Indwelling and Infilling of the Holy Spirit

Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation of Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Pentecost

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The time of Shavuot—Pentecost was appointed to celebrate the fullness of the harvest. It also represents the fullness of God’s covenant—His Word and Spirit. In a very real way, Pentecost reminds us that we have an opportunity to participate in the dynamic work of God and experience His incredible love and awesome presence and power!

RELEVANCE

As the disciples were celebrating this feast 50 days after the LORD’s ascension, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  John the Immerser, or Baptist, said that the LORD would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Upon receiving the LORD in your heart, you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul admonishes believers to understand what the will of the Lord is and, therefore, “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:17 JNT)

How is this accomplished? Paul explains in Colossians 3:16-17, it comes as we allow the richness of God’s word to live fully inside, as we teach and counsel each other in His wisdom, and as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in our hearts.

You are, therefore, continuously filled with the Spirit by filling yourself with God’s Word, communing with God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you by yielding to Him in faith and obedience. It’s like driving your car. Upon filling your tank, you move forward, go places, and eventually need to replenish your tank! Such a repeated infilling should result in character growth that reflects the qualities of the fruit of the Spirit.

It should also open up your heart to receiving measures of His love and grace, your mind to God’s continuous enlightenment and revelation of truth and your spirit to the manifestation and realization of the various gifts of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12)  

FOCUS ON VALUES, VISION AND VIRTUES

The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His love, character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us.

What new values has God impressed you to embrace this season?

What new vision has God imparted in you to give you greater insights?

What virtues of Christ have you received to walk in the new life in Him?  

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

In what ways do you seek God’s continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit? 

How has your life been a reflection of this infilling?

REFERENCES

Romans 12; Ephesians 5:17; Colossians 3:16-17; Hebrews 2:1-4

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.