"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit..." - Ephesians 5 vs 18 {KJV}

We are admonished to be filled with the Spirit. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? It means to come under the influence of the Holy Spirit, where He controls determines your experience. This is powerful! Apostle Paul uses being drunk with wine/alcohol as an example to explain being filled with the Holy Spirit: he says, be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Meaning, if a person drinks excess alcohol, he comes under the influence of alcohol—and of course, alcohol gives him an experience; his behavior and disposition at that moment will clear reveal that he has been drinking strong drink! Here, Apostle Paul is making us see that just as taking excess wine brings a man under the control of wine/alcohol, likewise, being filled with the Spirit brings a man under the control of the Spirit. So, to be filled with the Spirit is to come under the control, influence, and atmosphere of the Spirit. Hallelujah!

Imagine being under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit in your school, in your office, in your place of work, Who can curse you? Who can case evil spells at you? Who can successfully plot evil against you? Who can afflict your body? Who? None! Because, the Holy Spirit will control your steps, influence your speech, influence your decisions, and you will always be at the right places, at the right times, doing the right things, saying the right words! Hallelujah! You are under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. - Think about this.

But you see, this experience is not automatic! The Apostle says, be filled with the Spirit. Meaning, it's our responsibility to be filled with the Spirit—God will not do it for us, we are to do it! And the Apostle tells us how, he said [the next verses],

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." - Ephesians 5 vs 19 - 21 {King James Version}

  • Speaking to yourselves in psalms
  • Speaking to yourselves in hymns
  • Speaking to yourselves in spiritual songs
  • Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
  • Giving thanks always for all things
  • Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God

These are personal Christian exercises that when practiced, brings a Believer under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. In summary, what the Apostle said here is, Sing praises and worship to God; Sing in Tongues; Keep the worship of God in your heart; Don't grumble or complain about any thing, but give thanks always unto God for all things; Walk in love towards one another and subject yourself to authority in the Church. These are Kingdom activities that when a Believer exercises himself in them, he is filled with the Holy Spirit, he comes under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit.

Also,

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." - Acts 4 vs 31 {KJV}

When we pray [intensely with our emotions], we are filled with the Holy Spirit. In the chapter above, the Apostles prayed very intensely with their emotions, due to the threatening situation that led them to pray, and the effect of that efficacious prayer was that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Bible tells us that the place where they prayed was shaken! This is the wonder of being filled with the Holy Spirit, you move with great power!

Therefore dearly beloved, before you step out of your house, ensure you are not only dressed on your outward clothes, but you are dressed up spiritually with the Holy Spirit. This is actually when you are well dressed for the day. Before you leave your house to any place,

  • Pray intensely in the Spirit with your emotions involved
  • Give praise and thanks to God for all things
  • You can also sing in spiritual songs, in Tongues. And when you do this, do it emotionally. Meaning, put yourself into it

But the first 2, ensure you do them. You will know when you are filled with the Spirit—that refreshing that mantles you, that renewed boldness that comes upon you, you will know! Now that's a well dressed man, ready to win that day! Hallelujah!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Jenning Uweye
Teacher,
Global Bible Study Community

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