Fullness of the Holy Spirit

My car tells me I need gas with a little gauge, a little light and then a little chime and the chime repeats itself when I ignore it.  I’m like “I got 40 miles til empty! Quitcha chimin’!”  I don’t talk to my car, but I think about pushing it to the limit. 

 

What I’ve heard is that isn’t good for my car.  It’s not good for the engine.  Besides hurting the car, running that low on fuel could put me in a precarious position.  What if I am stuck in traffic?  What if I have to take the long way home?  What if its winter and I crash and it’s sub-zero?  If I’m low on fuel all of those scenarios could be very costly and potentially deadly.

 

The same could be said for my lawn.  It needs water to stay green, it needs regular replenishment.  I can’t water my lawn for one night and expect it to stay green all summer.

 

Same goes for the holy spirit, within us.  We need regular replenishment.  God didn’t anoint us with the Holy Spirit one time to be content with that fill.  We need regular replenishment!  Maybe you were baptized or saved and were “on fire! (en fuego!)” for the Lord.  Maybe that fire has diminished.  Maybe circumstances of life have caused you to lose time for prayer, for his Word, for the company of Godly friends.  Maybe you are overwhelmed with kids, marriage and work.  Maybe you are asking God Why me?  Why now? 

 

Maybe the truth is that you are running on empty.

 

I know I’ve been there.  I’ve lost sight of his words.  Literally, because I didn’t open my bible for a week.  Or two.  Or for as long as I can remember.  There have been times when I couldn’t remember the last time I sat in silence with Him, praying.  I was going to Him only when I thought I needed him.

 

The Truth is evident and it is clear.  We always need Him.  In all circumstances.  Not the good.  Not the bad.  Not the middle.  But always.  The Hebrew word for “always” translates as “regularly.”

 

So how “regularly” are you filling up on the Spirit?  Do you hear your spirit gauge chiming?  Are you feeling far from God?  His mercies?  His love?  His connection? 

 

I know sometimes I can find myself in this position so I want to encourage you with just a couple of verses and help us all fill up our Holy Spirit tanks.  The best news is that its $0.00/gallon. 

 

The refilling of the spirit comes to us when we PRAY to God for More all in Jesus’ name.  Acts 4:29-31  “29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

 

We can’t be content with one prayer filling us up.  We can’t rest in that singular act.  James tells us also that we don’t have it because we don’t ask for it!  James 4:2 “ You have not because you ask not.”

 

Jesus also tells us in John 14:12 … whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing … “ The power of Jesus and his disciples came through the fullness of the Spirit. … because Jesus was ever-full of the Holy Spirit, he and those first believers understood what it meant to effectively preach the word of God. 

So my prayer for all of us today is that we continue to ask God for the fullness of the Holy Spirit to be within us as we carry out all our wordly duties, in His name.

 

John 7:37-38 says “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  38 Whoever believes in me, as the the scripture has said, streams of living water will from within him. 39 By this he meant the Spirit …”

 

How full is your tank?  Are you running on fumes? 

 

My prayer for all of us was to be consumed by His desire for that fullness within us and for us to make time, for those regular fill-ups, so that we might preach in effective ways, to the family, the community and each other.

 

Hope you guys have a great day!

 

Peace and Love,