The Fullness of the Spirit

D.L. Moody once said, "I firmly believe that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and self-seeking and every thing that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Ghost will come and fill every corner of our hearts; but if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and self-seeking and pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God; and I believe many a man is praying to God to fill him when he is full already with something else."

The fullness of the Spirit is God's promise to all believers. But if we think He can be just an "add-on" to the rest of our lives, we're wrong. We must first come before God in brokenness and surrender, asking Him to forgive our sins of selfishness, pride and every thing that is contrary to His Word.

That doesn't mean we must be perfect. Nor does it mean that we will never have sin crowd our hearts again. But we must be obedient to God, repent of our sin and pursue holiness. And with that firm resolve, continually surrender to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to flood your life. The Spirit of God will breathe life into you. Do your part and then let God do His part.

In the book of Ephesians Paul commands us, Be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) The fact that he expresses it this way, as an imperative command, tells us that being filled with the Holy Spirit is an act of obedience on our part. And it's something we initiate by asking for it and claiming it as God's promise.

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