The Filling of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

Last time, we established that Scripture commands us to be filled with the Spirit, which means it is possible to be a believer and not filled with the Spirit.  However, anyone who is a believer in Christ is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  Before we look at what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and what that "looks like" in the life of the believer, let us consider what prevents a believer from being filled with the Spirit. 

It is interesting that Scripture gives us no recipe or instructions on how to be filled with the Spirit.  However, one thing we are called to do is to not grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).  The word for "grieve" is the Greek word lupeo, which means "to make sorrowful, to offend, to affect with sadness."  In the context of Ephesians 4, this verse is surrounded with verses addressing specific sins that someone may commit - from anger, stealing, corrupt talk, deceit, slander and others.  In other words, what is it that grieves the Holy Spirit?  Sin and disobedience.  We will explore this a little more next time.  But the first issue for us to realize is that we cannot persist in sin and also want to be filled with the Spirit. 

Too often, we can view the filling of the Spirit as a supernatural outpouring from God.  In a way, I guess it is.  But more simply, it is something that should naturally be taking place in the life of the believer, but the presence of sin in our lives will prevent the filling of the Spirit from taking place in our lives. 

1 Thessalonians 5:19 - "Do not quench the Spirit"