Monday, February 21, 2011


In the Bible the phrase “filled with the Holy Spirit” is used to signify God’s Spirit empowering a believer for mission. For example, Joshua was “filled with the Spirit” after Moses laid hands on him empowering him with wisdom to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:9). Micah was “filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD” empowering him with courage to preach God’s message of judgment to a hostile and rebellious nation. Elizabeth, John the baptizer's mother was filled with the Spirit empowering her for worship (Luke 1:41).

In Acts 2 “all” believers were filled with the Holy Spirit empowered to present the gospel to the crowd that had gathered for Pentecost. From that point on every person who repents and believes the gospel is permanently indwelt with the Holy Spirit, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:13) Unlike Old Testament saints, believers in the New Covenant never fear the loss of God’s Spirit. (compare Psalm 51:11 and Ephesians 1:13) While we who have believed in Jesus need never fear losing the Spirit’s presence, we can “stifle” (or quench) the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Jesus says we do not need to beg God for the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13) We should continually seek fresh empowerment (filling) of the Spirit for the mission God has called us to. (Ephesians 5:18)

http://www.campuscrusade.com/downloads/satisfied.pdf

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