Be filled with the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

This verse compares being filled with the spirit with being drunk, which manifests itself in irrational and out of control behavior.

Historically, pagan religions believed that the only way to commune with deities was by losing control over oneself and one’s mind.

The idea behind pagan practices was that through intoxication, one could reach an altered state of consciousness and commune with the deities.

This often involved excessive drinking, leading to a state of deep drunkenness that was believed to elevate one’s connection to the spiritual realm. In addition, these rituals included indulgent feasting, where participants would eat to the point of vomiting, only to refill themselves again.

Temple rituals also frequently involved sexual immorality, including acts with temple prostitutes as part of their worship. Such practices characterized the typical pagan religious experience of the Gentile world.

The second command in this verse is to be filled with the spirit. Now, this isn’t some one-off experience that can be repeated. Every Christian possesses the Holy Spirit.

• Every believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
• All believers are baptized with the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13 / Galatians 3:27)
• All believers have the indwelling Spirit. (Romans 8:9).
• All believers have the promise of being sealed with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13).

The point is, since He lives in you, you are to yield to His control. There is no need for extreme experiences to know whether He is there or not; if you have placed your trust in Him, He is  with you. This is the promise of scripture.

The command, translated literally (from the original Greek text), can be read as “being kept filled with the Spirit.” If we had to put that phrase in simple words, it would mean that we are to be “living under the control of the Spirit.”

The root word for filled (plēroō) speaks of wind filling a sail that moves the ship. Those who are obedient and reliant on the Spirit are gently guided by Him all their lives.

The strange comparison of being filled with the Holy Spirit and being filled with alcohol provides a very good explanation of what it means to be filled.

When you’re filled with alcohol, it controls you. When you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, He controls you.

The experience isn’t once-in-a-lifetime – it’s a way of life.

Being filled is a present tense command that implies an on-going process in the life of a Christian. As believers grow in Christlikeness, they must continually allow the Spirit to fill them with power.

But how can we live a Spirit-filled life? If you want the Spirit to control your life, you have to know what the Spirit’s will is. To understand the Spirit’s will, one must know what the Spirit has revealed in Scripture. He is the author of Scripture, and He uses Scripture to sanctify us.

To be truly filled with the Spirit comes first from being indwelled by the Word of God (Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:16–17). Which allows a person to effectively “Walk in the Spirit,” and it is evident by the fruit of a person’s changed life (cf. Gal. 5:22–23).

Lastly, the evidence of the Spirit’s work is measured in terms of growth in holiness and Christlikeness and not in emotional outbursts or ecstatic experiences.

Being filled with the Spirit is not about chasing emotional highs or extraordinary experiences. It’s about a daily surrender to His leading, allowing His Word to dwell richly in us and shape our lives. As we yield to His control, the evidence will be seen in a life transformed—marked by holiness, Christlikeness, and the fruit of the Spirit. True Spirit-filled living glorifies God, not through fleeting moments of ecstasy but through a steady, faithful walk that reflects His character and fulfills His will.