“…Be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
Dear Ones:
Being filled with the Spirit is NOT an option if the believer would be victorious in this world, an over-comer, and a conqueror. Why? Perhaps the answer to that question resides in the answer to another one: “How is it that the Lord Jesus was the perfect conqueror and “Over-comer of the world?” Was it simply because of His position as the Son of God, that as the perfect man, that He would be so? That would be a good answer, except for the fact that He took on human flesh, laid aside His glory, and “…was in all points tempted (tested) like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb.4:15) What was the key to His life, being fashioned as a man, knowing and experiencing very keenly the weakness and limitations of men, only without sin? We see from His conception, that the Holy Spirit was the means by which He was conceived and kept. We see at His baptism, that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, thus anointing Him for the mission and ministry before Him. We again see Him returning from the temptation in the wilderness, in the power of the Spirit, and declaring in the synagogue in Nazareth that the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words concerning the Spirit of God being upon Him, was now fulfilled. Finally, the author of Hebrews writes: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who THROUGH the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God…” (9:14) It would be by the Spirit of God that the resurrection would occur. In other words, the only way Christ as a man, could accomplish the will of God perfectly, overcoming every foe, would be BY the Spirit of God. And so it is with us, for Christ is our perfect example, there is no way that we can “follow in His steps,” BE lights in the world, and overcome as He overcame, unless we are anointed and filled with the Spirit. What then is to be the expectation of Christ’s fullness?
In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord spoke to Israel concerning the “expectation” they were to have with regard to the certainty of His promises. In the context of the restoration of Israel, Ezekiel writes: “And I will make them and the places round about my hill, a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.” (34:26) In Joel’s prophecy concerning the outpouring of the Spirit, which was confirmed by Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost, he wrote: “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He has given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain, in the first month.” (Joel 2:23) Here is the promise of blessing, abundance of blessing with regard to the restoration. But note that the true essence of the blessing is this: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…” (v.28) It is, as the Lord Jesus declared: “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” (Jn. 6:63) If the blessing of God, promised of God, is tied to the Spirit of God’s presence and power, then, how is it that we can even consider that we can overcome, and live victorious lives without an utter dependence upon, and obedience to, the Spirit of God? Are we specifically trusting Him for, and living in the expectation of, the “showers of blessing,” the fullness of the Spirit?
Dear Father, fill us and keep us filled. Teach us how to walk BY the Spirit, and to overcome all THROUGH the Spirit. Then much fruit shall be born, and shall be the fruit OF the Spirit, well-pleasing in Thy sight, for Thy glory. We thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad