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 Feast of Pentecost

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

Shavuot—the Feast of Harvest or Weeks (Pentecost) is a celebration of the fullness of the harvest. It also represents the fullness of God’s covenant—His Word and Spirit.

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. (Galatians 5:22)

It should also open up your heart and mind to God’s continuous enlightenment, a passion for the revelation of His truth, and the manifestation of various gifts of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12)  

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.