Baptized, Filled, and Overflowing with the Spirit
The Spirit does not trickle—He overflows, flooding our lives with His power and presence.
Acts 1:5, 8; 2:4
"You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit."
Summary of the Devotional
In the book of Acts, three terms describe the empowering work of the Holy Spirit: baptized with, come upon, and filled with. While each term provides a unique perspective—baptized with suggesting total immersion, come upon indicating an external impact, and filled with pointing to an internal overflow—they all speak of the same reality: the Spirit’s power enabling believers to be Christ’s witnesses.
This empowering is distinct from the Spirit’s indwelling. Every believer is already a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), but this promise speaks of an additional work—an overwhelming outpouring of His presence, meant to flood every aspect of life with divine power. The early disciples experienced this on Pentecost, and this reality remains available to all of God’s children. The Spirit’s fullness is not confined to any denomination or theological tradition; it is an essential provision for every believer who desires to walk in Christ’s power.
Personal Journal Reflection
Lord, You have not left me to live this life in my own strength. You have not called me to strive, but to overflow. You do not merely visit; You abide. And in Your abiding, You empower.
The Spirit within me is not passive; He is a rushing flood, a mighty wind, a consuming fire. I am not scraping by on remnants of my own energy, for You have immersed me in the fullness of Your life. Just as the first disciples stood in Jerusalem, awaiting the promise, I am reminded that Your power is not something I beg for, but something I yield to. It is not a distant hope, but a present reality.
To be baptized with Your Spirit—what an image! Completely surrounded, taken under, enveloped in Your presence. You have come upon me, not as a fleeting moment of inspiration, but as an enduring force, shaping my words, my actions, my very being. To be filled with You is not an event to recall from the past, but a constant outpouring—one that floods every part of my life with Your wisdom, grace, and power.
So today, Lord, I yield. I cease from my own striving and embrace the overflow. I do not wait for a distant moment of power; I acknowledge that You already dwell within me. May Your life spill over into every conversation, every interaction, every thought. This world does not need more of me—it needs more of You, and I trust You to live through me.
Prayer
Father, You have given me everything in Christ, and Your Spirit is the wellspring of my life. I rejoice in Your fullness within me, knowing that I lack nothing. As I move through this day, I trust that You are the One at work—overflowing, empowering, and leading me in Your strength. Thank You that I do not need to summon Your power, for You already abide in me. May Your life shine through in every moment.
Credit: Devotional insights from Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra.
Photo Credit: Unsplash.
Unsplash Image Suggestion:
A photo of a waterfall cascading over rocks, illustrating the Spirit’s overflow in the believer’s life.