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The Holy Spirit Devotional # 8 – The Gifting and Filling Work of the Holy Spirit

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Ephesians 5:18 – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Gifting Work of the Holy Spirit

Though there are so many areas we could discuss regarding the person and work of the Holy Spirit, we come to our final section in discussing his gifting and filling ministry in the lives of believers.

Once again, as with all gifts, these are given by grace. A gift cannot be earned, and it is often not deserved. Spiritual gifts are defined as God-given abilities for service. They originate from God. It maybe natural or supernatural. And the gift is given for the purpose of service.

The Scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit is the agent who gives these gifts. Also, we find through the Bible no believer has all the spiritual gifts. But it is also true that all believers have at least one spiritual gift.

It is also apparent from Scripture that though the Holy Spirit is the source of our spiritual gifts, the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has to be active in developing that gift. We should be desirous of developing that gift for the glory of God and not our own glory.

The Holy Spirit sovereignly gives spiritual gifts, but we as human beings have the responsibility to develop those gifts and to share them with others in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Filling Work of the Holy Spirit

Finally, Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit as filling believers. This filling ministry is necessary in order to minister by the spirit to others. It is also important for our spiritual growth.

Ephesians 5:18 – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

When Scripture speaks of the filling work of the spirit, it speaks of living under the control of the Holy Spirit. Instead of being controlled by substances or other people, we are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God.

From this above passage in Ephesians, we find that this is not an option for Christians, but it is commanded. Therefore, it would be disobedient to not be filled by the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps you are asking the question, how am I to be filled by the Holy Spirit?

That’s a good question. The Scriptures say that we should live a dedicated life. Lewis Sperry Chafer in his book, He That is Spiritual, offers us a very simple outline to detail what it means to be filled by the Spirit.

To have this filling of the Holy Spirit, we must have a dedicated life. A dedicated life involves the initial dedication (salvation) and continual dedication (growth in Christlikeness).

In Romans 12:1-2, the apostle Paul speaks of the initial dedication which is a once-for-all matter.

First, there must be a presentation. For there to be salvation, one must stop running to themselves or others for answers to their greatest need (forgiveness of sin) and run to Christ alone.

Second, there is separation. Separation means that the person stops living the life of the world and start living for the glory of God. This is a step-by-step day by day process. Day by day, we are living by the grace of God and for the glory of God and becoming more and more like Christ.

Third, there is the continual direction. This dedication needs a direction in which to go. The direction is given by the word of God and it is to become more like the Son of God.

Scripture says that we are to be walking in obedience to the Spirit’s leadership. 

‌Galatians 5:16 – But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:25 – If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

As we live by the Spirit, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit (Christlike characteristics) was planted in a believer’s life, by the Holy Spirit, at new birth. The consequent result of a life filled by the Holy Spirit are a greater display of the fruit.

Galatians 5:22–23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

What an amazing ministry the Holy Spirit has in the life of believers!

One last thing…

There was one last thing I want you to consider, Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is praying for you in the midst of your weakness.

Sometimes, we do not know what to pray.

Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

It said to take our groanings and turn them into prayer requests to bring them to the Father.

Let the truth so rest in your heart and mind.

Praise the Father for the gift of the Spirit

So, now we have come to the end of our study of the Holy Spirit. Praise the Father for giving us His precious gift of His Son and the Holy Spirit in our lives.

POINT TO PONDER: The Holy Spirit fills believers and gifts believers.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the gifting work of your Holy Spirit. As we have learned, gift means grace. There was nothing I could do to earn it and I definitely do not deserve it. Please help me to use my gifts for your glory and for the good of others. Please enable me to be filled by your Holy Spirit. Please help me to live a dedicated life. But most importantly, Father, please remind me of the dependent life of the growing Christian. Please help me walk in the Spirit and be Spirit-controlled in my life. I pray that you would lead me to look more like your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to worship and praise you and to serve you and others. In your Son’s matchless name, I pray. Amen.

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