“FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT”
First, I’d like to address the one who may not actually be a Christian. Since you did not just come to be by an accidental mix of chemicals and matter, picture for a moment, being strictly full of yourself + base animal instincts + childhood programming + the reactions to the seemingly random circumstances and events you meet every day. Now, contrast that with being filled with the nature, perspective, personal desires, and intentions of the one who made you, your Creator.
The next layer over that is for both you, the non-Christian, plus the Christians. The Creator’s own Book is full of references about His Spirit, the need for and result of being FILLED with His Spirit (nature). [the basic definition of spirit is intention, goal or purpose]
Now, hear a letter written to Christians living in Rome from His book (Romans 8:9-19 AMP/for a wide-angle view):
You are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact, the Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not truly a child of God]. But if Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of [the]righteousness [which He provides]. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]– for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit, habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit
[assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. And if [we are His]children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.
[assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. And if [we are His]children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.
For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! For [even the whole] creation [all nature]
waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed.
Can you think of a better future than that? And it just gets better, forever! Now, that’s what I call having a good time!
Click & Listen – LET’S HAVE A GOOD TIME