What practical steps can we take to be filled with the Holy Spirit? The Moment in Acts 19:6 “ And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:6) Paul’s action was simple—laying on of hands—but the condition of the Ephesian believers’ hearts had already been set: they had believed, repented, and were ready to receive. Their experience gives us a template. What We Learn from the Pattern • Faith in Jesus precedes filling. • A conscious reception (not passive) is involved. • The Spirit’s fullness results in outward evidence—praise, prophecy, boldness (compare Acts 4:31). These truths form the backbone of the practical steps that follow. Practical Steps to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit • Turn wholeheartedly to Christ – Acts 2:38: “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Repentance clears the way; faith opens the door. • Obey the first instructions you already have – Water baptism (if not yet done), restitution, forgiving others—obedience aligns life with heaven’s atmosphere. • Ask persistently and expectantly – Luke 11:13: “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” – Keep asking until your heart is settled in confident expectation. • Yield every area of life – Romans 12:1 urges us to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” – Surrender specific habits, ambitions, and relationships; the Spirit fills what is fully yielded. • Saturate your mind with Scripture – Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…” – The Spirit wrote the Word; He delights to fill the life that treasures it. • Cultivate worship and thanksgiving – Ephesians 5:18-20 links being “filled with the Spirit” to speaking “to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” – Praise tunes the heart to the Spirit’s voice. • Stay in close fellowship with other believers – Acts 4:31 shows a prayer meeting shaking the room and filling every participant. – Shared faith and united prayer invite fresh infillings. • Walk in ongoing dependence – Galatians 5:16: “Walk by the Spirit.” – Filling is not a one-time event but a continuous lifestyle of listening and obeying step by step. • Guard against hindrances – 1 Thessalonians 5:19: “Do not extinguish the Spirit.” – Confess sin quickly, refuse bitterness, avoid distractions that deaden spiritual sensitivity. Living Daily in the Overflow John 7:37-39 pictures the Spirit as “streams of living water.” The more freely the water flows out—through service, witness, generosity—the more the Spirit pours in. Keep the channel open, and the filling never runs dry. |
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