And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit… – Ephesians 5:18
I consider that, among the most important things for Christians to know and experience, being filled with the Spirit is at the top. It cannot be overstated how essential it is for a Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Being filled with the Spirit was foundational in the early days of the Church. In fact, the first believers were not permitted to begin evangelism until they had first been filled with the Spirit:
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. – Luke 24:49
This endowment of power that Jesus spoke about was the Holy Spirit, whom they would be filled with on the Day of Pentecost:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come,…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. – Acts 2:1-4
It was by this mighty filling of the Holy Spirit that they preached boldly and worked miracles among the people. But they did not believe this was for themselves only, but for all who would believe on the Name of Christ:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…’ – Acts 2:17
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:38-39
And, as a rule and practice of their ministry, they made sure new believers received this gift of the Holy Spirit:
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. – Acts 8:14-17
This filling by the Spirit, however, was not a one-time experience. We see that the disciples were often filled throughout their lives and ministries. In Acts chapter four, for example, the disciples all gathered to pray after facing persecution. All of them had been filled with the Spirit before, yet we see that they were again filled with the Spirit:
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. – Acts 4:31
And, Paul, speaking to believers who had been filled at the beginning of their conversion, told them to again and continually ‘be filled with the Spirit.’ This filling was to be continuous, as the form of the Greek verb implies. The verb for ‘be filled’ is a present passive imperative form of the verb. This means, first of all, that the action is to be done in the present tense and to be continually done.
Why be Filled with the Spirit?
The reason we should be filled with the Spirit is because with the Spirit comes power. Jesus said that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us (Acts 1:8). This power helps us in many ways in our Christian life. It helps us to live in the victory that God has called us to live in.
Being filled with the Spirit is contrasted with being filled with wine. This is on purpose, for the Spirit is a replacement for wine. Many people rely on alcohol or other substances to give them boldness, joy, or peace. But these things are temporary and often destructive. The Holy Spirit, however, brings real power, lasting peace, and true joy.
David Wilkerson, in his book The Cross and the Switchblade, recounts how drug addicts were miraculously set free from heroin through the power of the Holy Spirit. He noticed that those who remained free from addiction were the ones who had been filled with the Spirit and continued to walk in that power. In the same way, whatever struggles we face—whether addiction, fear, anxiety, or anger—the Holy Spirit is the answer. Instead of retreating to substances or unhealthy behaviors, we must learn to retreat into the presence of God and be filled with His Spirit.
How to Be Filled with the Spirit
Paul gives us a direct method for being filled with the Spirit:
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. – Ephesians 5:19
Many believers struggle to be filled with the Spirit because they do not take the time to truly worship and engage with God. Worship, whether through singing, praying, or reading the Psalms, is a key way to be filled. When we set aside time to praise God—especially when we don’t feel like it—our spirits begin to be filled with His presence. This is not about mechanical rituals but about a real, living relationship with God. When we worship Him in sincerity, He fills us.
If you are facing roadblocks in your efforts to be filled with the Spirit, take time to analyze your life. Is your heart pure? Have you been careful to obey God’s word? Is there sin in your life that you haven’t repented of? The Spirit is grieved when we do not submit ourselves fully. We cannot expect to be filled with Him when He is grieved with our lives. Take the time to make your heart right with God, then you can go to worship with the expectation that you will be filled by Him.
How do I Know if I am Filled with the Spirit?
The evidence of being filled with the Spirit is found in the fruit of the Spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23
If you are filled with the Spirit, these characteristics will manifest in your life. You will find yourself being more loving, more joyful, more patient, and more at peace. If you find yourself constantly irritable, joyless, or lacking self-control, it may be an indication that you need to seek a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit.
The call to be filled with the Spirit is not optional—it is a command. If we want to live victorious Christian lives, we must make it a priority to seek the presence of God daily. Let us be people who do not settle for a dry, powerless Christianity, but who continually seek to be filled with the Spirit, experiencing the fullness of what God has for us.
Full Sermon Below
Hal Chaffee Ministries 