Are you ready for some good news?
The more that I’ve come to understand the privilege, majesty and wonder of living in the Spirit the question is not: Who wants to be filled with the Holy Spirit? The question is: Who Wouldn’t Want to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
When I was in college, my Bible study decided to attend a meeting sponsored by a charismatic fellowship on campus. It was a livelier meeting that I had never experienced in my Lutheran and Methodist upbringing. At one point, with heads bowed and eyes closed, the evangelist asked, “How many of you would like to be filled with the Holy Spirit?” It brought up many questions for me. “What do you mean ‘filled with the Spirit’?” and more importantly “What will happen if I say yes?”
Years later, I now know the character of the Holy Spirit, and I think “Who wants to be filled with the Holy Spirit?” is kind of a silly question. A better question to ask would be, “Who would not want to be filled with the Holy Spirit?” After all, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the third person of the Triune God, who takes up residence in the heart of every believer. He is the greatest teacher in the world. He knows everything about you and loves you infinitely. He never shames. He only shows grace. He knows every step you should take and only want the best for you.
The Holy Spirit is the presence of God who gives peace in troubled times. He brings the joy of the Lord. I am utterly unable to manufacture my own joy. The joy of the Lord is priceless! The Holy Spirit emboldens us to live a life that matters. I would be a coward without the Holy Spirit, but with Him I can stand boldly in Jesus’ name. The Holy Spirit is the giver of precious spiritual gifts. He knows which gifts the body of Christ is to have, in what order, and how they are to come together so that the work of the Kingdom can be accomplished.
The Holy Spirit is so wonderful! Who would not want to be filled with the Holy Spirit? That’s the real question. And that’s the Gospel!
