What it means to be filled with the Spirit?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, 

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 

and in all Judea and Samaria, 

and to the ends of the earth.” 

~ Acts 1:8 ~

Having a Spirit-filled life isn’t just about performing signs and miracles and preaching the Word of God to the masses in power and authority – with flashes of lightning and bolts of thunder. It is good that to have these, yet we often neglect the other aspects of being filled with the Spirit.

In Acts 1:8, we often imagine witnesses of Christ as great preachers, evangelists, prophets, teachers and apostles. We limit how God can move also in the small ways, starting from you – your being, your life!

1.      GIFT OF TONGUES

When the Holy Spirit came and rested on the people on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-13), we can notice that the first enablement was to speak in other tongues or languages (v4). I believe that they also spoke in heavenly tongues (v3). The significance of speaking in tongues or other languages edifies oneself unless he interprets then it will edify the church (1 Corinthians 14:2-5). Can we say that God is more interested in the individual? I believe so! Simply because the body of Christ comprises of you – the individual. Yes, the focal point of God’s heart is you. And if the focal point of God’s heart is you, then you will understand that it is His desire for each of His children to receive the gift of tongues, as in Acts 2:

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:4)

How does the gift of tongue edify you? (Note: I will share this from personal experience.)

I.                    In worries, anxieties & sorrows

Once when I had difficulties at work, I felt it hard to pray to God and I felt my faith in Him was dwindling. I began to activate my tongues and minutes later, my spirit got lifted up and somehow my faith strengthened. I began to proclaim God’s promises in my life and claimed upon each of one of them. Praise be to God!

II.                  In sickness & pain

Two years ago while I was on a student exchange program in Thailand, I bunked in together with a good friend of mine, a fellow believer of Christ. One night while I was asleep, she grabbed me at my arm abruptly and said while gasping for air, “Grace, I can’t breathe…” Immediately, I began to pray for her. I asked God to release His healing grace and power upon her. She continued to gasp for air and I began to pray in tongues (to get focused on God because I was feeling very sleepy) and I continued to declare healing upon her in Jesus’ Name. Just as the account of Jesus felt power leave his body (Luke 8:46), I felt an electricity current flow through my arm to her hand. Then, she could breathe normally again. Glory to God!

III.                In warfare

Once I had a nightmare. In my dream I met with a demon possessed girl who looked innocent yet her eyes were extremely frightening. I was fearful. In my dream, I recall commanding her to go away in Jesus’ Name but I was filled with overwhelming fear and she kept approaching me nearer and nearer. I started praying in tongues and in that instant I could feel my spirit man lifted and I became bold and started to command her, “Go away in Jesus’ Name!” And truly, she went away. God is omnipotent!

IV.                In praise & thanksgiving

Once I received a good news; it was an answered prayer. I began to praise God in thanksgiving. I praised Him in tongues, of which I could not understand, yet I knew my heart was filled with immense joy and I was touched by His love and faithfulness in my life. The Lord is faithful!

V.                  In deep worship and intercession

Once when I locked myself in my room, took my up guitar and began to worship. I got more engrossed and deeper in worship. It was at a point I could no longer sing or speak a word to God and there was a silence in His presence. I began to sing to tongues as the Holy Spirit flowed through me and I was ministered to. Tears began to flow from my eyes. I felt the heart of God – the people on His heart – then I moved to intercession. I started naming people who came to my mind and prayed in tongues as I didn’t know what to pray for them. I felt deeply convicted as the Spirit led me (Romans 8:26).

These experiences are not just it! God yearns for the individual, you and I, to experience His Holy Spirit in His special ways. To be filled with the Spirit is not a one-off thing. And that’s because we aren’t perfect. Sometimes, we fall. We are weak. Still, just as Enoch walked with God throughout his life, it is possible to live a spirit-filled life, not just a spirit-filled day.

2.      KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear of other churches in need? Judgement? Criticism? Apathy?

The believers in Acts were living a Spirit-filled life. They had a Kingdom perspective of the church – who is the church? What is the church?

I.                    Who is the church?

The church is the people of God, believers and followers of Christ, who have everything in common (Acts 2:44, emphasis mine). It isn’t just believing in God. It isn’t just following Christ. It is having everything in common with each other, even if it means you are from a different church building, or a different denomination, or even a different language. What is this “everything”? I believe it comprises a:

A.      Common mission: The Great Commission

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

B.      Common vision: The Second Coming of Christ

C.      “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” (Romans 14:11)

D.     Common heart & mind: Oneness (Acts 2:45; 4:32)

“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone has he had need.” (Acts 2:45)

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had……There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 4:32, 34-35)

If you ask me, the churches’ oneness in finances is the most difficult to achieve in today’s world, whether in rich or poor areas. May the Lord’s kindness lead us His church into repentance. May His mercy call us to be like Him, for His love is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5). As such, may the churches, or should I write, the “church”, find favour in His eyes that He will empower us greatly to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and that His abundant grace will be upon us all (Acts 4:33). I believe, if the churches locally and all over the world, can catch this common heart and mind, there will be a great revival in the world:

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47)  

II.                  What is the church?

The church is where there’s devotion and commitment (Acts 2:42). The church is where many signs and wonders are done (Acts 2:43, emphasis mine). The church is where joyful noise and shouts of praise are heard (Acts 2:47). The church is where healthy relationships with each other and built (Acts 2:47). Because we are the church, wherever God places us, we ought to be devoted and committed to the teachings, ministries and fellowship. Wherever we go, signs and wonders shall follow us who believe in His name (Mark 16:17). Whoever we are with, we are not afraid to praise God. Whatever differences we may have against each other, we can learn to embrace and accept each other’s weaknesses and grow together in His grace and truth.

Therefore, having a Spirit-filled life starts from the individual – you and I. From this, we become a witness to our Jerusalem, our home church. When the church consists of individuals who have a Spirit-filled life, she becomes a witness to our Judea and Samaria, our community. When the community consists of a growing church with a growing number of Spirit-filled believers, we become a witness to the ends of the world. This is when the revival fire spreads across the land, it cannot contain within the boundaries of the nation, and it spreads like wildfire to the other nations. The heart of mission is not the doing, it’s the living. May the Holy Spirit help us! For it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the living God (Zechariah 4:6).

Got it? Or, rather, done it?

The God who renews

Dear readers, friends, beloved brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ, it brings me great pleasure and joy to share with you how The Lord has brought me through my limitations, weaknesses, struggles and troubles. If you don't already know, The Lord has blessed me with the name Grace! In my growing up years and my walk with Him, He would repeatedly remind me of the verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

"But He said to me,'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

I would ask myself how could Paul boast gladly about his weaknesses and even delight in his hardships and difficulties. Paul wrote to live is Christ and to die is his gain. He understood that in all of his life, everything should revolve around Christ. So he wrote "so that Christ's power may rest on me" and "for Christ's sake". The truth is, God doesn't need us, we need Him - He wants us. There are a few things The Lord has revealed to me in my walk with Him through all the tears, hurts and pain:

1. The devil came to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came to give life in His abundance (John 10:10).

In our storms, the devil plots to steal our joy, hope and peace in Christ. He plots to kill our hearts, using the circumstances to keep us bounded by our hurts, bitterness, hatred, anger and unforgiveness. He plots to destroy our faith in God. HIS PLAN IS TO DECEIVE US, TO MAKE US CONFUSED IN OUR EMOTIONS, AND IN DOING SO, PREVENT US FROM LIVING IN THE ABUNDANCE OF CHRIST. We need to be aware of satan's schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). 

Question is, how can we live in His abundance? 

We need to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Paul wrote that he consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. Paul yearned to gain Christ and be found in Him, having God's righteousness by faith (Philippians 3:8-9). Paul understood that to live in the abundant life Christ has given us, we need to (Philippians 3:10):

1. Know Christ 

Desire to know Him more; seek Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13-14). Proverbs says search for Him as for hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:4) and where your treasure is, there your heart is also (Luke 12:34). We need to come before God not with empty words but with broken and contrite heart. This is the start. Then will we find knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5). And then will we be able to know our position in Christ.

2. Be humble 

What does The Lord require of us? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). In forgiveness, we need to humble ourselves before God and see others above ourselves. In the weaknesses of others, we need to humble ourselves to accept them and encourage them. In our own weaknesses and limitations, we need to humble ourselves to acknowledge and defeat not in our strength but Christ's. Jesus went through all of these in His life on earth, up till death on the cross. He forgave and embraced. 

3. Stand in Christ's victory

Christ resurrected so that we can be resurrected from death to life. Knowing God's promises isn't enough, we need to attain! For we are more than conquerors through Christ who love us (Romans 8:37). We need to take captive every thought and negativity that is not of God and break it in Jesus' Name! We need to proclaim and declare the Word of God not just in our heart but from our lips (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45).

2. Forget our past disgraces and glories and strain towards the goal that Christ has prepared for us in eternity (Philippians 3:13-14).

We oftentimes walk three steps ahead and later walk two steps back. Paul encourages us to live up to what we have already attained (Philippians 3:16). God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and for a while they were thankful and joyous. Yet when they begun to be complacent and discontented with what God has provided for them daily, they began to complain and wished they had never gotten out of their slavery in Egypt. Many times we are just like them, we wallow in our problems and challenges and we wish God never brought us out of the previous phase or season of life. Paul learnt the secret in being content in every season, in plenty or in want. He relied on God's strength. Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says The Lord Almighty". We need to take time to be still before God, bare. In doing so, we are waiting upon Him, we are hoping in Him, and that's when He renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31). That's when He restores His vision, His purpose, His thoughts and His heart for us. And by His Spirit, I pray that we will respond to Him, "Lord, here I am. Send me."

3. Our troubles are light and momentary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

If you feel like giving up, with the overwhelming emotions swallowing you then you are at blessed! The Lord has an encouragement for you! He is saying to you, "My child, do not lose heart. Though it seems like the problems are too big to solve and too much for you, but I will come by you if you will allow me, and I will hide you under my wings of love. Day by day, I will my grace sustains you. My power and might renews you. I will give you creativity to break out of your limitations. I will give you faith to conquer your mountains. I will give you strength to endure. For your troubles are light and fleeting, they are achieving for you an eternal glory in Me. So fix Your eyes on Me, I am the author and perfector of your faith. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. No harm can befall you. I will come to your rescue, only if you will let me lead."

Beloved children of God, The one who calls you, who is our Lord and Abba Father, is faithful and He will do it. He will, but have you done your part? Press on in the hope of our God - the God who renews. 

Got it? Or, rather, done it?

To whom much is given, much is required.

I saw a pair of hands lifting a baby from a basket that was floating among the reeds in the river. Images flash back and forth from this sight to a scene where a woman, downcast and whose face was shadowed by her headdress, embraced her baby one last time, then gently placed her precious one into a basket and let it float away in the river. Then a voice said to me, “Moses”.

This story, my dear friends, is the very heart of God for each of you reading this piece. I woke up this morning and meditated on Exodus 2 as the Holy Spirit reminded me of the birth of Moses. Over and over I read and the same voice spoke, “To whom much is given, much is required. Write about this.”

It is recorded in Exodus 1 that Pharaoh gave an order to all his people that every boy born must be thrown into the Nile, but let every girl live. The Hebrew woman I saw in the vision was the mother of Moses. God had opened a way for Moses to live; He delivered Moses out of the death decree and gave Him that which was uniquely his – Prince of Egypt.

In our lives, there were moments when God had delivered us out of our circumstances, gave us each unique experiences and placed us in positions according to His divine plan. Yet many times, we are not aware of God’s sovereign deliverance and favor till He chooses to reveal. And when He does, He requires us to make a stand and respond to Him. The Bible says that God gives according to the measure of our faith (Romans 12:3). God revealed to Moses in a burning bush, and that was given according to the measure of his faith. It was by faith that Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to be mistreated along with the Israelites. By faith, He left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger because he saw God (Hebrew 11:24-27). When God called to Moses in the bush of fire, Moses responded, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3: 4) Perhaps, if Moses had not recognized the voice of God, He would not have responded in this manner. But by faith, Moses knew God and responded. When God calls you, He will send you and empower you to accomplish His purpose because He is faithful and He will be with you (Exodus 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Moses’ name was a prophetic name which sounded like the Hebrew for ‘draw out’ (Exodus 2: 10c, NIV). Moses was drawn out of the same river Nile that bore the death of many Hebrew baby boys. He was set apart for God’s mighty deliverance plan. If you know that God has called you to carry out His calling for you, do not fear because just as Moses was set apart, you too have been set apart by God to fulfill His work.

Some of us may be feeling dry despite the certainty of God’s calling in our lives. Let us declare that the glory of Zion and the year of the Lord’s favor are upon us:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1-3)

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.  And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. ‘For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.  Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.’ I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” (Isaiah 61)

So, my dear friends, to whom much is given, much is required. God has delivered you out of your circumstances over and over again. He has given you favor in the sight of God and man. He has given you unique experiences where you’ve tasted and seen His goodness. And now, what he requires of you is to walk humbly with Him and respond to His calling for your life. You did not choose Him; He chose you to GO – to GO and bear fruits that will last (John 15:16).

Got it? Or rather, done it?

The Message of the Cross

In this article, I would like to address two groups of people:

1.   You are a Christian but have not experienced and understood Christ’s love on the cross.

2.   You are not a Christian but are struggling in a particular situation or perhaps searching for perfect love.

This is the message of the cross. The truth is that it is for anybody and everybody because Christ died for all, not just the Christians. Many of you reading this article might have asked questions like, “Why the cross? How significant can an ordinary cross be?”

Ephesians 3: 17 – 19 writes that we being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The Width

The width of the cross symbolizes God’s invitation to you as of a father welcoming his lost son with open arms.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

-Matthew 11:28-

Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows? Are you tired of spinning round and round? Then pack up all the shattered dreams or your life, and give them all to Jesus, for He promises that He will turn your mourning into joy. Jesus loves you so much, more than you ever know. People around you may expect you to give your best even when you’re exhausted and sometimes they are oblivious to how you feel. But Jesus understands, He feels how you feel and He cares. And He is inviting you to go to Him, and He will surely give you rest.

The Length

The length of the cross symbolizes the extent and period of God’s love for you. Bible says God’s love is eternal. And because God is love, His love never fails.

How long have you been searching for a man or woman who would give you all of their love, all of their life? How many times have you been hurting inside because people’s love fails you? Are you at the point of giving up hope in believing that perfect and true love exists?

Jesus stands at the door of your heart, knocking. He won’t barge in. He is a gentleman. He will wait, patiently – and only He will – for you to open the door and let Him love you with His unconditional love. I urge you to be brave, open that door, because you will experience His love in such tangible ways that you can never imagine. He wants to be the lover of your soul. Then can you learn to love – unconditionally.

Jesus never said that there’d be no sunshine or rain in your life. He promises however that He will be there for you through eternity. God’s promises are ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’, nothing less. God says:

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away.”

-Matthew 24:35-

The Height

The height of the cross symbolizes the omnipotence of God’s love for you. The love of Jesus overcomes.

You might be living in guilt and shame or self-condemnation right now. It could have been a past wrong, a past relationship, or a mistake. Jesus died for you just so that you can be free from these, free from your past, free from every guilt and shame. The love Jesus poured out for you overcomes:

“…Love covers a multitude of sins.”

-1 Peter 4:8-

Perhaps, you have a hidden fear in your heart that no one knows about. And this fear, it comes and it goes away and then it comes back again to haunt you. Whatever this fear may be, Jesus’ love on the cross has the power to break it. Believe, trust and know that He is God Almighty. He holds the world in His hands. And because only His love is perfect:

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

-1 John 4:18-

Be assured in the love of Jesus because the Bible says that NOTHING can separate us from God’s love:

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

-Romans 8:37-39-

The depth

Finally, the depth of the cross signifies how Jesus humbled himself to earth and lived among us (John 1:14). Is there any god in the entire universe that portrays such humility? Is there a god who became sin, died for you, suffered the pain and shame, yet was blameless and perfect, because he loves you so much and wants to have a relationship with you?

The depth of the cross symbolizes the gravity and downward direction of God’s initiation. God is always the one who initiates:

“We love because God first loved us”

-1 John 1:19-

“You did not choose me but I chose you…”

-John 15:16-

He came. He pursued. He initiated; All because He loves us. No other gods have I known to possess such amazing love. Neither have I heard of any gods who would tell me “I am yours and you are mine.” There is but one; His Name is Jesus.

The message of the cross, which is His unconditional and amazing love, the width, the length, the height and the depth of His love has been given to you. It is a gift that has always been there and it will always be there until you respond to open the gift. And in the gift box, you’d find fullness of His love – that of eternal joy and pleasure.

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

-Psalm 16:11-

Got it? Or rather, done it?