In most cases, “full” is better than “empty.” I would rather have a “full” tank of gas than an “empty” tank any time. I would rather my cup be “full” and not “empty.” I would rather have my belly “full” than to have an “empty” stomach that talks to me and everyone around me. I would rather have a house that is “full” than one that is “empty.” I would rather have a candy dish that is “full” than “empty.” I would rather attend a church that is “full” than one that is “empty.” I would rather go to eat at a restaurant with a “full” parking lot than one that has no one parked there. I think you get the idea.
I am teaching my way through the New Testament book of Acts. I just reached the half-way point of the book, and I have noticed a reoccurring theme throughout the book. It is that these early believers were “full of the Holy Ghost.” In the first thirteen chapters of the book of Acts, it says that these early leaders were “full of,” or “filled with” the Holy Ghost ten times! The last one says, “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:52). This verse describes one of the first towns that Paul and Barnabas stopped at on their first missionary journey.
My question for each of us today is simply this … Are you … Am I filled with the Holy Spirit today? It was imperative that these early leaders and their followers in the New Testament church be filled with the Holy Spirit. They had a big job to do, and it would be impossible to do it without the help of God and the filling of the Holy Spirit of God! Wait … we have a huge responsibility today as well! We have been given the impossible task of reaching the uttermost part of the earth! How does God expect us to do that??? Through the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer!
How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit today? I’m glad you asked! Just as a glass can be filled/empty/half full with liquid, our lives can be filled/emptied/or half filled with the Holy Spirit. The filling or lack of the filling of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is determined simply by the amount of unconfessed sin in our lives. God’s Spirit gives us conviction that He expects will be followed by our confession. That confession must be followed by repentance (a turning from that sin and change of direction). That confession and repentance bring the forgiveness of sins and filling of the Holy Spirit. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit as much as these early believers in Jesus Christ needed it to launch the New Testament church! To further the New Testament church, we need the filling of the Holy Spirit today!