How to be Filled with the Spirit of God

We hear of people who live in poverty but have gobs of money hidden under their mattress. I’ve heard of people who are literally starving yet they have food in their pantry. I have no idea why these folks would not take advantage of what they have. Why suffer when there is plenty available?

But some Christians do it too. We are born into the family of God and given the Holy Spirit of God. He is our life. Yet we limp along trying to master the art of living well in our own strength, for some reason not availing ourselves of what God has given us.

Tozer’s devotional is titled, “How to Receive the Holy Spirit” but this is not quite the right theology. The Spirit is already ours. The issue is, how do I live in His power? How do avail myself of the godliness that is within me? Tozer gives steps that might be helpful for some people.

For me, the first one is realizing my need, confessing to God that I’m selfish, self-centered, and stubbornly refusing to yield to His lordship. Any time that I’ve been running my own life, it is because I think I know better than God. This is arrogance and pride and needs to be confessed.

Tozer’s first step is to present myself to God. It seems simple but is truly radical . . .

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2)

Next, he says to simply ask. Do I realize the generosity of God? Or in my heart have I believed the lie that He will withhold Himself from me? Even worse, do I think I am able to control Him and His power like an on/off switch? Is more confession needed for such prideful arrogance? If not, then all I have to do is ask . . .

“I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9–13)

Third, Tozer quotes, “We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:32) In context, this is about obedience to the Gospel and needs to be considered carefully. No one can obey God without the Holy Spirit and He is needed also to believe in Jesus. I consider this verse is not a promise but a fact. People who obey already have the Holy Spirit. He is not given because I obey!

This is reinforced by the next quote in Tozer. Paul is writing to people who are slipping from faith into a salvation by their own efforts (which is impossible). He says . . .

“Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians 3:2)

In my understanding, the Holy Spirit is given, sealing me as a child of God when I am saved. He never goes away, but sticks with me forever.

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)

To be filled does not mean having more of Him — the Spirit does not come in parts. Instead, it means He has more of me! If I want to be filled, then I need to be emptied, rid of pride and the notion that I can handle this life without His help . . . in every area of it. It means admitting my sin and yielding to Him instead of trying harder and being stubborn about who is the boss.

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Lord, sin is subtle and You are polite, often standing back and letting me run things until I finally realize that I am unable. Oh, the folly to think that I, a mere mortal and sinner to boot, can out-do the God of the universe, the Almighty Lord of heaven and earth. For that notion alone, I need Your Spirit so I can think properly and so I can live the way You created me to live. Wow, thanks also for Your patience with my foolishness.

A Perfect Down-payment

Many purchases and rental agreements require a down-payment or a deposit. This ensures that the buyer is serious about paying the remaining amount and gives assurance that whatever is purchased will belong to him. If the deal falls through, the deposit is usually refunded.

However, there is one transaction where there is no refund because the deal cannot fail. This began with a promise from Jesus concerning the down-payment:

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26–27)

Just before Jesus ascended, He repeated the promise:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Not everyone is in on this deal to receive the Holy Spirit. It is for those who believe the Gospel . . .

“Peter said 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)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’ — so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13–14)

This deal has an amazing deposit or down-payment delivered at the instant the promise and invitation are believed and received by faith. This deposit guarantees the total package: a life of walking in forgiveness and eternal life with Jesus. This deposit or down-payment is the Holy Spirit, my guarantee of all that God offers. Because of Him, I know that all the gifts of God are mine, even before they are in my possession.

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)

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Jesus, this is all to the praise of Your glory! Nothing I could do will qualify me for this agreement with You. You saw my need and my helplessness. You gave Your life that I might live.

All hail King Jesus

All hail Emmanuel

King of Kings

Lord of Lords

Bright Morning Star

And throughout eternity

I’ll sing Your Praises

And I’ll reign with You throughout eternity.

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Note: AV Node Ablation scheduled for tomorrow, then they activate my pacemaker. Am told my life will change — in one day no less. A bit nervous. A bit excited. Very thankful that this can be done, especially in one of the world’s finest heart clinics. God blesses me beyond all expectations!

Sealed with a Down-Payment

While going through some files, I found a document that I had put my seal to. A friend had given me a kit to make a seal and this was likely the only time I used it. The kit consisted of a stick of wax shaped like a flat carpenter’s pencil with a wick instead of lead, and a round metal stamp with my initials on it. Similar seals have been used to authenticate documents. Countries, states and provinces, leaders, and individuals use them. Some are ornate and complex, others, like mine, are simple.
 

Seals were more common in the ancient world. Today we have digital signatures, holograms labels, and a myriad of electron devices to authenticate ownership or prove that documents are what they claim to be. Back in Bible times, seals were made in several ways — from signet rings to cylinders used to mark goods traded in business. Seals also marked collections, even gems. 

In Asia, individuals and organizations use official seals, often in multiple sizes and styles depending on the need. Most bear the names of the people or organizations represented, but they can also bear poems or personal mottoes. Because seals are so important in East Asia, foreigners who conduct business there also commission the engraving of personal seals. When we visited China, we were given Chinese names and a seal or a “name chop” to stamp them on our possessions.

This morning’s devotional reading reminds me that God also has a seal. He uses it to mark those who belong to Him. This seal is not a hunk of metal, nor does it require wax or dye. Instead, it is the person of the Holy Spirit.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13–14)

Besides the task of marking me as belonging to God and being an authentic Christian, the Holy Spirit is God’s deposit or down-payment to me. He promised full redemption, that is, total freedom from the tyranny of sin, even freedom from its presence. This will happen when I step into eternity, but in the meantime, the Holy Spirit is my guarantee of that full redemption to come.

With the heart problem that I have, I’m coming to grips with the fact that barring a miracle, it will not heal. It may stabilize somewhat, but in time my health will deteriorate. When I think about all that I want to do before then, I feel anxious. When I think about my future with Jesus Christ in eternity with no more troubles or sorrow, I feel calm, even excited. 

When Paul wrote Ephesians, he must have known that these early Christians also struggled with their future. They may not have had heart or health problems, but they did experience persecution with threats of death. Perhaps it was for those pressures that he told them how he prayed for them.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:17–18)

His prayer was not for their safety or health, but for their relationship with God. He wanted them to know fully the hope or glory that was ahead, the riches of that inheritance. The Holy Spirit was their guarantee, but even more, He is the One who enlightened the eyes of their heart. 

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Lord, no matter what is going on in my physical heart, You are still able to enlighten my inner self with deepening understanding of my glorious inheritance. I’ve been sealed and given the down-payment. Eternity is a certainty and the Holy Spirit is my taste of it. Keep my mind and heart centered on You today and for my remaining days, that You may be glorified in me.

(Photo credit)