Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
When we invite Jesus Christ to be our personal Savior and Lord, He actually enters our life. He promises to be with us forever through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus died and was raised from the dead into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us and give us power to live godly lives. (Ephesians 3:17, John 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19). This is not a second event, it happened when you were “born again”. God put His seal of the Holy Spirit on us. (2 Corinthians 1:22) You cannot lose the Holy Spirit but you can quench Him. To quench means to “put out the fire.” 1 Thess. 5:19 says “Do not (quench, subdue) put out the Spirit’s fire.” It is a personal resistance to something that God wants you to do, and you will not do it. God does not force His power on us but gives us the freedom to make mistakes. When we quench the Holy Spirit, God allows us the freedom to take charge of our lives. When we yield, or surrender, to the Holy Spirit we agree with God that we were wrong and allow Him to be in control. Letting God be in control of our lives is what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit is an ongoing process. We get ALL of Him, instantly, with our new birth. But… He does not get all of us. That requires learning, teaching, submission, faith, and trust. Our flesh always wants to be in control. If you find that you have taken over the control and want to give it back to God, you can do this right now if you:
- Sincerely desire to be directed and powered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39).
- Confess your sins. Then by faith, thank God that He has forgiven all of your sins—past, present, and future—because Christ died for you (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; Hebrews 10:1-17).
- Surrender, or give God permission, to come into every area of your life (Romans 12:1-2).
- By faith claim the full power of the Holy Spirit based on His command and promise found in the Ephesians and 1 John verses above.
You are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, prayer is one way we have of expressing our faith. If you desire to have the Holy Spirit take control of your life, pray the following prayer and by faith trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now.
Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.
Adapted from “Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?” by Bill Bright.
Other Resources:
The Saving Life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas
The Spiritual Life by Andrew Murray