The Means of Spirit-Filling (1)

As we observed back in 3:16, many people speak of being “spiritual” using such statements as, “I don’t consider myself to be religious, but I feel I am spiritual.” As we also observed, however, to be spiritual means that we are characterized not by our natural instincts but by the Holy Spirit. Another term for spirituality is Spirit-filling. In other words, to be truly spiritual, one must be Spirit-filled. As theologian Louis Sperry Chafer put it in his classic book on the subject, He That Is Spiritual, “A spiritual Christian is a Spirit-filled Christian in whom the unhindered Spirit is manifesting Christ by producing a true Christian character.”

Having studied the meaning and the many manifestations of Spirit-filling, we now turn to a third and final principle, the means of Spirit-filling. How, then, are we to be filled with the Spirit? We approach this subject with great caution because we want to avoid the idea that there are certain “formulas” in the Christian life. We are told that there’s a certain formula to follow in order to know God’s will, that there’s another formula for prosperity, that there’s a another formula for revival, that there’s still another formula for finding one’s spiritual gift, and that there’s even a formula for being Spirit-filled. 

Well there are no such “magical” formulas. Since God does command us to be Spirit-filled, however, then there must be a means to bring about that end. Again, some tell us that this is accomplished by “praying through,” which actually means different things to different people. Not only is that idea vague and scripturally indefensible, Scripture nowhere speaks of prayer being involved at all in Spirit-filling. Prayer is, of course, essential in Christian living, but it’s not mentioned in the context of Spirit-filling.

That being said, we do see in Scripture four commands concerning the believer’s relationship to the Holy Spirit that without question affect the control the Holy Spirit will have on the believer.

First, we must not grieve the Holy Spirit. As we studied back in 4:30, we must not “grieve” (lupeo, “to sadden or bring pain to”) the Holy Spirit. While all sin grieves Him, the sins listed in verse 31 are especially painful to the Holy Spirit because they are particularly inconsistent in the Holy Spirit indwelt life: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice. God warns us that continuing to grieve the Holy Spirit invites God chastening: “But let a man examine himself, . . . For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (I Cor. 11:28, 31-32).

So when we become aware of our grieving the Spirit, the obvious cure is to cease doing so and claim the promise of I John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This puts us back on the path to Spirit-filling. We’ll continue next time.