And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52
Do not get drunk with wine, for that living recklessly; but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

Paul taught the early believers to “be filled with the Spirit.” Being filled with the Spirit is both a privilege and an essential part of living a Christian life. The word “filled” is in the present tense and is to be a constant, repeated way of life. We are to be filled and then “re-filled” again and again.

As we grow more and more intimate with Jesus, we live more completely and continuously by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is in us:

“Since the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies through the presence of his Spirit in you” (Rom. 8:11).

It’s easy to become so focused on the Spirit’s role in raising Jesus from the dead that we forget its application to our own lives. The fact that the same Spirit who was responsible for the resurrection of Jesus is also at work in our lives is an epic truth, but it will have little impact if we merely teach it… if we only acknowledge the theological truth of it… but stop short of allowing it to take root in our lives and bear fruit. That’s why all the powers of darkness fear the moment that Christians begin to believe, understand, and practice this verse.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal 5:16-18)

And that can be intimidating to those who are still walking in duty and defeat…those who are stopping short of allowing the Spirit  to take root in their lives. They see the life, freedom, and joy (Gal 5, Acts 13:52, Rom 8:11) of Christians walking in the Spirit and are offended by it. The aroma of life that they should be smelling on Jesus’ people becomes the stench of death to them (2 Cor 2:15).

Don’t be one of them. Be filled with the Spirit.
So I say, walk by the Spirit…