Jeffrey C. Long

This is the third and final part of a sermon that was preached on September 25th, 2005 at Filer Mennonite Church. Part one is available here.

What does it mean to be repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit?

“You will only revive the burning power and passion of Christ in your life by opening yourself to the power of God’s Spirit, by anchoring your daily life in the disciplines of worship, Bible study, prayer, and faithful service, and by welcoming god’s direction in the everyday routine of your life.” – Greg Laurie A Passion for God p. 13

Three word pictures in the Greek help us to understand what the term “filled” means.

First, it was used of the wind filling a sail and pushing a boat through the water. To be filled with the Spirit is to be moved along by God Himself. He becomes our source of motivation. When we are filled with the Spirit following His commands becomes a delight instead of a drudgery.

Second, being filled carries the idea of permeation and was used of salt permeating meat in order to flavor it and preserve it. God wants His Spirit to permeate our lives and influence everything we think, say and do.

Third, being filled means to be under the control of something or someone. The previous verse says to “not be drunk with wine.” The problem with drunkenness is that it controls you. When you are drunk, it controls your body, your mind, even your mouth. And then when you later aren’t drunk, it controls you by drawing you to the time when you can get drunk again.

Being filled with the Spirit is similar, only in a much more positive way. It means placing every thought, every decision, every act under the Spirit’s control. Galatinans 5:16 promises “Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” When you walk in the Spirit you have the resources to do what God wants you to do and to not do the things God doesn’t want you to do.

How to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit?

How to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit?



“Be filled is a command. Doesn’t really give us an option.

But paradoxically, the greek shows that it is not something that we can achieve through our own efforts,

It is something done for us and to which we submit.

We do our part and the Holy Spirit does His.

So, what is our part.

1. Ask to be filled with more of the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:9-13 9 “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

keep asking. not just asking once.

keep seeking. not just seeking once.

keep knocking. not just knocking once.



This is so basic, but I can tell you that I don’t always keep asking.

Acts 1:4-5 4Being assembled together with them, he charged them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Wait. Waiting is hard.

Wait expectantly. “for the promise of the Father, baptism in the Holy Spirit.”



3. Don’t quench the spirit. 1Thessalonians 5:19.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.



We quench the spirit when we have unrepentant sin, a lack of love for God, and/or for others. Or when we deny the work of the Holy Spirit.

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