Being filled with the Spirit of God was meant for life in this world!

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God? Are Christians required to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God? What does the Scriptures say? We need to be sure of our answers! Apostle Paul writes, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Chapter 5 begins with an admonition to imitate Christ. In order to do so, Christians must “be filled with the Spirit.” Paul is giving practical and invaluable instructions on how Christians should live out their faith. We’re to live out our faith by being filled by the Spirit of God. Paul says, being drunk with wine is “dissipation.” Whether drunkenness was a particular problem at Ephesus or not, we can’t tell from this verse. However Paul does feel the need to warn against being drunk (controlled) by alcohol. The word translated “dissipation” isn’t just in reference to alcoholism as some might believe. Rather, it is a broad term associated with a wasted, unproductive and unfulfilled life. In other words, Paul’s concern was that those who get drunk are not making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16) and are making unwise decisions (Ephesians 5:15). Worse, drunkenness makes one’s decision-making that much poorer—a self-aggravating condition. Paul says, “But be filled with the Spirit.” What does this mean? When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) and are “led by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:18), “live by the Spirit,” and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). We are being controlled by Him. Being filled is not the believer getting more of the Spirit. Every believer in Christ has all the Spirit, but the command is that the Spirit have all of the believer. The wise walk for life in this world then, is one that’s characterized by the Holy Spirit’s control. Thus, the believer, rather than controlling himself, is controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. In this extraordinary relationship, as the believer is yielded to the Holy Spirit, he or she increasingly manifests the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Be encouraged!