Series Break: Being Filled 2015

Series Break
*all images taken from Google images

Being Filled 2015

by Daniel Carandang

written by Ashley Petallano

It's official: 2014 is out, 2015 is in.

Happy new year, Elevate!

The new year has finally settled and we've welcomed it with open arms, tons of food and fireworks. Of course, we can't forget those new year resolutions! Some resolutions are typical:

Di na ako magiging tsimosa! (I will no longer be a gossiper!)

Mas magiging organized na ako, pramis! (I shall be more organized, I swear!)

Sasayaw pa ako nang pumayat! (I shall dance this weight off!)

Dance that weight off!

Others are downright funny:

Makakahanap ako ng pagmamahal! (I shall find love!)

Magpapa-gwapo ako ng todo nang magsisi si ex (I will become more handsome so that my ex will regret!)

We all want fresh beginnings. Yes, we're very much thankful for all the blessings that we've received this 2014 such as food, funds for school, material things and friends but there are some things we'd like to bury under the ground and move  on.

Despite our want to escape difficult challenges this 2015, there is no doubt that we will face them again. They might even be more difficult. Temptations will continue to haunt us, stumble us even. Sometimes, we just want to throw our hands up and surrender to sin. But God doesn't want that for us.

God loves us very much that He desires us to live lives according to His will. There's no doubt that His ways are higher than ours and they're officially the best. However, as His children, we're more prone to the attacks of Satan who aims to overthrow our flow with the Lord. 

If we are to honor God and live our 2015 and future years for Him, there's one thing we should do:

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”

Ephesians 5:18

Who is the Holy Spirit?

As Filipinos, we're very familiar with this term. Our country is very religious and we usually hear the term holy spirit during prayers, especially in school. Sadly, we know of it but most of us remain clueless and do not understand at all. 

Most of us: Holy Spirit whuuuut?

For starters, the Holy Spirit is not an IT-- HE is a person. He is God in Spirit form. The Holy Spirit is God. He has the attributes of God. He has been sent to teach us, guide us, comfort us; protect us,  encourage us, and empower us to live for God and fulfill His purposes in our lives.

So what does it mean to be filled by the Holy Spirit?

Some of us have seen our friends or family members get drunk. You know a person is drunk when they fail to walk straight, don't make any sense, talk gibberish and possess this unbearable scent of alcohol. A drunk person thinks and acts differently because he is filled with wine. This is used to illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit as said in Ephesians 5:18.

The book of Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul to the disciples in Ephesus. In the first three chapters, he tells them about all the unearned, undeserved spiritual blessings they have received as children of God. Then in chapters four to six, he now tells them, as a response, live for God, be imitators of God, turn away from the ways of your old life, & to make the most of every opportunity in these evil days to honor God.

In chapter 5, verse 18, he encourages them to live their lives as imitators of Christ, to turn away from their old lives and to make the most out of every opportunity to serve the Lord. 

The word "filled" means to be controlled or dominated. When you're under the influence of the Holy Spirit, you're sure to be headed towards God's path for you. Someone who has the Spirit is controlled by Christ, therefore, aims to live a life for Him.

God desires for us to be filled with His Spirit. If we are, then it will manifest in how we live our lives. We will submit to His will. Paul talks about submission that is not forced, it is a willing one. Being filled with the Spirit means yielding to His purpose moment by moment.

What does this do?

1. It pleases and honors God

We want to please God. As Christians, it's out ultimate goal to make sure that we do what He wants us to do. However, despite our best efforts, we will sometimes fail. In school alone, we encounter numerous people who seem as if they're determined to annoy us, causing our tempers to rise.

Before we came to Christ, we sinned without the guilt. Now that we dwell in Him, we feel terrible when we do not follow Him. We fail Him when we follow our flesh.

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these..”

Galatians 5:19-21a

The Devil wants us to fail. Sadly, we sometimes do. 

At school, we become undercover Christians out of the fear that our classmates will ridicule us for our faith. We tend to be one with this sinful world despite our allegiance to Christ. 

To beat Satan and his minions, we must abide in the Spirit as Paul writes in Galatians 5:16. We are to WALK WITH THE SPIRIT! We can do this by spending more time with God through prayer and devotions, obeying His word constantly and allowing ourselves to overflow with His presence.

When we are filled, it manifests!

2. It protects us

Have you ever been in danger?

Faced anything that scared you out of your wits or doubted the possibility that you'll make it back home well, at least alive (e.g. bitten by dogs, chased by bullies, hold upped)?

Yikes! 

One of the greatest threats to our lives, our families, our faith and fellowship with God is ourselves.When we do not walk according to the Spirit, we put ourselves in front of harm's way, ready to be devoured by sin. Paul warns us in Ephesians 5:15-17: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

We can choose our options but we cannot escape the consequences they hold. That is why God reminds us through Paul to make wise decisions to avoid the unpleasant end results. 

Sometimes, we think of God as this cosmic KJ who doesn't want us to enjoy. Many young people look at Him as this boring and very strict Supreme being who is after their misery. That is very twisted thinking. It's no wonder most of the youth don't want anything to do with God.

We think that what we want is the best for us. We believe that having a relationship now is okay because we are happy. We think that engaging in parties is all right because we're not hurting anyone, we're just living in the moment. 

The problem is we don't see the big picture--God does. In fact, He warns us:

“There is a way which seems right to a man,but its end is the way of death.”

Proverbs 4:12

Whenever we walk by the Spirit, we protect ourselves from the consequences of sin. When we listen to the Spirit's leading, we are led away from regret and destruction.

3. It blesses us

No doubt, we all want to be #blessed.

There are numerous types of blessings. There are unconditional and special blessings that can be bestowed upon us by God. When we walk towards His path, He gives us the best. When we compromise, we shouldn't expect to be blessed because we don't obey.

In order for us to blessed, we must follow the Spirit. That way, we will see what God has in store for us. Rest assured, there will be no regrets.

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. 11 I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:10-11