You might ask, What can you expect when filled with the Holy Spirit?
A joyful, thanks-giving heart and a submissive spirit. Ephesians 5:18-21, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (KJV).
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to be witnesses. Acts 1:8, (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus Christ.
John 16:13-14, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you (KJV).
How to be filled with the Spirit?
1. Be born-again. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Confession of all known sin. 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (KJV).
2. Submit yourself completely to God. Be ready and willing to do anything the Holy Spirit directs you to do. Romans 6:11-13, Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God (KJV).
3. Desire and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him (KJV)?
4. This is a very important step…after asking and opening your heart, mind, soul, and Spirit to this marvelous gift, believe you are filled with the Holy Spirit! And begin to thank Him for His filling. Have faith in God. Romans 14:23, And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin (KJV). 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Begin walking in the Spirit…grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit are the two sins one must guard against in order to maintain the Spirit-filled life (KJV).
DO NOT grieve the Holy Spirit through anger. Anger is a universal sin. Anger takes many forms. Consider these 16 variations of anger …bitterness, malice, clamor, envy, resentment, intolerance, criticism, revenge, wrath, hatred, seditions, jealousy, attack, gossip, sarcasm and unforgiveness.
Proverbs 4:23, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (KJV).
DO NOT quench the Holy Spirit through fear. Fear is a universal sin. Here are 16 expressions of fear…anxiety, doubts, timidity, indecision, superstition, withdrawal, loneliness, over aggression, worry, inferiority, cowardice, suspicion, hesitancy, depression, haughtiness, and social shyness. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench, not the Spirit. You might say the results of the Spirit-filled life (KJV).
(Ephesians 5:18-21) stems from those that are filled with the Word of God. Another way to see this is the one who is living in the Word will result in a Spirit-filled life. The Lord Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth,” and he also said of the Word of God, “Thy Word is Truth.” It is easily understood why the Word-filled will result in a Spirit-filled life, for the Holy Spirit is the author of the Word of God.
This highlights the error of those who try to receive the Holy Spirit through a once-for-all experience rather than an intimate relationship with God which Jesus described as “abiding in Me.” The conclusion that we can clearly draw here is that the Christian who is Spirit-filled will be Word-filled, and the Word-filled Christian who obeys the Spirit will be Spirit-filled.
The Holy Spirit adds a divine dimension – supernatural power…
…Joshua leading his people to victory over Jericho.
…Young David defeating mighty Goliath.
…unlearned disciples turning the world upside down.
Defeat can be changed to victory in God’s power…
…Discipline is self-control in action.
…Discipline is the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power.
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