01 May To be filled with the Spirit – May 15

By: Firman Rianto

Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Afterwards Apostle Paul goes on describing the effects of it; joy in verse 19, gratitude in verse 20, humble love in verse 21. Crucial to add boldness in witness from Acts (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 13:9). No one can fail to be bold and eager in witness when the Spirit is producing in him overflowing joy, perpetual gratitude, and humble love. O how we need to be filled with the Spirit! Let’s seek it! Pursue it!

How? How do you get drunk with wine? You drink it. Lots of it. So how do then shall we get drunk (filled) with the Spirit? Drink it! Lots of it. Jesus said in John 7:37-39, “If anyone thirst let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit.” Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:13, “We were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

How can you drink the Spirit? Paul said, “Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). In Colossians 3, he says, “Seek the things that are above …set your minds on the things that are above.” So drinking the Spirit means seeking the things of the Spirit, directing your attention to the things of the Spirit.

What are the “things of the Spirit”? Jesus said, “The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life (John 6:63).

So drinking the Spirit means directing our eager attention to the words of Jesus. If we do this long enough we will get drunk and addicted to the Spirit. We will develop a wonderful Spirit-dependency.

The Holy Spirit is not like wine because he is a person and is free to come and go where he wills (John 3:8). Therefore Luke 11:13 must be referred where Jesus stated If we want to be filled with the Spirit we must pray for it. Drink and pray.

Material reformat from Desiring God Foundation.