Why we do what we do is not easily understood by another.
Once my children started to school I spent a lot of time studying the Bible. The extended times with GOD I considered a gift from GOD. My hearing loss was discovered when I was 15, just months after I asked GOD to do what was necessary to make me what HE wanted me to be. Then partially due to being excluded or laughed at due to my inappropriate verbal responses when I misunderstood because of my profound hearing loss, I isolated myself from people up into my late 30’s. The exception was small group Bible studies and church. A gal talked me into being a counselor at Camp Elim to Junior High girls. That changed my life. Those girls and the staff totally accepted me mistakes and all. I kept going back, camp after camp, year after year. During those years at camp I felt as if I had received my childhood back. Then after years of working at camp, cabin after cabin and interrelating with the staff GOD gave me the courage to venture out to work in the secular world on a military base and later to travel on prayer teams to 4 nations.
Plain and simple it was a growing process, a step at a time.
GOD asks “Who can I teach knowledge, and who can I make understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:9-10).
GOD is saying before one can be truly taught the 1st step is becoming a baby. One is born into GOD’s family when he/she believes in/ trusts JESUS’s finished work on the cross (John 1:12, 3:5-7, 16) One thing a new believer gets immediately is the HOLY SPIRIT for among other things we need HIM as our interpreter to understand GOD’s word.
2nd one must drink the milk of the word of GOD so she/he can grow (1 Peter 2:2) It is our nourishment. JESUS said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD” (Matthew 4:4).
3rd only as one puts into practice what they have learned they are ready to learn knowledge and doctrine (Hebrews 5:12-14). GOD won’t teach you more until you do what HE has shown you to do.
Because of our cultures, people attach different meanings to terms. That leads to confusion. Therefore lets 1st look at 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 where we are told not to quench the SPIRIT by despising prophesying but to test all things. Whatever you hear about the things of GOD don’t just dismiss it if it doesn’t agree with what you think or someone said. Instead check it out by the word of GOD. If what is said does not agree with GOD’s word there is no truth in it (Isaiah 8:20 and Jeremiah 23) then dismiss it. But if it agrees with GOD’s word it is a word for you.
I want to unpack a biblical definition of a term that speaks about the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. I have put Bible verses near the statements for you to search it out for yourself, because it is when you get into the Word of GOD by yourself that GOD can speak most clearly. Since there is so much I cannot cover I will just summarize basics, the HOLY SPIRIT teaches and reminds us (John 14:26), convicts us (John 16:7-8) interprets GOD thoughts to us (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), empowers us (Romans 15:13, Acts 1:8), HE moved the writers of the Bible to pen our Bible (2 Peter 1:21), HE prays for us according to the will of GOD and HIS purpose for us, since we don’t know how we should pray as we ought (Romans 8:26) HE encourages us, motivates us (Hebrews 10:16, Philippians 2:13) and more.
JESUS tells us we must be born of the SPIRIT to enter the kingdom of GOD (John 3:5). It is the HOLY SPIRIT who gives new life (John 3:5-7, 6:63) and HE enters the new Christian to live within him permanently the moment a person believes in the saving work of JESUS and calls on the name of the LORD (Ephesians 1:13-14 4:30, Romans 10:9-10, 13).
JESUS is the one who baptizes us with the HOLY SPIRIT (Mark 1:7-8 Luke 3:16). That means the HOLY SPIRIT is poured out on a person when he believes in JESUS (John 7:38-39). Then comes the baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT, where the HOLY SPIRIT places a person into the Church, the body of CHRIST. “By one SPIRIT we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13, 27). Ephesians 4:5 tells us there is just one baptism -for getting the HOLY SPIRIT when we believe, and we are born again and are placed into CHRIST is all simultaneous.
However, this indwelling of the SPIRIT is not the filling of the HOLY SPIRIT. Throughout the Old Testament we can see that even an unbeliever can be moved to act by the SPIRIT. Today one cannot be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT unless that one believes in JESUS and is indwelt by him,
So what does it mean to be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT?
The prerequisite to/what must come before being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT is believing in the finished saving work of JESUS and confessing HE is LORD by calling on HIS name (Romans 10:9-10, 13). At that time one is sealed and indwelt by the HOLY SPIRIT (John 7:38-39, Ephesians 1:13-14). Although to be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT is a command (Ephesians 5:18) only those Christians who want to be filled with the SPIRIT will be filled. One must be willing to let the SPIRIT control what he does and says. When someone submits to the HOLY SPIRIT’s nudges he is asking the SPIRIT to take control -that is fill him so his thoughts and actions are in line with what GOD wants.
Luke 4:1-2 tells us that JESUS was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT when HE was tempted in the wilderness. In response to each temptation JESUS spoke scripture. This shows us that the HOLY SPIRIT will remind us of scripture (John 14:26), but it is our job to learn scripture by reading it. If we want to be consistently SPIRIT-filled, we must be in the Bible.
It is essential to read the Bible, study it, reflect on it, and let it correct us. Scripture has been given to make us complete, well‑equipped for everything GOD wants us to do (2 Timothy 3:16). The Word of GOD reveals the nature of GOD our Heavenly FATHER and JESUS CHRIST our LORD and changes us (2 Peter 1:1-4). We cannot be SPIRIT-filled without it.
Another aspect in being filled with the SPIRIT is seeking HIS counsel by asking for HIS guidance in what to do or to explain what Scripture means.
JESUS described being filled by the HOLY SPIRIT as having a well of water within us that springs up and over flows to others (John 7:38-39). That goes with Paul’s describing the results/ or effects of being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. He said, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD, giving thanks always for all things to GOD the FATHER in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, submitting to one another in the fear of GOD” (Ephesians 5:19–21). He also listed nine fruits of the SPIRIT as evidence of being filled(Galatians 5:22–23).
If the HOLY SPIRIT is producing HIS fruit of love, joy, peace , longsuffering (patience), gentleness, kindness, faithfulness (faith), gentleness, and self control you are SPIRIT-filled. It is a process and these characteristics of the divine nature should be seen on an increasing level as the HOLY SPIRIT teaches us.
When I recognize that I am not practicing those things at that moment then I know I am not in the SPIRIT (SPIRIT filled) and need to confess and ask the HOLY SPIRIT to fill me.
The HOLY SPIRIT is a person that is grieved by sin (Ephesians 4:40) and quenched when we refuse HIS teaching or leading (Ephesians 5:19).
What do you think? Is it really important to be filled with the SPIRIT?
Romans 8:1–11 declares that freedom from the power of sin comes to those who walk “according to the SPIRIT” (those who allow the HOLY SPIRIT to lead them). Galatians 5:16-25 says if we live by the SPIRIT (obeying HIS nudges or checks in our spirit) we will not indulge in the lusts of the flesh and urges us to walk in step with HOLY SPIRIT and not hold back or run ahead.
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 