is a moment by moment sensitivity to and dependence upon the Holy Spirit! Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a continuous process in which we allow the Holy Spirit to direct and control our actions. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is being controlled by Him, under His influence! The filling of the Spirit is not the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit. All Christ followers are baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) at which time we're indwelt by the Spirit Of God (Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:1-5). We are NEVER commanded to be baptized in the Spirit, but we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit! The filling of the Spirit is not an irrational, emotional experience. I've seen people who supposedly were being filled with the Spirit, begin to laugh uncontrollably, stagger around as if drunk, and fall down while claiming to be "slain" in the Holy Spirit! However, there are no valid biblical examples or exhortations for doing these things. They do not lead to growth in godliness! Being filled with the Holy Spirit does lead to godliness! Your move. Be encouraged!