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What Does it Mean to be Filled With The Holy Spirit?

Q: As Christians we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as a deposit for Christ coming back for us. Paul writes about not being ignorant of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs mentions do not stifle the Holy Spirit.  Where in the bible does it teach us how to understand and know this “Holy Spirit?” If we can be ignorant of it, that implies that knowledge of it and its uses are required. How do we maximize the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Summary

What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to fill you? And how should Christians understand the Spirit’s work in their lives?

Dr. Michael Easley begins with Ephesians 5:18, where Paul commands believers to “be filled with the Spirit.” Being filled does not mean getting more of the Holy Spirit. It means allowing the Spirit to control your life. The Christian is indwelt by the Spirit when he or she trusts Christ, and that relationship carries permanence through the Spirit’s sealing.
Dr. E explains five key aspects of the Spirit’s work: baptizing, indwelling, sealing, gifting, and filling. He uses the memorable phrase “B figs” to help summarize these truths. The Spirit also produces fruit that contrasts sharply with our former sinful patterns. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control demonstrate His work in the believer.

The conversation also addresses what it means to quench or stifle the Spirit. Dr. E explains that resisting the Spirit means resisting His control and choosing pride, anger, sin, or selfishness instead.

Finally, Dr. E connects the Holy Spirit’s work to the Trinity and salvation. Christianity depends upon the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each fulfilling His distinct role in God’s saving work.

Takeaways:

• Being filled with the Holy Spirit means being controlled by the Spirit, not receiving more of Him.
• The Holy Spirit indwells every believer who trusts Christ.
• The Spirit seals believers for the day of redemption, demonstrating the permanence of their relationship with God.
• The Spirit produces fruit that stands in direct contrast to the deeds of the flesh.
• Quenching the Spirit means resisting His control and choosing to live according to sinful desires instead.
• The Holy Spirit’s work points us to the Triune God and His unified work in salvation.

Links Mentioned:

The Moody Handbook of Theology by Dr. Paul Enns

Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here.

If you’ve got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.