Necessity Of The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 commands Christians: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” The word translated “be filled” (pleroo) is in the present, imperative, passive tense. Imperative means it is a command; it is not optional. Passive means we submit ourselves to God who does the filling. We cannot fill ourselves with the Spirit, and we cannot fill one another with the Spirit. We can position ourselves to receive it. The present tense indicates something we do on an ongoing basis. We cannot live on the water we drank five days ago. Our bodies need to be refreshed with water on a daily basis. Christians must not try to live on an infilling of the Spirit received sometime in the past. We need a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit on an ongoing basis. “Be filled with the Spirit.”

That is a command, but in it we have an invitation as well. In the light of all the benefits of the Holy Spirit, it is a glorious invitation—an invitation to be fully equipped for life and ministry—an invitation to live in the righteousness, peace, and joy that only the Holy Spirit can give. May the Lord stir us all to ask and receive fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).

ENDNOTES:

i There is some debate as to whether they were eating the Passover meal or a meal in preparation for the Passover in John 13. However, in the Synoptic accounts they were eating the Passover meal (Luke 22:7-38). Powell concludes a discussion about this by saying, “Certain things might be argued for both viewpoints; the important thing is that these events really happened.” Ivor Powell, John’s Wonderful Gospel, 1962 (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1983 275.

ii While Judas’s betrayal was painful for Jesus, all the disciples felt betrayed by him. They did not see it coming because they did not discern his true nature.

iii See John 13:33, 38.

iv All Scripture quotes are from the New International Version (2011) unless indicated otherwise.

v Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Greek Lexicon to the New Testament, Baker Greek New Testament Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000, Bibleworks 6.0) s.v. “parakletos.”

vi Charles Spurgeon, “The Paraclete,” in Spurgeon’s Expository Encyclopedia: Sermons by Charles H. Spurgeon, vol. 9 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978), 22.

vii Charles Spurgeon, “The Paraclete,” in Spurgeon’s Expository Encyclopedia: Sermons by Charles H. Spurgeon, vol. 9 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978), 22.

viii George Barna, “Release #6: What Does It Mean When People Say They Are “Christian,” Cultural Research Center, Arizona Christian University. Accessed at https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CRC_AWVI2021_Release06_Digital_01_20210831.pdf. Of course, many of these people are not even born again. And many who are born again do not have a biblical world view and live their lives much like the unsaved people around them.

ix Matt. 5:13-16.

x See Luke 14:25-35.

xi These seven are not exhaustive but should alert us to the necessity of the Holy Spirit. We will only have time to briefly address each one.