Lesson Two: Discovering the Spirit-filled Life

A full discussion of the Spirit-filled life can be viewed here. 

I. What is the Spirit-filled life?

Jesus promised the abundant and fruitful life as the result of being filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit-filled life is the Christ-directed life by which Christ lives His life in and through us in the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15).

• One becomes a Christian through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, according to John 3:1-8. From the moment of spiritual birth, the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at all times (John 1:12; Colossians 2:9, 10; John 14:16, 17). Though all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not all Christians are filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit is the source of the overflowing life (John 7:37-39).
• The Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ (John 16:1-15). When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he is a true disciple of Christ.
• In His last command before His ascension, Christ promised the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:1-9).

II. How can one be filled with the Holy Spirit?

We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith; then we can experience the abundant and fruitful life which Christ promised to each Christian.

You can appropriate the filling of the Holy Spirit right now if you:

• Sincerely desire to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39).
• Confess your sins. By faith thank God that He has forgiven all of your sins – past, present and future – because Christ died for you (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; Hebrews 10:1-17).

The following are some areas in our lives that the Bible mentions we ought to surrender to God: 

1. money and material possessions (Matthew 19:16-23) 
2. physical body (1 Corinthians 6:19,20) 
3. family/loved ones (Matthew 10:37) 
4. behavior/conduct (1 Corinthians 10:31) 
5. future concerns (Matthew 6:31-34)      

The degree of our surrender to God is progressive. However, we are accountable to respond in obedience as God shows us an area of our lives that He wants us to surrender to Him. In case He is doing that now, here is a suggested prayer that may help you express your response to God. 

“Lord Jesus, by faith I yield total control of my  (specific area of my life) to You. I affirm your faithful commitment to give me the best. I pray you would use this area of my life to give you glory. Give me sufficient grace to keep my (specific area of my life) surrendered to you day by day.” 

• Present every area of your life to God (Romans 12:1, 2).

The following are some forms of sin that the Bible clearly speaks against: 

1. lustfulness / sexual immorality
2. deception / lying
3. covetousness / stealing 
4. unforgiveness / wrath / slander
5. rebellion against authority
6. idolatry      

Is it possible that one of these sins is hidden in your heart right now? It may even be a habitual sin in your life. John 16:8 says that one of the purposes why the Holy Spirit came is to convict men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Let us take a moment of silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts, and convict us of any hidden sin if there is. 

If you have been convicted of any sin at this time, you know that the Lord wants you to confess it so He may cleanse you. Here is a suggested prayer of confession which may express the desire of your heart: 

“Lord Jesus, I agree that I have sinned against you by committing ____________. 

Thank you for forgiving my sin(s) through your death on the cross for me. By faith, I am forsaking this sin of______________ . I renounce all past involvement in____________ . Thank you for your promise that if I confess my sin(s) you are faithful and just to forgive and cleanse me from my unrighteousness.” 

• By faith claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit, according to:
  • His Command: Be filled with the Spirit. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
  • His Promise: He will always answer when we pray according to His will. “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14, 15).

How to pray in faith to be filled with the Holy Spirit

We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is a suggested prayer:

“Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now and trust Him to do so.