Fresh Infilling of His Spirit
The verb ‘be filled’ here in the original Greek is in the continuous tense, implying that we need to be continuously filled with the Spirit of God.
At one time, Jesus likened the Holy Spirit to living water when He said, ““Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.)” (John 7:37b-39a)
Though this empowerment is first received during the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there can be many subsequent infilling. All we need to do is wait on Him.
The New Testament disciples understood this. In Acts 4, some of the disciples, including Peter and John, were commanded not to witness in Jesus’ name anymore or risk punishment. Their response was to come together to pray for boldness to continue to witness for Jesus. And the result was that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word with boldness.
We are not to be daunted by obstacles or cease being witnesses for Jesus when threatened. Rather, let us continue to seek the infilling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit so that we can continue to be a powerful witness for Him.
When we are consistently filled with the Spirit, we overflow with His power and wisdom. Just as Stephen was full of the Spirit, his opponents were unable to cope with the “wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen was speaking.” (Acts 6:10)
Let us continuously have the infilling of His Spirit in our lives. The rivers that flow from our innermost beings will quench the thirst of a lost and needy world around us.
Reflection
What steps can you take to seek the fresh infilling of the Spirit on a regular basis?
What are some obstacles that are stopping you from becoming a bold and consistent witness for Jesus in your life? How can you overcome these obstacles?
Prayer
God, thank You that You desire to fill us with Your Holy Spirit daily. Fill me afresh with Your Spirit, Your wisdom, and empowerment. I cry out for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit, that I may continue to be a powerful witness for You.
Fasting -14. **Seeking God’s Favor**: Fasting is a means of seeking God’s favor or blessings, as exemplified by Nehemiah’s fasting before asking the king’s favor (Nehemiah 1:4).
ACTS 1
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth
JOHN 7
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorifed
ACTS 6
10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
Imitating Christ’s Humility
1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
