Spirit Filled Christian

Understanding What Spirit Filled Means and Evidences of a Spirit Filled Christian

Being filled with the Spirit is not the same as the indwelling of the Spirit or the baptism of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18was written to the Christian, not the unsaved. It says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

I do believe, however, that the gifts of the Spirit are directly tied to being filled with the Spirit. But that is beyond the scope of this article. Being filled with the Spirit is a continuous thing. The verb ‘filled’ in Ephesians 5:18 means ‘to be continuously filled’. The implication is that there are times when you are more filled with the Spirit than at other times.

The purpose of being filled with the Spirit is to do the Lord’s work. We must have the power of the Holy Spirit. To serve God in the flesh instead of the Spirit is to deprive us of the power of our service. It is important to be filled with the Spirit to do God’s work.

We will take a balloon to illustrate this truth. The word ’spirit’ in Scripture is also the word ‘breath’ or ‘wind’. A balloon full of air will illustrate a Christian full of the Holy Spirit. You may want to get a balloon to help yourself visualize this better.

A FULL BALLOON

Blow a balloon all the way up and then let it go. Notice the force and power of that balloon. When a Christian is full of the Spirit, we can do a lot for Jesus Christ! But that ‘breath’ or ‘wind’ is spent and we need to be filled again!

Going to God in prayer, to your Bible for wisdom, and thinking about the things of God daily is the process by which we are filled, our spiritual balloon filled with the breath of God! Read Romans 8:1-10.

A PARTIALLY FULL OR EMPTY BALLOON

Blow your balloon up just a bit. Now let it go. Notice that the force and impact of the balloon was significantly less than that of a full balloon. In fact, we would say it was more of a dud.

This illustrates the Christian who only reads his Bible on occasion, or prays on occasion, or only focuses on God during Church but not the rest of the week. He has some power, but nothing significant. He is mostly ineffectual. His mind is not on Christ. His purpose is not the will of God. He may love God, believe in Jesus, but does not do much for Christ.

Some who are this way used to be full. They did a lot for Christ and are content with that. That is a shame. The Scriptures tell us we need to be continuously filled up!

A TIED OFF BALLOON

Blow your balloon all the way up and then tie it off. This represents a Christian who has filled up on the Spirit of God, but then grieved the Holy Spirit of God!

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

When we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, when we refuse to submit to the will of God, we grieve the Holy Spirit. We may have been in our Bible, seeking God in prayer, faithful to Church, and singing hymns and spiritual songs. But when we refuse to do the work, all that power goes to waste!

Notice what happens to a tied-off balloon over time. It begins to lose its ‘breath’. It begins to shrink, to slowly die. This is what happens to a Christian who will not yield themselves to the will of God.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

POP THE BALLOON

Blow your balloon all the way up and take a pin and pop it. This serves to illustrate the Christian who may have been filled with the Spirit and then performs a deliberate, intentional, rebellious sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

It is amazing how much hard work for the Lord can be undone by a single sin. Sin can poison your mind, derail your service for the lord, destroy your dreams, ruin your family, and empty your spirit all at once.

It is dangerous, deadly.

CONCLUSION

I hope the balloon illustration served to make what it means to be filled with the Spirit more understandable. Every Christian should seek to constantly be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

This spiritual filling allows us to do supernatural work in a mundane body.

Greg S. Baker is a Pastor, Counselor, and Author specializing in building and strengthening relationships. For more books and resources on how to communicate better, express yourself, and strengthen social skills, please visit our website at: fitlyspoken.org

Evidences of a Spirit Filled Christian

What are the evidences of a Christian who is Spirit filled? Is it super natural powers? Is it a magnetic personality? No, not really. Being a Spirit filled Christian is not spooky or even supernatural. A person does not have to break down and start foaming at the mouth, start spouting in some unknown tongue or language, or even suddenly have the ability to heal the ailing. It is actually much more practical than that.

Walking in the Spirit, to be Spirit filled, is a mental exercise that puts your thinking, hopes, and desires in God’s hands. Notice the following passage of Scripture:

Romans 8:5-8 – For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Notice how many times the word ‘mind’ appears. Walking in the Spirit-and thus to be Spirit filled-is about where your mind is. So here are some of the evidences of a Spirit filled Christian:

Is in constant prayerful contact with God throughout the day (1 Thess 5:17).
Is loving to those around him (Gal 5:22).
Is at peace with life (Gal 5:22, Rom 8:6).
Has songs of God and Jesus on his lips throughout the day (Eph 5:18-19).
Is joyful (Gal 5:22).
Does not feel at odds with God (Rom 8:6-7).
Is constantly thankful for what he has and what he is (Eph 5:18-20).
Is humble to those around him (Eph 5:18-21).

These are the basic evidences of a spirit filled Christian. So many times, as Christians, we are looking for the supernatural, when the quality of our life is not determined by the power we wield, but by how much the Spirit of God has filled every aspect of our life.

It begins by absorbing your Bible. You need to be in constant contact with God throughout the day. Do not just say your prayers, read a verse or two, and then dismiss God until the next day. If that is all you ever do, then God only occupies a very tiny fraction of your life. There is no way you are filled with the Spirit.

Remember, the most important aspect of the Christian life is your relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Being Spirit filled is not determined by your position in Church, how well you keep the rules, to what degree people recognize your spirituality, or how much influence you wield over others.

It is how much you fill your daily life with God!

Greg S. Baker is a Pastor, Counselor, and Author specializing in building and strengthening relationships.

For more books and resources on how to communicate better, express yourself, and strengthen social skills, please visit our website at: fitlyspoken.org

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admin | July 1, 2011 3:10 pm

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