“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues or fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability.” (Acts 2:2-4)
When we are filled with God’s Spirit, we will be consumed by His Holy Spirit. When we drink alcohol, it enters our lips, goes down our throats, and enters our physiological system. Alcohol impacts us emotionally, making some happy and others angry. Alcohol impacts us mentally, causing the quiet to become loud and the timid to become fearless. Alcohol permeates a person’s being. It changes them, almost always in negative ways. Alcohol may affect us physiologically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, but God’s spirit wants to infiltrate, permeate, impact, and change every part of our being, all the while transforming us in positive and powerful ways.
When the Spirit of God came into people’s lives on the Day of Pentecost, there were 120 people in an upper room praying. Luke reports “There was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting… And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:2-4) The Greek word for “filled” in Acts 2:2 is “pleroo,” which means “filled to the brim.” The Greek word for “filled” in Acts 2:4, however, is “plethos,” which means “filled to overflowing. “Plethos” was a word used to describe a boat overloaded with fish, a sponge dripping water, or a wedding overflowing with guests. This shows us that when we are “filled with the Holy Spirit” we are filled to overflowing with the Spirit’s presence and power. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit begins to flow out of us, demonstrating His presence and power through our speech, our actions, the glow on our faces, our excitement, and our energy.
We learn from the Bible that the Holy Spirit wants to “fill us to overflowing” with His presence and power today and every day of our lives. This is not just when we’re worshiping the Lord with others in worship services. Instead, every day of our lives, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit should be manifested. By the way, how does a person get drunk? By drinking. How do they stay drunk? They have to keep drinking. It’s the same way with the filling of the Holy Spirit. That’s why a more accurate rendering of our Scripture passage would be: “Be filled and keep on being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18 Watson translation)
Followup Activity - Write out a prayer to the Lord, asking Him to fill you to overflowing with His Holy Spirit. Pray it aloud before your Bible reading time for the next three days. If you’re leading your family through this devotion, guide each member to do the same exercise.
Prayer for Today - Lord, please fill me to overflowing with Your presence and power today through Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.