Are You Filled With Him? ~ Precious C Philip

If you happen to ask any Christian around you whether they're filled with the Holy Spirit, the answer you'll most likely get is "Sure, I am." No one would give a negative response even if they know beyond a shadow of doubt that the Holy Spirit is neither living in them nor has filled them up.

This is a crucial matter because the Bible admonishes us in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Holy Ghost. This instruction is not a suggestion but a command. You are either filled with the Holy Spirit or you are full of "self". Sadly, not many professing Christians today are filled with the Holy Spirit. Many are full of 'self', that is why immorality is rampant among professing Christians. 

You'll find a Christian who says they're filled with the Holy Spirit still imbibing alcohol to stupor, still fornicating, still clubbing, still smoking, still snorting hard drugs, still womanizing, still patronising prostitutes, still engaging in extra-marital sex and still telling lies. This is nothing but sheer hypocrisy. Those who are truly filled with the Holy Spirit cannot be manifesting the above.

A Christian lady claiming to be filled with the Holy Spirit is having pre-marital sex with her 'boyfriend', and sleeping over in his house; some are even cohabiting with their fiance. Some comfortably and boldly dress up in clothes that expose their body (breasts & thighs) and yet claim to be full of the Holy Spirit. I'm sorry but you're honestly not yet filled with the Holy Spirit if this explains your present lifestyle as a Christian woman. 

We cannot say we are filled with a Holy Spirit and yet be comfortable in immorality. We cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit and there is still room for sinful practices in our lives. We cannot have the Holy Spirit living right inside of us and we can happily watch erotic movies. The Holy Spirit can't fill us and we see nothing wrong in masturbation and find delight in watching pornography and listening to corrupt secular music. No! It is not possible.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not going to church, acting spiritual, looking holy (no jewelries, no make-up, no artificial hair, wearing long skirt and a barrett), neither is it attempting to speak in tongues, preaching the gospel, joining evangelism outreach programmes, giving offerings and paying tithes, singing in the choir, joining the prayer warriors team in your local assembly, sharing Christian quotes on social media or quoting the Bible...you can be doing all of this and still not be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Christians who have the Holy Spirit in them can discern between sound and false doctrines. Are you able to distinguish between sound and false doctrines? Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit are very passionate about soul winning. Are you passionate about witnessing Christ to unbelievers, bringing sinners to repentance and reconciliation to God?

One clear evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is HOLY LIVING. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of holiness according to Romans 1:4. Therefore, if you're filled with the Spirit of holiness, you will live holy. You'll hate sin and flee from all appearances of sin. You'll love righteousness and live right. You'll choose pleasing God over pleasing yourself and man. I encourage you today to put self to death by welcoming the Holy Spirit into your life. Cry out to God now to fill you with His Holy Spirit and He'll grant your request if you ask Him sincerely and earnestly. "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 

Be filled with the Holy Spirit and you'll not be full of 'self' nor live in the flesh. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life today!

"For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever." AMPC - Romans 8:13

"If you use your lives to do what your sinful selves want, you will die spiritually. But if you use the Spirit’s help to stop doing the wrong things you do with your body, you will have true life." ERV - Romans 8:13

Shalom.