I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
John 1:33
John the Baptist’s background story begins in Luke 1. While performing his temple duties, Zechariah was visited by an angel of the Lord, later identified as Gabriel, and told that he and Elizabeth would have a son and his name is to be John. Moreover, Zechariah was told that the son ‘will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born’ and that he was to ‘make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’
God had a special purpose for John’s life. The only way that John could ultimately fulfill God’s calling and say, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God” (John 1: 34) is for John to be fully obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in his thoughts, words, and deeds.
Every person called on a special mission by God must be filled with and obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit lives within every believer in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit lives with us and in us, points us to Jesus, reveals truth to us, teaches us, reminds us of everything that Jesus has said to us (John 14); gives us power to be effective witnesses (Acts 1: 8); and enables each of us to bear fruit (Galatians 5: 22).
The Holy Spirit shows us where we fit into the body of Christ (Romans 12; I Corinthians 12: Ephesians 4). All that we do within the body of Christ must be done in deference to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Prayerfully seeking the leadership of the Holy Spirit must be the first thing we do before we write, teach, preach, witness, minister, or serve.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit can be the result of a lifetime walk with Christ.
Self-will hinders the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart and life. It takes time and, possibly, trial and error, for us to learn that less of self and more of the Holy Spirit leads to more complete obedience in our walk with Christ. As a result, we grow closer to the goal of loving the Lord with all of our heart, all of our soul, and with all of our strength (Deuteronomy 6: 5).
What Now?
- This writing has touched the proverbial ‘tip of the iceberg’ regarding the work of the Holy Spirit and what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Commit to a time of prayer, additional study of God’s Word, and possibly, seeking the counsel of a trusted Christian mentor to learn more about the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Read and spend time focusing on Galatians 2: 20. What does it mean for Christ to live in you?