Ephesians 5:15-18. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
When we believe that Jesus is the Christ, He begins to live in us through the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit happens once, but the filling of the Spirit must continue daily. The command “be filled with the Spirit” implies an ongoing process: “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” Why? Because “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
In this warped and crooked generation, only those filled with the Spirit can walk with the power of the throne and spiritual discernment to save the world. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus promised this gift of the fullness of the Holy Spirit: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Paul contrasts being “drunk with wine” with being “filled with the Spirit.” Just as alcohol controls the mind and dulls discernment, the Spirit fills the believer’s heart with the blessing of the throne and the things pertaining the kingdom of God to live out God’s will here on earth—saving lives with the message of the cross. When filled with the Spirit, there is no limit to what God can do through you. He fills you with “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” hidden in Christ (Colossians 2:3).
This is why Paul urged the Ephesian believers to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions” (Ephesians 6:18). Spirit-filled prayer is the communion of the heart with God. It keeps you aligned with His purpose and strengthens your faith so you may be victorious in your mission field.
To this end, like the Bereans, we must receive the Word with eagerness and examine it daily (Acts 17:11–12). The filling of the Spirit is maintained through the filling of the Word—receiving it not merely with our minds, but storing it in our hearts: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
To live a Spirit-filled life is also to live a life of obedience. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me” (John 14:21). Love for Christ is expressed through obedience. When you obey, you allow for the Spirit to work freely in you. But when you resist, you grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Sin, pride, bitterness, impurity, and falsehood block the flow of His presence and power. Instead, present your body “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). Let God transform you inwardly so that your life reflects His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
A Spirit-filled life is not ordinary. It is a life where Christ reigns at the center, where every thought and action flows from His Word, and where it is wholly surrendered to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit by faith, and He will make your life a living platform that draws others to Christ.
Prayer. Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit who fills, guides, and empowers me. Help me walk carefully, live wisely, and yield fully to Your will. Fill me anew each day, that my life may glorify Christ and bring light to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.