Ephesians 5:18 Berean Study Bible
Just as alcoholics completely yield to the permeation, influence, and control of alcohol, believers completely yield to the permeation, influence, and control of the Spirit. The believer completely opens himself or herself to the Spirit's permeation, power, and control. There is a Bible verse that effectively illustrates this for me:
"Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" Romans 6:16 NIV (italics mine)
To be a slave is to be under the complete control of a master. Paul is saying that we are under the control of whomever or whatever we offer ourselves to. It could be to sin (drunkenness) or to obedience (being filled with the Spirit.) It's up to us. And because Paul is commanding us not to get drunk on wine but to be filled with the Spirit, it's not only something we can do, but also something we must do.
So to be filled with the Spirit, the first thing to do is yield to Him. We simply offer ourselves to Him completely, like this:
So to be filled with the Spirit, the first thing to do is yield to Him. We simply offer ourselves to Him completely, like this:
"Holy Spirit, I give my spirit, soul, body, words, and activity completely to you. I totally surrender to you in total obedience to you."
After yielding to God, we now only need to ask to be filled with His Spirit.
ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT.
After yielding to God, we now only need to ask to be filled with His Spirit.
ASK GOD TO FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT.
After you yield to the Spirit, then ask God the Father to fill you with the Spirit, to give you His Spirit as your master. Jesus tells us how to do this:
"Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" Luke 11:13 GWT
If you are a child of God through faith in Jesus, and you yield to the Spirit's control, all you have to do after yielding is ask God to fill you with His Spirit. The drunk person, in a sense, is asking the "spirit" to fill him or her. (Some people call alcohol "spirits.") Because the Spirit is an actual person, and because He will not negate your free will, He won't fill you unless you ask Him.
And when you ask Him, when you are under His influence, you actually become self-controlled, instead of losing control like drunk people do.
If you want to be filled with the Spirit and know it, say this prayer with me:
Our Father in heaven, I yield completely and unconditionally to Your Spirit. Please fill me with your Spirit in Jesus' name. Amen.
Let me know your experience of the Spirit filled life in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you.
If you are a child of God through faith in Jesus, and you yield to the Spirit's control, all you have to do after yielding is ask God to fill you with His Spirit. The drunk person, in a sense, is asking the "spirit" to fill him or her. (Some people call alcohol "spirits.") Because the Spirit is an actual person, and because He will not negate your free will, He won't fill you unless you ask Him.
And when you ask Him, when you are under His influence, you actually become self-controlled, instead of losing control like drunk people do.
If you want to be filled with the Spirit and know it, say this prayer with me:
Our Father in heaven, I yield completely and unconditionally to Your Spirit. Please fill me with your Spirit in Jesus' name. Amen.
Let me know your experience of the Spirit filled life in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you.
(And click here to read part 3 to see what to expect when you're filled with the Spirit.)
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