The Silent Sovereign: Filled with the Spirit

by David Chadwick

We are called to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). But we are also called to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Ephesians 5:18–21 goes on to say that as we are filled with the Spirit, we are to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

When John the Baptist walked the earth, he preached that there would be someone (Jesus) who would come after him who would baptize with fire. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said to his followers, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

When Jesus came, his baptism provided both purity and power. He was able to offer the world both cleansing of sins and a burning passion because of the Holy Spirit. Baptism suggests total immersion. Every part of your body, soul, and spirit now covered and submitted to your Creator when you decide to follow Jesus.

Being baptized means you are now consumed, overwhelmed, and under the authority of the Holy Spirit who now lives in you. You are to be fully surrendered. Not one area of your life should be outside of the control of God.

Many scholars refer to the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. But the filling of the Holy Spirit should happen continually and repetitively over the course of one's life. In fact, the verb in the Greek in the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit suggests a continual, regular, and daily infilling of God's great power in you.

A Christian life, full of the Spirit, will bring increased joy, unity, thankfulness, and honor to the body of Christ. And the Holy Spirit should now control your life in obedience to your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.