Living in the Garden of Grace: Be Filled with the Spirit
"Be filled with the Spirit." —Ephesians 5:18
The Call to a Spirit-Filled Life
Every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:9:
"Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."
However, not every believer lives in the fullness of the Spirit. Some walk in their own strength, while others experience the Spirit’s empowering and transforming presence. The difference lies in obedience to a simple yet profound command: "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
A Continuous Filling
The command to “be filled” with the Spirit is not a one-time event. The original Greek verb suggests ongoing action—a continual filling. This means walking in a moment-by-moment dependence on the Spirit throughout each day.
The filling of the Spirit is not something we earn or accomplish. It is a gift, received by grace. Just as salvation was undeserved, so is the Spirit’s filling.
Why Are We Not Always Filled?
If the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer and yearns to fill us, why do we often miss this abundant life? Paul answers this in Galatians 5:17:
"The flesh lusts against the Spirit…"
The barrier to being filled with the Spirit is the flesh—the residual self-centered patterns of our old life in Adam. These patterns, rooted in independence and pride, resist the Spirit’s work.
When the flesh is crucified through obedience to God’s Word, the barrier is removed, and we experience the Spirit’s filling. Kuykendall highlights the importance of obeying the five imperatives of Romans 6:11-13 as the means to yield to the Spirit:
Reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11): Believe that your old ways have no power over you and live in the reality of your union with Christ.
Do not let sin reign in your body (Romans 6:12): Resist the desires of the flesh that seek to control your life.
Do not present your body as an instrument of unrighteousness (Romans 6:13a): Refuse to allow any part of yourself to serve sin.
Present yourself to God as alive from the dead (Romans 6:13b): Surrender your life to God as one who has been raised with Christ.
Present your members as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13c): Offer every part of yourself to God for His purposes.
A Life Overflowing
Jesus promised the woman at the well:
"Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).
This picture of a fountain is what the Spirit-filled life looks like—abundant, overflowing, and life-giving. It is not only a source of personal renewal but also a means of blessing others.
When we are filled with the Spirit, we are equipped to:
Live abundantly: The Spirit enables us to experience the joy, peace, and power of the Christian life.
Serve effectively: The Spirit works through us to minister to a hurting world, bringing God’s love and truth to those in need.
Practical Steps to Be Filled
Surrender Daily: Begin each day by presenting yourself to God, inviting the Spirit to lead and empower you.
Confess Barriers: Acknowledge any areas of fleshly resistance that hinder the Spirit’s work.
Walk in Obedience: Trust God’s Word and follow His lead, moment by moment.
Rely on Grace: Remember, the filling of the Spirit is a gift of grace. Rest in God’s provision and trust Him to do the work.
Personal Reflection
Are there areas of your life where the flesh has been resisting the Spirit’s leading?
How might yielding to the Spirit in those areas transform your walk with God?
Pray This
“Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit who dwells within me. I confess the times I have resisted His leading and walked according to the flesh. I surrender every part of my life to You and trust in the Spirit to guide, empower, and transform me. Fill me anew with Your Spirit today, that I may walk in abundance and be an instrument of Your grace to others. Amen.”
A Final Thought
The Spirit-filled life is not reserved for a select few; it is God’s design for every believer. As we yield to Him, we experience the abundant life Jesus promised and become vessels through which His love and truth flow to a needy world.
Let us walk in the Spirit, allowing Him to fill and lead us daily. Through His power, we can live victoriously and serve faithfully, bringing glory to God in all we do.