Be ye filled with the Spirit — Eph. 5:18

[RR144]

Be ye filled with the Spirit — Eph. 5:18.

The measure of our filling will correspond with the measure of our emptying of the spirit of self-will, and filling with the spirit of faith and obedience. And although the obedience cannot do otherwise than manifest itself in the daily life, nevertheless, it is the obedience of the intention, of the will, of the heart, that the Lord regards in His consecrated people. Hence some whose hearts are thoroughly loyal to the Lord may be pleasing to Him, while not the most pleasing to some of those with whom they come in contact; while others, "highly esteemed among men" because of outward moralities, may be an "abomination" in the sight of God, because of coldness or dishonesty of heart. Nevertheless, he that hath the new hope in him, and the new spirit, will seek to purify himself, not only in his thoughts but also in his words and deeds and all his affairs, inward and outward— Heavenly Manna July 16

 

[Wynona]

Dear Lord,

Let me be consecrated.

 

[TonyChanYT]

The measure of our filling will correspond with the measure of our emptying of the spirit of self-will

Amen.

Ephesians 5:

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

be filled
πληροῦσθε (plērousthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4137: From pleres; to make replete, i.e. to cram, level up, or to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify, etc.

The present tense means that "Be filled" regularly, routinely, repeatedly, and continually. This is not a one-time event. The context supports this interpretation:

19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The filling with the Spirit is for specific enablement at the time, Acts 2:

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

How to get filled?

Paul lists some pointers in 1 Thessalonians 5:

16 Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.