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The
Challenge - Week Two: Pentecost was the
Jewish festival of the harvest, and was the day the church was born as the
Holy Spirit filled the disciples and empowered them to serve God. Even
though Pentecost has come and gone this year I’m spending a few weeks on
it in our Challenge because being filled with the Spirit is absolutely
vital to the Christian life – and is quite a challenge in and of itself! To do this we must
be filled with the Spirit. This command is found in Ephesians The
meaning of being filled with the Spirit is clear from the content of this
verse. The New Living Translation helps us understand it when it says, Don't
be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the
Holy Spirit fill and control you. Eph. 5:18 (NLT) If you fill yourself
with wine it leads to sinful behavior. Why? Because the drug in your
body controls you. We call it “being under the influence.” In the same way
Paul want us to let the Spirit fill our lives so that we’ll be under His
influence and sway. Allowing self, drugs or other things to put you under
their control only leads to destruction and pain. In contrast to that
being under the Spirit’s control leads to joy and peace as we draw
closer to God. There are four
other things about the verse that you need to know if you are going to
walk in the Spirit. •
The verb is in the imperative mode.
Meaning that it’s a command. God isn’t requesting that we think about
possibly allowing the Spirit to control us. No, He is telling us we must
let this happen! •
The verb is in the present tense. That means
it’s an ongoing, or continual action. We are to be continually filled
with the Spirit! When we notice our spiritual tank getting a little low,
we need to get tanked up - on the Spirit that is! •
The verb is plural in number.
Meaning that this filling with the Spirit is for everyone! Being filled
with the Spirit isn’t just for Minister or the spiritual elite. It’s for everyone - including
you! •
The verb is in the passive voice.
Meaning that the subject of the verb (you and me) is inactive but being acted upon. You don’t get filled by the Holy
Spirit by doing good words, by crying, standing on your head, attaining
special knowledge or having the right degree. Instead the
Spirit fills those who have accepted Jesus into their lives as much as
they will let Him. So that’s the challenge for this week - and every week really. What part does the Spirit play in my life? The following questions will help you clarify this issue. •
As I honestly look at the different areas of my life, what drives and controls me? ·
The
Spirit of God ·
Myself
and/or Other people · _____________________________ •
Do I regularly ask for the Spirit’s filling and try
and “make room for Him” in my
life? Yes______ No _______ •
Am I willing to lay everything down and completely commit my life
to God, asking and allowing the Spirit of God to be the guiding and
controlling force in my life? Yes ___ No
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5:18 where the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do
not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with
the Spirit.” 