Apr 21 – A Continual Overflow – Pastor Anita

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit … (Ephesians 5:18).

In our opening scripture, the Apostle Paul was writing to a Church that was already acquainted with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. He wasn ’t telling them to receive the Holy Spirit afresh! As you study the book of Acts, you would see that from time to time, Luke, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit talked about the Apostles and how that they were constantly filled with the Spirit.

In Acts chapter 2, when Peter and the other believers received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, simultaneously. But they continued to experience other times of infilling. An account is recorded in Acts 4:31: “… when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” This wasn’t referring to the Apostles alone, but all the other believers with them.

The story in Acts 4 also tells us of Peter and John’s arrest while they preached that Jesus had resurrected from the dead. But while the magistrates, elders and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem for Peter ’s trial before the Sanhedrin, the Bible says “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel …” (Acts 4:8). Notice that this incident wasn’t referring to Peter receiving the Holy Spirit, but that he was filled with the Spirit.

A Christian who has received the Holy Spirit without experiencing this continual infilling will live an ordinary life in this world. The Apostle Paul lived an extraordinary life because he understood the importance of being constantly filled with the Spirit. To the Church in Corinth, he said “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all …” 1 Corinthians 14:18). You can get yourself filled with the Spirit today as you speak in other tongues, study the Word of God, and give yourself to it in meditation.

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for filling me with your precious Holy Spirit, and causing your Word to dwell in me richly, causing my heart to overflow with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs that declare your goodness, mercy and grace to all generations. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18-20

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Year Bible reading plan:
Luke 19:1-27;1 Samuel 14-15

2 Year Bible reading plan:
Mark 4:13-20;Leviticus 21