Be Filled with the Holy Spirit Series

 

In our earlier study on the Holy Spirit, we explored the question, Who is the Holy Spirit? We discussed the idea that the Holy Spirit is not an "it" or simply "the force," as portrayed in the popular Star Wars movies. We concluded that He is a person who thinks, feels, speaks, and can be grieved, just as a person does. We learned that He is entirely God, empowers us, and brings the Scriptures to life for His followers. When many Christians think of the Holy Spirit, they immediately focus on His power and the gifts He bestows, which are part of His work. However, in this study, we will examine what the Holy Spirit does for the believer when people repent and trust in Christ for salvation. In a subsequent study in this series, we will explore the gifts the Holy Spirit bestows. First, let's discuss the relationship into which all believers are brought.

 

Our first experience with the Holy Spirit often begins when we become aware of our spiritual condition and are drawn to the Father. For some, this is a moment of recognizing their need for Christ and choosing to follow Him. For others raised in the Christian faith, it may be harder to identify a specific point, yet the Holy Spirit has been present, gently leading and guiding them. This awakening is often preceded by a period of personal struggle, especially during the transition from childhood to adulthood, though it can occur at any stage of life. The trials and sorrows we face often prompt us to wrestle with life’s more profound questions. In this context, we turn to the story of Nicodemus—a respected teacher in Israel—who, despite his position, sought answers about spiritual matters. He had heard Jesus’ teachings, and his heart was stirred to seek the truth.

 

Sons and Daughters of God

 

A man named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin—the ruling body of all Jews—came to Jesus at night with questions on his mind:

 

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:2-8).

 

Why would a man like Nicodemus visit Jesus at night? (v. 2). Despite being a ruling elder and scholar, Nicodemus sought answers from Jesus. What do you think convinced him that Jesus had been sent from God?

 

Nicodemus was aware of an inner need that rule-based religion couldn't satisfy. Jesus explained that physical birth alone is not enough. We must be born again, or born from above, through the Holy Spirit, which occurs when we believe the Good News and trust in Christ. You might not remember the exact moment when peace with God entered your inner man, your soul, but just as we know we're alive physically, we should also know we're alive spiritually.

 

We receive complete forgiveness when we repent (change our minds about the direction of our lives), come to Christ, and put our faith in what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. The barrier of sin that separated us from God has been removed. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah writes: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). Paul the Apostle writes: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Jesus took all our past, present, and future sins and buried them in the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). The book of Romans is described by scholars as the Himalayas of the New Testament, with chapter eight being Mount Everest, and verses 14-17 could well be considered the peak of Everest.

 

¹⁴For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; instead, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Romans 8:14-17).

 

Highest Privilege. First, there is no greater privilege than being a child of God. If you are a child of God, it’s a downward step to be a king. We have been welcomed into God's kingdom through the substitutionary death of Christ on our behalf. John the apostle wrote about this privilege as he describes how we are adopted into God's family when we trust in Christ:

 

¹See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:1-2).

 

Under Roman law, if an adult wanted an heir, he could choose a son or adopt one. God has only one begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, but He has many adopted children. A reigning monarch might adopt stray or orphaned individuals in a fairy tale and turn them into princes, but in Christ, that fairy tale has become an absolute and solid truth. In the passage above, John the Apostle writes that we have been adopted into God's family. Once we understand our status as adopted sons and daughters of God, we realize that no worldly title or position compares to being a child of the Creator of the Universe.

 

Closest Intimacy. Secondly, Paul the Apostle writes in Romans 8 that we have the closest possible intimacy with God, stating that by the Spirit, we cry out, "Abba, Father!" Nowhere in the Old Testament is God addressed as Abba. The use of this word in addressing God was unique to Jesus. The nearest equivalent is probably "dear Father" or "Daddy." Many of us today are familiar with the term "Abba" when talking about God as Father. However, when Paul used this word to refer to God the Father, it would have been seen as a radical statement at the time. Let me tell you the story of how the name 'Abba,' or 'Father,' was life-changing for a young Muslim man living in Egypt.

 

Mohammad Kamel was a devout Muslim who decided to persecute a church in a city in Egypt. He asked his Christian friend, Mamdouh, to take him to a church service. Mamdouh was suspicious of his intentions, knowing Kamel was an enemy of the Christian faith. He didn't want him to disrupt or mock his church, so he took him to a different church of another denomination. Mohammed was determined to prepare himself properly for the church meeting by learning a Christian prayer. That way, he could act like a Christian and go unnoticed. He asked Mamdouh to write out a Christian prayer he could memorize. Mamdouh wrote down the words of the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. I will quote from Mohammed’s own words what happened when he went into Mamdouh’s spare room to rest and read the prayer.

 

I sat on the bed to read over and memorize the prayer. The first two words, “Our Father,” grabbed me! “Our Father? Our daddy?" I asked myself incredulously, wondering if I had read correctly. Muslims would never dare to address God in this way! As a Muslim, I was taught that Allah was my master, a frightful and distant overseer who would never allow me to approach him in such a familiar way. How disrespectful and foolish for Christians to address God like this; indeed, this was blasphemy!

 

Shaking my head, I casually opened the window, looked out, and addressed the night sky in a mocking whisper: "God, did you marry my mother? Are you my father?" Suddenly, an inexplicable and overwhelming Presence filled the room. It was a powerful yet comforting Presence that penetrated me to the very core of my soul. The response to my question was almost audible: “Yes, I AM your Father.” I was completely enveloped by God's Presence, overwhelmed by an indescribable Love. This was God's love for me—a fatherly love, the love of a daddy! God introduced Himself at that moment, saying He was my heavenly Father!

 

I felt like a small child who, having been estranged from his father for twenty-three years, had finally been found. The love I experienced was so overwhelming that I wanted to shout it from the rooftops: God is my Father! God, the Creator of everything, the All-Powerful, the Lord of Lords—my Father! Throughout the night, I experienced the sensation of God’s love enveloping me, and I desperately hugged Him back. I started to realize all the wrong things I had done and how they upset the Father. I confessed to Him every mistake I could remember. I also shared my regret for entering the church under false pretenses just to mock the Christians.

 

Realizing my sins and how they grieved the Father, I was overwhelmed with gut-wrenching sobs. I cried so intensely that Mamdouh heard me from the next room. When he later asked why I had been crying so loudly, he couldn’t believe that the Lord’s Prayer had such a powerful effect on me. That night, I slept very deeply. When I woke up the next day, I felt as if I had shed the weight of a heavy camel that had been riding on my shoulders. Peace and comfort filled my heart. I later learned that this is what the Bible means when it says, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

 

Mohammad Kamel, who once opposed the Christian faith, changed his name to Daniel Abdul Massieh (meaning “Daniel, the servant of Messiah”) and now preaches the gospel of Christ. It was his understanding that God is his Father, which led him to realize the nature of God and His love for all people on earth.

 

Translating the Hebrew word “Abba” as simply "Daddy" would be an incomplete interpretation. The Hebrew term symbolizes intimacy, obedience, and deep respect and love. Jesus used this word to describe His relationship with the Father. Christ allows us to share in that close relationship with God when we receive His Spirit: “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship” (Romans 8:15).

 

Deepest Experience. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit provides us with the most profound experience of God possible. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children” (Romans 8:16). He wants us to know, deep within, that we are children of God. Just as each of us desires our children to know and feel our love, God wants His children to be confident in His love and in His loving relationship as their Father. The Holy Spirit offers us an inner witness that we belong to God.

 

Greatest Security. Fourthly, Paul tells us that being a son or daughter of God is the greatest security. For if we are children of God, we are also “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). Paul adds, “If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (v.17). This is not a condition but an observation. Christians identify with Jesus Christ, which could mean rejection and opposition here and now, but it is nothing compared to our inheritance as children of God.

 

Developing the Relationship

 

Our relationship with God grows and deepens as we spend time in His presence. The Spirit of God helps us to develop that relationship by bringing us into the presence of the Father. “For through him (Jesus) we both (Jews and Gentiles alike) have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:18). Through Jesus and by the Spirit, we can approach God's presence. The temple's veil was torn from top to bottom, symbolizing that the way is open for believers in Christ. Matthew explains how this veil was torn when Jesus died on the cross.

 

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ⁴⁷And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” ⁴⁸And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. ⁴⁹But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” ⁵⁰And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. ⁵¹And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ⁵²The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, ⁵³and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:45-54).

 

When Jesus died on the cross, God gave us powerful signs to show this was not an ordinary death. What were these signs, and what did they mean?

 

When Jesus walked the earth, many barriers between people and God were evident in the culture and their practice of worship. These barriers were clear to Gentiles who wanted to worship in the temple. All non-Jews were separated from the children of Israel and kept in a different court, the Court of the Gentiles, restricted from coming near God's temple. Through Christ's death on the cross, Jesus removed the barrier between God and humanity, allowing us to enter God's presence. We often fail to appreciate the removal of this barrier and the privilege of drawing near to God by faith. God hears us when we pray, for we have immediate access to His presence through the Spirit.

 

The Spirit Helps Us to Pray. Not only does the Holy Spirit bring us into God's presence, but He also helps us pray.

 

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans (Romans 8:26).

 

What matters is not the place or position where we pray, nor whether we use set forms of prayer; what matters is whether or not we are praying in the Spirit. This can refer to the gift of tongues in prayer, but it can also be seen as an empowered prayer, aligned with God’s will.

 

The Spirit Helps Us Understand God’s Word. Another part of developing our relationship with God is understanding what He is saying to us. Again, the Spirit of God enables us to do this. Paul the Apostle says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:17,18). The Spirit of God is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. He brings light to our eyes to understand what God is saying through the Bible, for example.

 

Ultimately, we will never fully understand Christianity without the Holy Spirit opening our eyes to God’s truth. We can see enough to take a step of faith, which isn't a blind leap but an informed one, since understanding often comes after faith. Anselm of Canterbury said, “I believe in order that I might understand.” Only when we believe, put our faith in Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit can we truly understand God's revelation.

 

The Spirit of God helps us grow in our relationship with Him, allowing us to maintain that connection. People often worry they won't be able to continue in the Christian life. In our own strength, that worry is valid. We can't sustain ourselves, but God, through His Spirit, gives us new life and the ability to stand in God's power. We do not live the Christian life based on performance, but through our new relationship with God, into which Christ has brought us. It is the Holy Spirit who keeps that relationship alive. We are completely dependent on Him. He faithfully shows us what grieves Him and helps us become aware of our sins when we do or think something that displeases God. He is constantly working in our lives, transforming us from one degree of glory to another, always guiding us toward the image of Jesus.

 

The Family Likeness

 

As we spend time in God's presence, the Holy Spirit transforms us. As Paul writes, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are being shaped into the moral likeness of Jesus Christ.

 

Paul tells us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the qualities that the Spirit of God develops in our lives. We have already seen that Christ's righteousness is given to us at the moment of our spiritual rebirth as Christians. How this righteousness is expressed in our daily lives is a work of the Holy Spirit, transforming us into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit provides us with a transformative experience that grants us spiritual authority and a character change that manifests in our daily lives. The depth and reality of God's nature and our experience of intimacy with Him on this side of eternity depend on how we respond to Him. He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him.

 

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:8).

 

Unity in the Family

 

When we come to Christ and become sons and daughters of God, we join a vast family. Like every loving parent, the Lord desires unity within His family. Jesus prayed for unity among His followers (John 17), and Paul also urged the Ephesian Christians to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). The same Holy Spirit resides in all true believers in Christ, regardless of their denomination, background, color, or race. He is active in fostering unity within God's family.

 

Whenever we see seeds of disunity sown by our enemy, we should counter them by doing the opposite of the dark spirit that's at work. Satan seeks to sow division to cause brothers to be in opposition to one another. He works to cause Pentecostals to be against Baptists, Charismatics against Evangelicals, and Anglicans against Lutherans.

 

Our mindset and attitude should be one of accepting all believers in Christ, regardless of their political opinions, maturity, nationality, skin color, or any other difference on earth. We have all been given a heavenly Kingdom. Christ loves all the Church, and so should we. The Church is like a diamond, reflecting the light of God. We should appreciate every reflection of this multifaceted jewel as we spread the light of Christ to those around us. Our love for one another will win this younger generation, in particular, and the whole world.

 

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another (John 13:35).

 

It is vital to remember that when we refuse to recognize or honor another believer in Christ, we align ourselves with the enemy. Our enemy is not flesh and blood. He (Satan) is known as the Accuser of the Brethren. We must not agree with him! Unity in the Body of Christ paves the way for the Spirit of God to move powerfully. Conversely, disunity grieves the Holy Spirit and limits God's power within the Church. To be used by Him, we need to be in harmony with the Spirit of God and follow His lead. If we want to stay in step with God's Spirit, we must let go of our selfish ideas of self-righteousness, preferences, prejudices, and worldly ways of thinking and relating. Instead, we should see one another through God's forgiveness and great mercy. Every part of the Church is precious to God and greatly loved.

 

The same Holy Spirit dwells in every child of God, and He longs for us to be united. Truly, it makes no sense for the church to be divided because there is “one body and one Spirit…one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

 

Being part of this large family is a great honor; one of the biggest joys of coming to Christ is sharing in this unity. The closeness and depth of relationships in the Christian church are unlike anything I've experienced elsewhere. We must always strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in all levels of our small groups, congregations, local churches, and the entire Church worldwide.

 

Gifts for the Children

 

Every Christian is unique and possesses different gifts. The New Testament provides multiple lists of the Spirit's gifts. In 1 Corinthians, Paul mentions nine of them:

 

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

 

There is an urgent need to exercise the gifts of the Spirit as we share our faith with people we meet, those in our family, or at our workplaces. A significant problem in the church today is that very few are using their gifts. Church growth expert Eddie Gibbs wrote,

 

The present high level of unemployment in the nation pales into insignificance compared to that which prevails in the church. As a result, a few people are left doing everything and are totally exhausted, while the rest need to be more utilized. The Church has been likened to a soccer match, in which thousands of people desperately in need of exercise watch twenty-two people desperately in need of a rest!

 

The Spirit of God gives each of us gifts. God does not require us to have many gifts, but He desires us to use what we have and to hunger for more (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1).

 

The Growing Family

 

God told Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). It should be natural for God's family to grow and thrive. Again, this is the work of the Spirit. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). When we experience the Spirit of God, we want to share our experience of God with others. As we do, the family grows. The Christian family should never be stagnant. The family of God should continually expand and attract new people who receive the power of the Holy Spirit and go out to share Jesus with others. It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian. Paul says, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9). Although every true believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit, not all Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul writes to the Christians in Ephesus, saying, “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

 

I want to conclude this study by examining Revelation 22:17, one of the final verses in the Bible. The Spirit of God is active throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

 

The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Revelation 22:17).

 

God wants to fill each of us with His Spirit. When we thirst and ask, God will give us "the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17).

 

Prayer: Lord, we ask that You draw near to us by Your Holy Spirit and cause us to hunger and thirst more for You. We want to experience all that You have for us. Help us to hear You and respond to Your Spirit. Speak to us through Your Word and make us aware of Your presence in our lives.

 

Continue Your Journey…

 

This devotional is part of our Be Filled With the Spirit series. Here’s the link to the YouTube video of the study: What Does the Holy Spirit Do?

 

Keith Thomas

 

Website: www.groupbiblestudy.com
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