Waterglass Filled to Overflowing - "Be filled with the Spirit." - Ephesians 5:18 - 123RF Photo - Used under license
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18)
This lesson provides practical, scriptural steps pastors, teachers, and Christian workers can take to become filled (and refilled) with the Holy Spirit for the purpose of ministry.
Consider: Why is it important for effective ministry to others for believers in Christ to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Is being filled with the Holy Spirit a one-time event, or a repeated, continual action?
The scripture quotations in this article are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless noted otherwise (Ref. 1).
1. The gift of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God's gift to us.
God has already given us the gift of the Holy Spirit when we first believed in Christ. The Apostle Peter spoke about this on Pentecost. After Peter's Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:14-36), the people were "cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" (Acts 2:37). Peter replied to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
God gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who put their faith and trust in God's Son, Jesus Christ. God gives us the Holy Spirit:
* Example ministries include preaching, teaching, healing, contributing generously, singing songs, and waiting on tables. References: 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-12, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 5:18-19, Acts 6:2-3. 2. The indwelling Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit indwells us.
When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit indwells us. The Holy Spirit comes and lives inside us.
a. On the evening before his death, Jesus told his disciples that the Spirit of truth "lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:17). The Holy Spirit's "will be in you" (indwelling) was fulfilled beginning at Pentecost and is equally fulfilled when people believe in Christ today. b. The Apostle Paul wrote that the mystery which was hidden for ages God had made known then among the Gentiles "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:26-27). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit was for all people -- Jews and Gentiles -- who put their faith in Christ (Acts 10:44-45). c. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT). 3. The infilling of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit fills us and continually refills us.
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18)
Paul's instruction to the Christians at Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1) was that they be continually being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The Greek verb for "be filled" is pléroó (pronounced play-ro'-o) (Ref. 2). Pléroó is in the Greek present tense which is a continued, ongoing, repeated action over time, not a one-time ("one and done") event in the past (Ref. 3, Ref. 4). The instruction, "be filled [continually, repeatedly]," is second person plural ("you all") (Ref. 3) addressed to the Ephesian church as a group and to all who are believers in Christ today.
Why does Paul instruct us to be continually filled (and refilled) with the Holy Spirit?
Since the Holy Spirit already indwells us (believers in Christ), why then does Paul instruct us to be filled [continually, repeatedly] with the Spirit?
Perhaps you will have different thoughts, but here are the thoughts that came to my mind in answer to this question: a. Spiritual Renewal from Spiritual Depletion
(1). I am a "leaky" vessel. Perhaps you are, too.
(2). Our human bodies and our automobiles (motorcycles, etc.) need repeated food and fuel to run. Similarly, when our spiritual energy becomes depleted through continually ministering to others, we need to take time, and prayerfully seek to be spiritually refilled and renewed by the Holy Spirit. b. Preparation and Empowerment for Ministry
This is the most important part of this "lesson." When we are ministering as a preacher, teacher, an elder or deacon, or in any role as a representative of Christ, we need to be clean (fully confessed) vessels and channels for the flow of God's Holy Spirit power to others. We need to be yielded completely to God's will and guidance. We need to be filled and refilled with God's Holy Spirit so God's power for ministry flows through us to others.
Let me give some examples where praying to be filled (or refilled) with the Holy Spirit is scriptural and wise preparation for effective ministry:
4. How to be filled with the Holy Spirit
This section respectfully suggests three scriptural steps you can go through to become filled (or refilled) with God's Holy Spirit for the purpose of ministry. Before you begin your worship service, evangelistic outreach event, or daily mission work (or other ministry), pray through these steps beforehand. You can pray either in private as individuals or together with your Christian ministry team members.
Confess - Yield - Ask a. Confess
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 ESV)
Confess your sins to God. In prayer, silently ask God to bring to your mind any unconfessed sins in your life. Take plenty of time to do this (10 or 15 minutes is better than 30 seconds). Tell God you are sorry for your sins. Thank God for forgiving you all your sins through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus.
Don't keep revisiting past sins that you have already confessed to God. In Christ, God has already forgiven your sins, and God remembers them "no more." (References: Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12, Micah 7:19 ESV). b. Yield
Tell God, in prayer, that you yield your will, and your entire self to his direction and control. Ask God to direct you, and to reveal his will to you during the ministry event that you are about to commence. Ask God to help you and your team speak and act totally in accordance with his will, not your own. (Reference: 1 John 5:14-15).
Recall that Jesus, before he completed his great sacrificial work (his voluntary death for us), had prayed to his Father, "Not my will, but yours be done." (Reference: Luke 22:42). c. Ask
Peter and John and the other apostles and believers prayed. "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus" (Acts 4:29-30). "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31).
In prayer, ask God to fill you (or refill you) and your team members with the Holy Spirit. Ask God to enable the power of the Holy Spirit to flow through you and your team members for the specific ministry (such as a worship service or outreach event) you are about to begin. God will honor your request and will fill you with the Holy Spirit. Through the filling of the Holy Spirit, God will empower you for the purpose of effective ministry to others. God will help you know what to say and what to do as you minister to others in Jesus' name.
5. Step Out in Faith
After these steps (confess - yield - ask), step out in faith. Listen to God leading you, and then speak and act in the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit that God has given you.
Apply. Confess your sins to God. Yield your will and yourself completely to God's will. Ask God to fill you (or refill you) with the Holy Spirit to empower you in your ministry to others in Jesus' name.
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Image source - Arabs for Christ at FreeBibleImages.org - Used under license  "And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'" (John 8:11)
"A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice." (Isaiah 42:3)
"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory." (Matthew 12:20)
This lesson explains the meaning of the three phrases from Isaiah 42:3 -- "A bruised reed he will not break," "A faintly burning wick he will not quench," and "He will bring forth justice" which Matthew quoted in Matthew 12:20.
Consider. Are you a "bruised reed" (emotionally, spiritually, physically) needing the mending of Jesus? Come to him. Jesus specializes in mending broken lives.
The Bible verse quotations in this lesson are taken from the English Standard version (ESV) unless noted otherwise (Ref. 1).
1. "A bruised reed he will not break"
Jesus, our Savior, mends broken lives. Instead of "breaking" (or discarding) people who are weak morally, physically, or spiritually, Jesus strengthens them and binds them up (Ref. 2). Instead of dealing roughly with us when we come to him in our weakness, Jesus is tender and uses all gentleness and kindness toward us.
Example
Consider the account of the woman caught in adultery (the "bruised reed" in this example). The scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus seeking to stone her to death (John 8:1-11). Jesus made the woman's accusers realize their own sinful condition, and the scribes and Pharisees left the scene without casting a stone at the woman (John 8:5-9). Then, without condemning her or further "breaking" her, Jesus spoke with her tenderly as follows. "'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more'" (John 8:10-11).
Biblical Background
The prophet Isaiah, writing several hundred years before Christ, prophesied about the Servant who was to come (Isaiah 42:1-4). In Isaiah 42:1, God says "I have put my Spirit upon him." This prophecy was fulfilled at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:16-17). In Isaiah 42:3, the prophet says, "A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice."
Matthew, the disciple of Jesus and the gospel writer, witnessed Jesus and his ministry. In Matthew 12:17, Matthew observed that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 42:1-4. In Matthew 12:18-21, Matthew quotes (and in places paraphrases) Isaiah 42:1-4. When Matthew stated in Matthew 12:17 that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy, Matthew had just witnessed Jesus healing and restoring the man with the withered right hand (Matthew 12:9-14, Luke 6:6-11). That man also was an example of a "bruised reed" that Jesus restored. After Jesus healed him, the man, who likely was a mason or plasterer by trade, could return to working with his hands again for a living instead of begging bread (Ref. 3, Ref. 4). Matthew also had observed that multitudes of people -- including Gentiles (non-Jews) -- came to Jesus, and Jesus healed them all (Matthew 12:15, Mark 3:7-8). Jesus' ministry of healing and restoring "bruised reeds" then and today was and is for all people. That is good news. Biblical Meaning of "Bruised Reed" Reeds on the Side of the Jordan River Flowing into the Sea of Galilee - iStock Photo - Used under license
Reeds are leafy cane plants that grow in watery or marshy areas. (See the picture of reeds near the Jordan river) (Ref. 5). However, scripture refers to reeds as fragile, weak, easily waved by the wind, easily broken, and unreliable when used as a staff (2 Kings 18:21, Matthew 11:7).
In Isaiah 42:3 the Hebrew word translated as "bruised" means broken or crushed but not entirely broken off (Ref. 6, Ref. 7). Thus, the words, "bruised reed," refer to a person who has been crushed or broken down by a sense of sin, by calamity, or by affliction (Ref. 7).
Good news
The good news is that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, does not break, consider useless, or discard people who are "bruised" emotionally, spiritually, or physically (Matthew 12:20). Instead, Jesus forgives our sins, tenderly binds up our wounds, and cares for us. Consider the multitudes of people who came to Jesus. The scripture says, "And many followed him, and he healed them all" (Matthew 12:15).
Similar verses
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) 2. "A faintly burning wick he will not quench"
When Jesus encounters people whose faith has dimmed or who have lost hope because of the hard knocks of life, Jesus does not ignore, discard, or "extinguish" us. Jesus nourishes the feeble flame, and rekindles our faith so his light in us shines brightly again.
Example
Consider the example of the man whose son had an unclean spirit which made his son mute, seized him, and threw him down in convulsions (Mark 9:14-29). The man is an example of a "smoldering wick" whose faith was dimming from the long-term afflictions of his son. The boy's father explained to Jesus that he had brought his son to Jesus' disciples, and they were not able to cast out the unclean spirit (Mark 9:18). That must have been terribly disappointing. Jesus asked that the boy be brought to him (Mark 9:19). When the boy was brought to Jesus, the unclean spirit -- seeing Jesus -- immediately threw the boy into convulsions (Mark 9:20).
The man's despair and weak faith is evident in the next verses. Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us" (Mark 9:21-22). "And Jesus said to him, 'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes'" (Mark 9:23). "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24). Note that the man cried out to Jesus in his despair and asked Jesus to help him believe. Jesus answered the man's plea. Jesus rekindled the faith of this man who was a "faintly burning wick." Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man's son, and the boy arose -- healed (Mark 9:25, 27). A smoldering wick (or smoking flax) Close-up of a smoldering wick - Alamy photo - Used under license
A smoldering or faintly burning wick of a lamp is just barely burning before the fuel runs out (Matthew 25:8). The King James Version in both Isaiah 42:3 (KJV) and Matthew 12:20 (KJV) refers to the faintly burning or smoldering wick as "smoking flax." In ancient lamps, the wick was a few strands of flax fiber or twisted cotton thread (Ref. 8).
The Good News
Jesus does not give up on us or chastise us when our faith becomes weak because of the calamities of life. Jesus cherishes the feeble flame, ministers to us the "oil" of grace, and through the Holy Spirit, rekindles our faith in him.
Example verses
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16).
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) 3. "He will faithfully bring forth justice"
Jesus, the Servant prophesied by Isaiah, brought forth [proclaimed], and through his followers today still proclaims the Gospel truth -- God's good news of salvation through faith in Christ -- to all people (Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 12:18, Ref. 9). In Isaiah 42:3, the justice [judgment] that the Servant would bring forth refers to the entire system of God's truth (Psalm 19:9-10 NASB, Psalm 119:160 NASB, Ref. 10, Ref. 11).
Note that Isaiah prophesied that the Servant would spread justice [God's system of truth] not just to the Jewish people, but to the "nations" [all races, all people] (Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 12:17-18, Ref. 11, Ref. 12). Through Christ, the Christian gospel -- God's truth -- is being preached and taught by Jesus' followers throughout the world today (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16).
Apply. Are you a "bruised reed" (morally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually weak) needing the mending of Jesus? Come to Jesus now. In prayer, tell him your needs. Jesus will forgive your sins, and he will mend your broken life.
Are you a "faintly burning wick" with faith or hope that is nearly extinguished by affliction or by the calamities of life? Put your faith and trust in Jesus again. Jesus will supply the "oil" of his grace to rekindle your faith into a bright flame that will shine and bless others.
References
1. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/ 2. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/isaiah/42.htm Matthew Poole's Commentary - Isaiah 42:3 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healing_the_man_with_a_withered_hand 4. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/matthew/12.htm Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible - Matthew 12:10 5. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7070.htm 6. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7533.htm 7. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/isaiah/42.htm Barnes' Notes on the Bible - Isaiah 42:3 8. https://www.gotquestions.org/smoking-flax-not-quench.html 9. https://biblehub.com/greek/518.htm Note, the Greek word for "proclaim" in Matthew 12:18 10. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4941.htm 11. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/matthew/12.htm Barnes' Notes on the Bible - Matthew 12:18 12. https://biblehub.com/greek/1484.htm |
Daily Bible Verse(Published on my Bluesky account) AuthorMr. Whitney V. Myers. Christian. For more information, please visit the Author Page. Posting ScheduleI plan to provide new postings about once a month. Planned Topics(subject to change) Recent Posts(most recent three months) Popular Posts(top 10) Categories
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