In a car, gas powers a combustible engine. The more I drive, the more gas gets used. When I'm running near empty, I race to the gas station and fill up with more.
Paul, in Ephesians 5:18, is the spiritual Chevron man and gives us this piece of advice for our spiritual engines: "Fill'er up with the Holy Spirit".
I addressed this question in my book Come Thirsty:
Not only does Paul give a command; he gives a continuous, collective command. Continuous in the sense that the filling is a daily privilege. Collective because the invitation is offered to all people. "You all be filled with the Spirit". Young, old, servants, businessmen, seasoned saints, and new converts. The Spirit will fill all. No SAT (Spiritual Aptitude Test) required. You don't need to persuade him to enter; he already has. Better set another plate for dinner. You've got company. "Your body is the temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you" (1 Cor 6:19). As a Christian, you have all the power you need for all the problems you face.
You don't have to race to church or a local conference to get filled - though the Holy Spirit has pumps there. He also has stations in your home, at your school, at work - wherever you are - because that's where he is.
You may run out of patience or reach the limits of your strength, but you haven't run out of access to the Holy Spirit. Since he lives in all believers, we all carry the entire gas station with us everywhere we go. God's Holy Spirit can flow into your life like oil through the Alaskan pipeline - crude, raw, unfiltered power, gushing down from the thrones of heaven and pouring into your heart.
However, merely being at the gas station doesn't fill our tank. It takes some effort. You have to flip the switch. You have to want more Spirit.
The Holy Spirit also isn't a tangible commodity that can be measured from the full to empty on life's dashboard. It doesn't run out in that sense. Our sense of fullness is better compared to a relationship than a tank. The more focus and time I put into a relationship, the more full, the more connected, I feel.
Through prayer, Bible study, meditation, serving and journaling, you connect with God and fill your tank, each time saying you want more of God's Spirit. As a result, you feel filled, maybe even to overflowing!
He'll power as much as you give him - your schedule, your time, your dreams, your today, your tomorrow, your thoughts, your prayers.
So start the pumps. Let the Holy Spirit flow into your entire life. All who are ready.... fill'er up.
"Everyone who asks will receive.... You know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:10, 13)
By: Max Lucado
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