And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The day of Pentecost was the first time the disciples of Jesus were filled with the Spirit of God and that was when the church was inaugurated, commissioned, and born. This was in Acts 2. Subsequently, the Scriptures reveal that they were filled with the Spirit again in Acts 4 when they had prayed, which means that there is a continual infilling with the Spirit. The will of God for the Church is continual experience of being filled with the Spirit. Acts 2:4 tells us that they were all filled with the Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. So, they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. They were filled with the Spirit and began to speak with tongues in order to stay filled with the Spirit. God wants us not just to get filled with the Spirit, but to stay filled with the Spirit. Just as it is in life, some people are getting ready for opportunities, always getting ready, but for some other people, they live ready; they are always ready for anything. God wants us to be filled with the Spirit; not just get filled, but stay filled. In other words, live in the outpouring of the Spirit continually. Hallelujah!
The Dynamics of what it takes to be filled with the Spirit, again and again, is clearly shown in Ephesians 5:18-20. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the key: 1. Speaking to yourself in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, 2. Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 3. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greek scholars have helped us to see that the word “be filled” in its translation is “be being filled.” It is in the continuous tense. That means to stay filled with the Spirit, which is to be filled continually with the Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” That project will be done by the Spirit of God. You will reach your God-given goal by the Spirit of God. It is not going to be by your (natural, human) strength, for by strength shall no man prevail.
MY SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION):
In the Name of Jesus Christ, I declare that I am willing and yielded to the Spirit of God as I minister unto the Lord in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody to the Lord with continual thanksgiving. Amen!
Further Meditation:
1 Samuel 2:9; Colossians 3:16.