How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

10/9/2024

by Whitney V. Myers

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 Spirit

The 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:

to be with us forever (John 14:16)
to teach us (John 14:26)
to empower us to witness effectively for Christ locally and throughout the world (Acts 1:8)
to build up the body of Christ through a variety of ministries.*

* 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 Spirit

The 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 Spirit

The 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:

Elders preparing to pray for and anoint others in a healing service (James 5:14)
Evangelism teams preparing to go into the local community and the world to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8, Acts 13:2-3)
Pastors preparing to preach sermons (Romans 10:14-15)
Church school teachers preparing to teach lessons (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB)
Mission teams preparing to help the less fortunate and engage in construction ministries (Matthew 10:42)
Musicians preparing to play or sing for worship services to the glory of God (Ephesians 5:18-19)

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

"Submit yourselves, then, to God." (James 4:7)

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.

References
1. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/
2. https://biblehub.com/greek/4137.htm
3. https://biblehub.com/interlinear/ephesians/5-18.htm
4. https://ezraproject.com/greek-tenses-explained/

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What is Living Water in the Bible?

8/11/2022

3 Comments

by Mr. Whitney V. Myers

Image Source: freebibleimages.org

Download a printable PDF of this post.

Jesus Talks with the Samaritan Woman at the Well - FreeBibleImages.org - Used under license

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.'" (John 4:10)

This lesson explains the meaning of living water in the Bible, and provides examples of living water -- physical and spiritual -- from the Old and New Testaments.

Consider. What does "living water" mean to you? How would you explain "living water" to someone else?

"Living water" in the Bible refers both to flowing, fresh, pure water that satisfies our thirst in the physical sense and to perpetual, God-given spiritual blessing and life-giving power that satisfies our thirst in the spiritual sense.

1. Living water is flowing and fresh

"Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing [living] water" (Genesis 26:19, brackets added, Ref. 1). Read Genesis 36:18-22 for context.

"Living water" in the physical sense is water that is flowing and fresh as from a running stream or a perennial spring. Its motion and freshness resembles life, in contrast with stagnant water or water that is turbid (muddy or sediment-filled) or salty.

The Hebrew word for flowing in Genesis 26:19 is chay (pronounced khah'-ee). Chay is an adjective which means alive or living (Strong's Concordance - Ref. 1). When chay describes water, it means flowing and fresh (Brown-Driver-Briggs - Ref. 1). Also see Zechariah 14:8.

In the Bible, living water in the physical sense implies freshness, movement, and life.

2. Living water is spiritual blessing and life-giving power

Living water in the spiritual sense is spiritual blessing and life-giving power. God is the source -- the fountain -- of living water for his people. Jesus, the Son of God, is the giver of living water. Unlike the idols, lusts, and material things the world seeks to satisfy its thirsts, the living water that Jesus gives us satisfies our thirsts perpetually and springs up in us to eternal life. The living water that Jesus gives us overflows in us and blesses others.

a. God is the source -- the fountain -- of living water

"For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13). Also read Jeremiah 17:13, and Psalm 36:9.

In Jeremiah 2:13, Jeremiah 17:13, and Psalm 36:9, the Hebrew word for fountain is maqor (pronounced maw-kore') and means figuratively a spring (Ref. 2).

God, the fountain [or spring] of living water, provided the Israelites every blessing they needed. Yet, the Israelites deserted God, practiced idolatry, and sought after gods that would not profit them (Jeremiah 2:8-11). Today, God, the fountain of living water, provides us every blessing we need. That brings up the question -- Are you seeking God who can truly satisfy your thirst, or are you trusting in "broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13)?

b. Jesus Christ -- the Son of God -- is the giver of living water

"Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water'" (John 4:10). Read John 4:1-15 for context.

Jesus Christ -- the Son of God, the Messiah -- is the giver of living water (John 4:10, John 4:14). However, in John 4:10, early in his conversation with the woman at the well, there were two impediments preventing the woman from receiving the living water that Jesus gives. First, she did not know [Greek word eidó means perceive] who it was who was speaking to her (Ref. 3). At first she thought Jesus was an ordinary Jew (John 4:9). Later in the conversation she did understand who Jesus was -- the Messiah, the Christ -- and she proclaimed Jesus to the people of her town (John 4:25-26, John 4:28-29) resulting in their coming to Christ (John 4:39-42).

Second, when Jesus began the conversation with the woman at the well, she did not know [perceive] what the gift of living water really was (and still is). When Jesus first mentioned living water to her (John 4:10), she thought of living water only in the physical, flowing sense (John 4:11). Moments later in the conversation, Jesus helped her to think of living water in the spiritual sense. In John 4:13, Jesus said (referring to the physical well water), "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again." Jesus then explained the spiritual benefits of living water. "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14).

When Jesus described the spiritual meaning of living water -- perpetual, life-giving power that springs up to eternal life (John 4:14) -- the woman then expressed her desire to have that living water. She said, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water" (John 4:15).

So, note the two conditions from John 4:10-15 for receiving the life-giving living water that Jesus gives:
1) Perceive who Jesus really is (the Messiah, the Christ), and
2) Desire to have the living water that Jesus is willing to give.

c. The living water that Jesus gives us satisfies our thirsts perpetually and springs up in us to eternal life

"Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14).

(1). The living water that Jesus gives us is eternal in its duration and satisfies our thirsts completely

Jesus said to the woman, "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty" (John 4:14). Jesus recognized that the Samaritan woman was thirsty; however, she was seeking to satisfy her thirst in the ways of the world (John 4:16-18, 1 John 2:15-17). In contrast with the ways of the world which are temporary and cannot satisfy our spiritual thirst (broken cisterns that can hold no water), the living water that Jesus Christ gives us eternally satisfies our thirst.

(2). The living water that Jesus gives us becomes in us a fountain springing up to eternal life

Jesus said, "The water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14). The living water that Jesus gives us as believers -- spiritual blessing and life-giving power -- is a perpetually flowing fountain within us that is active, dynamic, and vigorous. The Greek word that John uses for springing is hallomai (pronounced hal'-lom-ahee) which means leaping, springing, gushing (Ref. 4). The living water that Jesus gives us provides us abundant life (John 10:10). The living water that Jesus gives us helps us to enjoy the quality of eternal life now with him while we are on earth and as we anticipate being in heaven with him.

d. The living water that Jesus gives us flows from us and blesses others

Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:38).

To discuss this verse, let's consider "three directions" -- to us, in us, and from us to others.

To us -- God is the source, the fountain of living water (Jeremiah 2:13). That living water -- God's blessing and spiritual power -- flows from God to us (Isaiah 44:3).

In us -- The living water that Jesus gives us is a life-giving fountain that springs up in us (John 4:14). The living water that Jesus gives us completely satisfies our thirsts and endures to eternal life.

From us to others -- Jesus said that for those that believe in him, from our innermost being "will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). From God we shall receive an abundance of spiritual blessings not only to refresh us, but also so we can be instrumental in refreshing and comforting others (Ref. 5). As believers, we do not "end" at satisfying our own thirsts, but we become a fount, using the spiritual gifts God has given us, so others may derive refreshment (Ref. 6). As faithful stewards of God's grace, we are to use the gifts, spiritual blessings, and life-giving power that God has given us to bless others (1 Peter 4:10).

Apply. Know "the thirst of your soul, the readiness of the Giver, and the sweetness of the living water that Jesus offers. Fall at his feet and ask, and get the water of life" (Alexander MacLaren - Ref. 7, John 4:15).

Related Lessons
"Come to the Waters (Isaiah 55:1)"
"What is Eternal Life?" (John 17:3)
"Do Not Love the World" (1 John 2:15)

References
1. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2416.htm
2. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4726.htm
3. https://biblehub.com/greek/1492.htm
4. https://biblehub.com/greek/242.htm
5. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/john/7.htm
Commentary on John 7:38
6. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/john/7.htm
Commentary on John 7:38
7. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/maclaren/john/4.htm
Commentary on John 4:10

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For I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

1/5/2020

1 Comment

by Mr. Whitney V. Myers

Download a printable PDF of this post .

"I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel" - Romans 1:16 - Paul Mosaic at Chora Church Istanbul - 123RF Photo - Used under license

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

This lesson explains the meaning of these phrases from the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel," "for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes," and "to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

1. "I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel"

Definitions:
Ashamed -- In Romans 1:16 the Greek word for ashamed is epaischunomai (pronounced ep-ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee) (Ref. 1 - HELPS Word-studies). This word means to be disgraced, or personally humiliated like someone being "singled out" because they misplaced their confidence or support (Ref. 1).

The world thought that Paul should be ashamed. To the Jews, "the thought of a crucified Messiah" was "a revolting folly" (Ref. 2 - Pulpit Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:18). To the Greeks the worship of a crucified wrongdoer was a detestable superstition (Ref. 2). In contrast with the Jews and Greeks who thought that Paul should be ashamed, Paul in no way felt ashamed of his message about Jesus Christ. Paul did not shrink away from preaching Christ; instead, he glorified in it (Romans 1:15).

As believers in Christ -- like Paul -- we should not be ashamed of our Lord and Savior. Likewise, we should not be ashamed to present the good news of salvation in Christ to others. Paul encouraged his protégé, Timothy, "Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God" (2 Timothy 1:8).

Gospel -- The Greek word for gospel in Romans 1:16 is euaggelion (pronounced yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on). Euaggelion means God's good news (Ref. 3). At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the gospel was the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up (Mark 1:14-15, Ref. 3 - Thayer's Greek Lexicon). After Jesus' death and resurrection, the gospel was (and still is) the good news that Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for our sin through his sacrificial death on the cross. When we repent of our sins and put our faith and trust in him, we receive forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life. See Mark 1:14-15, Mark 10:45, John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, and 1 John 1:9.

2. "For It Is the Power of God for Salvation to Everyone Who Believes"

Definitions:
Power -- The Greek word for power in Romans 1:16 is dunamis (pronounced doo'-nam-is). Dunamis means (miraculous) power, might, strength, and ability to perform (Ref. 4). Kenneth S. Wuest adds that "Dunamis is power, natural ability, inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or, power which a person or living thing exerts or puts forth. The gospel is the inherent, omnipotent power of God operating in the salvation of a lost soul who accepts it" (Ref. 5 below).

The Apostle Paul wrote to believers at Corinth, "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Salvation -- The Greek word for salvation is sótéria (pronounced so-tay-ree'-ah). HELPS Word-studies defines sótéria as "God's rescue which delivers believers out of destruction and into His safety" (Ref. 6).

Salvation is entirely God's doing, not something that we achieve by works or by "trying to live a good life" without Christ. Paul writes, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Believe -- The Greek word for believe is pisteuó (pronounced pist-yoo'-o). Pisteuó means to believe, to have faith in, to trust in, and to place confidence in (Ref. 7). The person who believes in Christ is a person who has put their faith, trust, and confidence in Christ.

The phrase "to everyone who believes" describes the condition, or terms, on which God confers salvation (Ref. 8). God confers salvation on sinners who by faith put their trust and confidence in God's Son, Jesus Christ.

3. "To the Jew First and Also to the Greek"

The phrase "to the Jew first and also to the Greek" means that God then and now offers salvation to all people, to Jews and to all who are not Jews (Ref. 9). God's offer of salvation to all people is consistent with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life."

Salvation is the present possession of all people who believe in (have faith, trust, and confidence in) Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 8:34-39).

The world thought then (and still thinks now) that Paul's message about Christ was foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18, Ref. 10). Yet, Paul was neither disgraced nor ashamed of the gospel. Likewise, as believers in Christ, we should never be ashamed of the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Jesus Christ, through his sacrificial death on the cross, has procured forgiveness of sins and provides eternal life to all who put their faith and trust in him.

Apply. Show by your words and your deeds that you are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Related Lessons
"The Word of the Cross - Foolishness or Power?" (1 Corinthians 1:18)
"What Does 'To be Saved' Mean in the New Testament?" (Acts 16:31)
"God's Offer of Salvation and Eternal Life" (John 3:16)
"Stand Firm in the Faith" (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)