Living a Spirit-Filled Life | Christ Fellowship Church
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Living a Spirit-Filled Life

Don’t miss out.

Are you living a Spirit-filled life?

What does that even mean?

Let’s begin with who is the Spirit? Scripture calls Him by a variety of names. Here are a few of them:

  •  The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
  • Comforter/Helper/Advocate (John 16:7-11)
  • Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9)
  • Spirit of Truth (John 14:17)

 What do we know about Him? The Holy Spirit:

  •  He is the Third Person of the Trinity, co-equal with the Father and the Son.
 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19)


Notice when we are baptized, we are baptized in the “name,” which is singular emphasizing one God, of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and Son.

  • He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 16:8-11)


It is the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, who convicts us that we are sinners, that we’re not righteous, or in other words, in a right relationship with God, and that judgment awaits all who don’t come to a proper understanding of our plight.

  • He bears witness to Jesus.
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. (John 15:26)


The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus since believing and having faith in Him grants eternal life. Coincidentally, it is the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Christ, that empowers us so we can live as Christ lived.

  • He makes conversion, or the new birth, possible and then dwells within believers.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit . . . (Titus 3:4-5)


If you really think about it, you couldn’t become a Christian without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

  • He purifies and sanctifies.
 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)


Because of the Holy Spirit, we have the power and privilege to become more like Jesus daily in everything we do.

  • He teaches and reveals truth.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. (John 14:26)


The Bible can be a daunting book, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can understand its truths and they can change us!


Since this is who the Holy Spirit is, all Christians should seek to live a Spirit-filled life. But how do we do that? Thankfully, Ephesians 5:18 informs us:

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.


The analogy Scripture presents of the Spirit-filled life is a startling one—the picture of a drunk! Combined with this vivid image, we learn several truths for how we can be filled with the Holy Spirit:

  • We are filled BY the Holy Spirit and WITH the Holy Spirit!

    As a drunk seeks alcohol, we seek God’s Spirit. We need to remember when we become a Christian, the Holy Spirit resides in every believer. However, to be filled with the Spirit goes further, emphasizing the actual influence or control the Holy Spirit is given in a believer’s life.

    And guess who makes the decision whether we’ll be filled “by” and “with” the Holy Spirit or not? We do.
  • We are to seek the Holy Spirit daily, and even moment by moment!

    As a drunk typically seeks out a place to get a drink, then reaches for the glass to drink it, we must take steps to seek out and invite the Holy Spirit to fill us and have His influence on us also. And based on this text, this is an active, continuous seeking and filling on our part, in which the Holy Spirit’s influence increases the more we obey and give Him freedom to work.

    Another vivid picture comes from the original word “to be filled” because it means to be overflowing and having more than enough. So we should keep going back for more of the Spirit as often as we can.
  • We are empowered and changed by the Holy Spirit using God’s Word in us

    As a drunk reacts to the alcohol in their body, it changes how they think, speak, move, see, etc. Likewise, when Christians allow the Holy Spirit to have His influence in every facet of their lives, the Spirit uses the Word of God to transform and renew them, consequently changing the way they think, speak, move, and see!

    Colossians 3:16 challenges us to “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” As we do that, the Holy Spirit empowers and shapes us more and more like Christ.  


Maybe the best way to summarize this is as we live a Spirit-filled life, we will see a different result than the life of a drunk. Scripture tells us that a drunk reaps a “ruinous life” (this is, in essence, what “debauchery” means). In contrast, those repeatedly filled with the Holy Spirit reap a life guided by the Holy Spirit, filled with His power, and revel in the promise of His daily presence.

What more could we ask of a Spirit-filled life?

Are you living a Spirit-filled life? As Pastor Todd says, if you’re not, then you’re missing out on what God truly wants for you. So, why not start today?

More Turn Your World Upside Down resources can be found here.