and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [acts 2:4]
filled with the Spirit.
do you believe that you have the power of Almighty God living in you? if you doubt, what makes you doubt? maybe you’ve tried speaking in tongues and nothing came. maybe you’ve prayed for healing and healing was not granted. do you doubt in those moments that the Spirit is here? or that he really is working in and through you? how do we know that we are filled with the Spirit?
for you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [romans 8:15-16]
because you are filled with the Spirit, you call God your Father. he drove you to confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and to believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and so you were saved. this was not of your flesh, but of the Spirit in you.
but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [galatians 5:22]
because you are filled with the Spirit, you start to love the things of the Spirit, the character of God. you grow in his fruit because you desire his ways over your own.
the unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. [psalm 119:130]
because you are filled with the Spirit, you have understanding of the word of God. anyone can read these words and acknowledge them with their mind. but only the Spirit gives understanding to the heart, planting the word deep within, where it will bear fruit in its season.
yes, sometimes we need to ask for the Spirit to completely take over when our flesh is weak. this may not result in speaking a foreign language, but it can result in powerful works of God in you and through you.
- it can cause you to forgive when your flesh cannot.
- it can provide wisdom for you and for the lives of others when your logic does not.
- it can provide boldness to share the goodness and glory of God when your personality does not.
we can and should ask for supernatural Spirit power often and in faith. but the power of God’s Spirit doesn’t ever leave you. he lives in you. he never stops working in you and through you.
Father, help us to believe. fill us with your Spirit and may your goodness overflow with fruit in our lives, with boldness to spread your word, and with great satisfaction in your presence. amen.
~ arwen eastmen