Being filled with the Holy Spirit can be compared to a cup being filled with water. As long as the cup remains upright, it fills, then overflows and the water spills all over anything around it. But if the cup tips, then the water cannot enter it and overflow until it is standing up again.
Every time I sin, my cup tips over. When I confess my sin, I am upright again and can receive the living water. I was told by the person who offered this illustration that this tipping/upright cycle will be the repeating process throughout life; the best I can aim for is not staying tipped over for very long.
When I read the verse in my devotional book this morning, I remembered my ‘stinkin’ thinkin’ of the past few days and how impossible it seemed to get rid of that bad attitude. Try as I might, godly thoughts eluded me. My cup was tipped over and the source of all goodness could not be poured in.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Even a cursory examination of the things that I think about makes it clear that obedience to this command is possible only through the filling of the Holy Spirit. I cannot do it without Him. When I am tipped over, regardless of the reason, the Liar is easily able to dupe me with anything but the truth. His thoughts might have an element of reality to them, but they certainly are not noble or just or pure or lovely.
But when my cup is right side up, I wake up singing praises. Good thoughts are easy and natural. I’m thankful for the very things I grumbled about when I was tipped over, and see the good and lovely side of things that seemed to elude me only a short time prior.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep (or guard) your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” When good thinking is poured in by the Holy Spirit and my heart is full of the fruit of His thoughts, then whatever I am doing also becomes true, noble, just, pure, even lovely, virtuous and praiseworthy. My life is far more apt to receive a good report from others and certainly from God. I am far more pleased with it too.
God is good. He wants His people to enjoy goodness, even in our minds. He gives the Holy Spirit so that we might obey Him with joy. Sin really doesn’t make any sense, at least it doesn’t to a cup that is right side up.
Lately I’ve been convicted about several bad habits. The word ‘habits’ is not an excuse. These are sinful things, but habits best describes them because they are seemingly automatic responses in certain situations that I’ve done often and for years without even thinking about them. But now God is saying ‘Enough.’
This makes me sad. I don’t know if I’m sad because I’m ashamed of myself or sad because change seems overwhelming. I know God forgives me. I know God changes me, but sometimes habits cling. These are living things that don’t want to die, and that makes me sad.
God’s part is forgiveness and cleansing. My part is spiritual discipline. When certain situations come up, and along with them those seemingly automatic responses, I have a choice and need to be aware of what is happening. Instead of habit, God asks me to consider Him and make different choices. He must rule my life instead of these foolish habits.
One of them is expressing criticism at perceived wrong. I don’t always do it; the serious stuff takes me to prayer. It is those little things, things that other people may not even notice, but I am irked. My heart tells me that I need to pray about these things too, but instead, I beak off my annoyance.
Another one is grumbling on the inside. Whatever threatens my plans and comfort zone may not show a visible reaction, but I know when my focus turns inward to ‘poor me’ instead of looking up to God for help with the challenge. That is called ‘resentment’ and is not only deadly to my immune system, but totally useless otherwise.
A wise man once told my husband that our lives are like a water glass. When we keep short accounts with God, the glass is upright and the Holy Spirit can fill it with Himself. When we sin, the glass is tipped over. Gone is all the spiritual fruit He gave us and we are empty and impossible to fill. The man added that we need to accept the fact that we will go through life tipping over and turning upright, tipping over and turning upright. He said the best we could hope for is staying upright longer between those times of tipping.
It seems there is more to this illustration. Sometimes I may think I’m upright and even look like that to others, but there is a slow leak happening. My inner attitude is like those little foxes that spoil the vine as mentioned in Song of Solomon. These little habits are actually far bigger in the mind of God than they have been in my mind. He sees what they do to my relationship with Him and how they spoil what He wants to do in my life. Instead of tipped over or a slow leak, He wants the Spirit ‘poured out’ for others in my service for Him.
I’ve been thinking of this the last couple of days, and yet am amazed at the grace of God. He hates sin and wants me to be sorry and turn from it, and He wants me filled with His Spirit, but at the same time He reminds me of His graciousness. In Psalm 103:8-14, He says:
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
God knows that apart from Him, I am dust tipped over. Without His grace and mercy, I would be lost. However, even though my needs are great, I can rely on Him to tip me up and fill me up because His compassion is enormous.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit can be compared to a cup being filled with water. As long as the cup remains upright, it fills, then overflows and the water spills all over anything around it. But if the cup tips, then the water cannot enter it and overflow until it is standing up again.