Get filled up
For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Luke 1:44
How do you fill up your life and heart with the Holy Spirit? Is it in worship? Is it in praise and thanksgiving? Maybe it is when you fill up on God’s promises in His Word or when you hear messages and sermons about Him?
In today’s reading, Elizabeth was filled up when she heard a voice. When Mary went to visit her and spoke to her, Elizabeth became filled with the Holy Spirit. In fact, she felt the baby inside her leap for joy when the Holy Spirit came in. It wasn’t just Mary’s greeting and voice that filled Elizabeth, but it was the voice of encouragement and expectation the filled her. She heard Mary speaking and instantaneously knew something good was getting ready to happen. She became so full of God’s Spirit in that moment that the baby inside her leaped for joy. Now that is quite a filling!
We read other places in scripture when believers became full of God’s Spirit, even in the Old Testament. Some were filled when there was singing and praises given to God, some were filled when they were anointed by the priest. In the New Testament there were those who were filled when they came into agreement in prayer and there were other that were filled simply by hearing the message of salvation and God’s great love! The thing that impressed me the most was that the same believers that were filled in one place in scripture were filled up again in just a few chapters later. (See Acts 2 &4) Also, there were some that were filled at one point, then went the wrong direction later down the road. implying that the filling had drained out. (King Saul for example) That tells me that we need to be continually refilling and replenishing the Spirit presence inside us.
My point is that being filled with God’s Spirit is something we pursue on purpose. God does the filling, but we position ourselves for that filling. That position is the place God has called you to. Elizabeth was called to be the mother of Jesus’ forerunner. The believers in the upper room were there because Jesus instructed them to wait there until the Holy Spirit came. Cornelius’ house was filled when God sent Peter to them to preach the good news. The list can go on and on.
Today I want to encourage you to position yourself to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. This doesn’t mean there will be a tongue of fire dropped down from heaven on your head. In fact, it is almost a sure thing that will not happen. It does, however mean that you will receive power to be His witness in your home, community and wherever you go. Take time to fill up on God’s word, praise and worship or encouraging messages. Give the Holy Spirit access to your whole life and allow Him to lead and direct your day to where that power is needed. The joy of the Lord will fill you up and you will feel like leaping for joy as the Spirit of God fills your life.
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 1:39-45
39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
The Daily Dose 