Be filled with the spirit – Part 1

Text: Ephesians 5:18-21

Key Verse: Ephesians 5:18, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the spirit.” (NKJV)

This is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Our fathers of faith may not have had all the education that we have today, but they surely had the power of the Holy Spirit. I remember my father, who happened to be among the first generation of the Assemblies of God fathers. Although, he did not have much education, he tried to give his children as much quality education as his financial ability could carry. My father has gone to be with the Lord and we, his children during his lifetime, used to make jest about some of his grammar and he will join us to laugh at himself.

Our fathers may not have had the quality education that we are today talking about, they were indeed exposed in spiritual matters of which the new generation is totally lacking in. The sad aspect of the matter is that with our high quality education and wide exposure, we think we know more than our fathers. We now have what our fathers of faith did not have, but the truth is that many of them had what many people today do not have. Many of them had outstanding testimonies; many of them were respected in their various communities, and also by their kindred. People around them knew they were children of God. Some of us do not have these testimonies or even command a bit of the respects our fathers commanded.

The differences between our fathers and us are; our fathers of faith were models of faith and righteousness. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and of good works. In Romans Chapter 4, Paul used Abraham (the father of faith) as an illustration of a man who was gifted with righteousness. Among the few names in history that are known and honoured for righteousness, Abraham topped the list.

Moses was a great man, and at a point, God had to share a fraction of the spirit in him to 70 men. A look at Numbers Chapter 11 will give you an insight into what we should be doing today. God instructed Moses to gather unto Him 70 elders in Israel at the tabernacle (Numbers 11:16). God said to Moses: “I will take of the spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them so that you do not bear the burden of the people alone,” (Numbers 11:17). When God called Moses, He filled him with the Holy Spirit.

According to the Old Testament, this was to enable him withstand all the shenanigans of Pharaoh and his other enemies. Moses was not just an ordinary man.

Moses gathered the elders of Israel and God took a fraction of the spirit that was upon Moses and put it upon the 70 men and all of them began to prophesy (Numbers 11:25). This is what we should be praying for. We should ask the Lord to put His Spirit upon all the ministers of the gospel and all the people that have accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour.

What all of us need today is the Spirit of God. The 70 men were filled with the spirit. If the pastors and other leaders in our churches do not have the spirit of God, there will continue to be trouble in the church. The Spirit of God is the trademark of genuine followers of Jesus Christ.

• Today’s nugget: Our fathers of faith were men of the spirit. Prayer: Lord, I pray You fill me with Your Spirit. Prayer lines: 08054477940. E-mail: servantofgod111@yahoo.com. Rev. Pastor Ejikeme Ejim, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria