“Turn you at my reproof: behold I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.” Proverbs 1:23
Christ did not die on Calvary, taking the weight and judgment for our sins upon Himself, paving the way for the Spirit of God to be sent from heaven, so that we should be partially filled with the Spirit. Paul’s admonition is: “…be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18) What does being filled with the Spirit truly mean? How can one be filled with the Spirit, and know the reality of that fulness on a daily basis?
In the Old Testament, in the days of Elisha the prophet, there came a time when he became ill, and was going to die. King Jehoash came to visit him, and lamented over him with great sorrow because of his soon passing. It was then that Elisha was led of the Lord to teach the king a very valuable lesson with respect to “fulness” of expectations. Elisha had told the king that the Lord would deliver Israel from their enemy Syria, and this in an all-inclusive, thorough manner. Elisha commanded the king to strike the ground with an arrow, which would signify a victory in battle. The king, instead of striking the ground six or seven times, believing God for a thorough victory over the Syrians, only did so three times. Elisha was very angry with the king for not believing God’s promised victory, but settling for only three victories. Here is an example of partialness, but not completeness, in answer to faith. Though the king had knowledge of the will of God, he did not trust him for completeness. What is the point of this illustration with regard to the fulness of the Spirit? The first thing is to see that there must be a clear understanding of what the will of God is with regard to the Spirit’s fulness, but secondly, the commitment of the believer to trust God fully for it. The believer must be clear concerning the “promise of the Father,” the Spirit’s presence in the heart of the believer, but also, of the Father’s intent, or purpose. With regard to the matter of commitment, the double-minded man, the doubtful heart, or the hesitant soul, will not be filled with the Spirit of God, for He is given in His fulness to the heart that not only desires Christ’s fulness, but is truly willing to seek it with his whole heart.
What then is this fulness of the Spirit? In the book of Isaiah, he describes the vision that he had of God upon His throne, in His temple. In that description he speaks of God’s robe, with its hems and borders filling the temple. To be filled is to choose to give full access to Christ by His Spirit to everything that pertains to the temple of our hearts. In the case of Israel it seems that the temple was often a spiritual battleground where the enemy of our souls was always seeking to put his idols to be worshipped, then to desecrate that temple by the unclean and ungodly practices which was the result of idolatry. Often the temple of old had to be thoroughly cleansed, everything removed that militated against the true worship of God. Sometimes the temple was in such disarray, and uncleanness, that even the copy of the Law of the Lord given by Moses, had been lost by neglect God would not fill that temple until all that was not of Him was removed. Only when the temple was consecrated afresh in the hearts and minds of the people, would the blessing of God return. In the spiritual conflict in which the believer is engaged, the temple, “one’s own body,” (Romans 12:1) is Christ’s habitation by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will only fill that temple with His power and love when the temple is wholly His, having been surrendered entirely, cleansed thoroughly, and committed to true worship and service. The fulness of the Spirit is given to the one who believes.
Dear Father, Fill these temples today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.