In I Thess. 1:5 Paul rejoices in the fact that the gospel came to Thessalonica not in word only, but in power and the Holy Ghost! Because of this power of the Holy Ghost, many came to Christ. We must never forget that it is always the power of the Holy Ghost that produces fruit when the gospel is given. Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." So how can we be sure that when we witness, we are doing so in the power of the Holy Ghost? The simple answer (though not simple to practice) is to be sure that we are filled with the Holy Ghost.
   Ephesians 5:8 instructs us to "...be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." This is as much of a command as not committing adultery, or not stealing. How careful are we to be sure that we are filled with the Holy Spirit? While the indwelling of the Spirit is a one-time, permanent event that transpires at salvation, the filling of the Spirit must happen over and over. Let me share a few thoughts on some of the simple keys to being filled with the Spirit.

1) Prayer

• Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

• Luke 11:13  "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

• James 4:2 "...ye have not, because ye ask not."

The greatest need in our lives is probably one we pray for most seldom. While we can and should bring every care to God, what we need more than anything is the fullness of His Spirit!

2) Time in the Word

• Eph. 5:18-21 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

In these verses we are told how one behaves who is filled with the Spirit. They have songs in their hearts, gratitude on their lips, and submissive Spirits. Now notice another passage.

• Col. 3:16-18  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."

Notice how similar the behavior is of those who are letting "the word of Christ dwell in them" to those who are "filled with the Spirit." This teaches us that the fullness of the Spirit and time in the Word are inextricably linked together. You will not have one with the other!

3) Crucified Flesh

• Gal. 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

• Gal. 5:24 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

We must recognize the fact that once we are born again we are dead to sin. We must take this into account in every decision we make and temptation we face. We must do those things that feed our Spirit and destroy those things that feed our flesh. Rom. 13:14 instructs us to, "...put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." We must remove anything or anyone from our lives that provides an opportunity for our flesh to be fed.

     Though this is not an exhaustive list for experiencing the fullness of God's Spirit, it would be a great place for all of us to start! I trust you will consider what Paul penned in Galatians 5:25. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."