Filled with the Spirit

Since believers in Christ are regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit given beyond measure, some wonder what is the point to pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus brought up the subject in Luke 11:9-13:  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  Sinful men know how to give good gifts to their children, and our Father God gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.

In the New Testament we observe people filled with the Holy Spirit even without asking in particular, but it is fitting to do so when we perceive our need--even as a child asks for food when hungry or a drink when thirsty.  In Galatians 5 Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.  Should we become aware of sinful attitudes and behaviour in us it is evident we are not walking according to the guidance of the Spirit of Christ.  Coming to God in faith, humbly asking to be filled with the Spirit, is an acknowledgment of our need for Him and willingness to submit to His guidance.  By making this request known to God our aim is to be emptied of our own fleshly ambitions, pride and lust and to be fully under the guidance and empowerment of the Spirit by God's grace.

Not only does the Holy Spirit regenerate us and make us spiritually fruitful, but He gives spiritual gifts according to God's will.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:31 we should "covet earnestly the best gifts," and we are told to make our requests known to God.  This does not suggest one gift is superior to another, but that we ought to earnestly desire the most fitting gifts of God to be manifested in love at the appropriate time for the glory of God and the edification of the church.  God knows better than me when a word of wisdom or edification is needed; He knows what He desires to accomplish, when and how He will bring all to pass.  We are presumptuous to assume we know what others or even we need as if God does not already know and have a perfectly ordered plan.  We ought to submit ourselves to God in opening our mouths wide that He might fill them.

Asking is one rule of the kingdom of God, and He sometimes waits for us to realise our need and humble ourselves to ask.  Other times He may in a moment of time fill believers to overflowing as the situation demands.  But in these bodies of flesh we do not always walk in the Spirit, nor are we even mindful of God in a moment of panic or pain.  Thanks be to God He gives more grace, and when we are spiritually fruitful or useful it is always out of His infinite goodness, mercy and compassion.  For believers it is not so much a question of if we are filled with the Spirit, but if we are humbling ourselves to submit to Him.  Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit we are indwelt, sealed and baptised, and we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).  If we desire this filling, than we ought to ask in faith, receive and walk in Him.