Kingdom power bought to us through the Holy Spirit is required to develop kingdom maturity. This involves living a Spirit-filled life.
In Romans 8:14, the apostle Paul explains that those whom the Spirit of God leads are the sons of God.
Being led by the Spirit is like walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), abiding in Christ (John 15:5), and living the exchanged/crucified life (Galatians 2:20).
All four concepts emphasize a deep dependence on God, highlighting the importance of relying on Him for guidance, strength, and presence. They involve cultivating a personal relationship with Him through ongoing communication and fellowship. This relationship will transform the believer’s life into a fruitful Christian life that reflects God’s character.
The Holy Spirit’s Actions
The Holy Spirit has several crucial responsibilities in the believer’s life.
When someone experiences spiritual rebirth by receiving Christ into their life through believing in His name, the Holy Spirit indwells, seals, and baptizes them. Afterward, the Holy Spirit is repeatedly available to fill the believer, enabling them to live the fruitful and supernatural life God desires.
A new believer is:
• Indwelt by the Spirit
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” —1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV
The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the hearts of believers at the instant they are born again.
Each believer is a sacred space where God’s presence resides. When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within them; guiding, empowering, and transforming their life. This indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit signifies God’s ownership and serves as a source of spiritual life and strength. It means that God is not distant; rather, He is actively involved in the believer’s life, providing guidance, comfort, and empowerment.
The Holy Spirit works within believers to transform them into the image of Christ, helping them grow in holiness and righteousness. This ongoing process involves renewing the mind with God’s truths, developing Christ-like character, which empowers individuals to fulfill God’s purposes.
• Sealed by the Spirit
“And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ— you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,” —Ephesians 1:13, NET
The believer is marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit when they are born again. It is a guarantee of their eternal security.
When individuals believe in Christ, they are “marked with the seal” of the Holy Spirit. In ancient times, a seal represented ownership and authenticity. Similarly, the Holy Spirit acts as a seal, indicating that the believer belongs to God and is genuinely saved. The Holy Spirit is also the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Helper and Comforter to His people (John 14:16-17). The presence of the Holy Spirit guarantees the believer’s inheritance in Christ and serves as a foretaste of the eternal life to come.
• Baptized by the Spirit
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” —1 Corinthians 12:13
The Holy Spirit baptizes believers into the body of Christ when they are born again.
The Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual life and unity among Christians, empowering and connecting believers. Spiritual baptism occurs when someone accepts Jesus Christ, distinguishing it from water baptism which signifies immersion in Christ’s life and identifies the believer with His death, burial, and resurrection.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit highlights the unity and diversity within the body of Christ, emphasizing the Spirit’s role in uniting believers and enabling their interdependence despite differences.
• Filled with the Spirit
“And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,” —Ephesians 5:18, NET
For believers to walk in the Spirit, they must be filled with the Spirit repeatedly, moment by moment. To be filled with the Spirit is an act. To walk in the Spirit is a habit. To be filled with the Spirit means living under the direct influence and control of the Holy Spirit. To walk in the Spirit means remaining in the state of being filled with the Spirit.
A believer can be influenced by worldly matters or guided by the Holy Spirit. Instead of being influenced by alcohol, believers are encouraged to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means allowing the Spirit to direct, guide, and control your life. It involves yielding to His leading and being empowered by His presence.
A Spirit-filled life will visibly show a life ruled by self-control, wisdom, and a commitment to God’s purposes. They will demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This stands in stark contrast to the harmful behaviors that accompany drunkenness.
How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit1
Jesus promised an abundant and fruitful life (John 10:10). A life filled with the Spirit is guided by Christ, who empowers us through the Holy Spirit (John 15).
To be filled with the Holy Spirit, you can follow these steps:
First, you must have a sincere desire to live a life devoted to Christ and guided by the Spirit. (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39)
Second, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sins in your life. Confess them to God and thank him for forgiving all your sins because Christ died for you (1 John 1:9).
Confessing your sins means agreeing with God about you and sin. That includes: What you did was a sin (both disobedience and rebellion) against God. In Christ, you are a new creation and child of God with the holiness of Christ. You already have God’s complete forgiveness because Jesus died on the cross for your sins.
With this acknowledgment, you turn away from your sin and again choose to obey Him. Sin no longer suits you.
Confessing your sins means agreeing with God that they are harmful to you or others. That acknowledgment causes you to turn away from that attitude or action, and you find yourself obeying God. (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; Hebrews 10:1-17)
Third, surrender every aspect of your life to God through prayer by acknowledging his presence and seeking his guidance. (Romans 12:1-2).
Here is how you can ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit:
By faith claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit, based on God’s command in Ephesians 5:18.
“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,” —Ephesians 5:18, NLT
And, by faith claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit, based on God’s promise in 1 John 5:14-15 that he will always answer when we ask according to His will.
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” —1 John 5:14-15, NASB
We are filled with the Holy Spirit through faith alone. However, genuine prayer is one way to express our faith. The following is a suggested prayer:
“Dear heavenly Father, I need You. I confess that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. Thank you for forgiving my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite the Holy Spirit to take control of my life. By faith, I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit as you commanded me to be filled, and as you promised in your Word. I ask this in Jesus’ name and thank you for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then use it to ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
You are filled based on the factual trustworthiness of God’s Word, regardless of how you feel. You may not feel any different when the Holy Spirit fills you. Part of this new journey is acknowledging that emotions are fickle and should not be trusted, but God’s word can be trusted.
Go about your day confidently, knowing the Holy Spirit is guiding you and giving you the wisdom and strength you need to live in a way that pleases the Lord. And stay alert for the Spirit’s gentle guidance throughout the day. This is the confirmation of his presence.
1The above is abridged from “Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-Filled Life?” by Dr. Bill Bright.