Right, that's a very good question as well. I'm inclined to believe that that's not the case, otherwise why would Paul encourage believers to be filled with the Spirit in
Ephesians 5:18 if they were all in that state already? So there certainly is an element of responsibility by the believer to be in proactive seeking of this fullness. The question is,
how?
Galatians 5:16-18
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Galatians 5:25
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
In these verses, the apostle Paul delineates two different conditions in which the believer can exist:
1.) Living by the Spirit.
2.) Walking by the Spirit.
"Living by the Spirit" is a description of the state in which a person is, having been born-again and given new, spiritual life in Christ. (
2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9-11; 1 John 4:13; John 3:3-7) It's by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ (
Romans 8:9), coming to dwell within a person that they are given this new spiritual life. Every born-again person is "living (spiritually) by the Spirit."
But Paul distinguished merely having spiritual life by the Spirit - being born-again - from "walking by the Spirit." What did Paul mean by "walking by the Spirit"? He indicated something of his meaning in
Galatians 5:18:
"...if you are led by the Spirit..." Paul wrote a very similar thing to the church at Rome:
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (
Romans 8:14) The idea of being led by the Spirit is, I believe, expressed in the phrase "walking by the Spirit," suggesting a
leader-follower and/or superior-inferior dynamic between the believer and the Holy Spirit. It suggests a
conscious agreement on the part of the believer to being so led, to being under the direction and authority of the Holy Spirit. As the prophet Amos wrote, "Can two walk together unless they be agreed?" (
Amos 3:3) So, then, "walking by the Spirit" differs from merely "living by the Spirit" in that the one walking by the Spirit is consciously and persistently agreeing to the leadership, the authoritative direction and control, of the Spirit.
Aren't these two spiritual states tantamount to one another? Clearly, Paul didn't think so. In his various letters to the Early Church, he often enjoined
born-again believers to a humble yieldedness to God, to the Spirit (
Romans 6:13-22; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:5-5, etc.), to being "living sacrifices" to God (
Romans 12:1). Why? If being born-again is synonymous with a life yielded entirely to God, why make any distinction between walking by the Spirit and living by the Spirit? Well, obviously, because, as Paul indicated, a believer can be born-again but not living in conscious, consistent submission to the Spirit.
What does any of this this have to do with being filled with the Spirit? Well, it stands to reason that if one is not living AND walking by the Spirit, one cannot be filled with him. There is, after all, no other dynamic under which one can truly interact with God, with the Holy Spirit, except that of submission, of superior to inferior, bond-slave to Master. Many are the believers I know, however, who have no interest in living under the constant leading of the Spirit, under his constant control, who do not see themselves as bond-servants of Christ in the least, and whose lives are, as a result, utterly devoid of any indication of the power and work of the Spirit. Certainly, these believers are not filled with the Spirit. Whether they realize it or not, they are actually living in
rebellion toward God, in sin, therefore, in their refusal to live constantly under the Spirit's authority and control. Why in the world would the Spirit fill such believers with himself? He would be acting coercively - and so, contrary to love - at that point; for he cannot fill a person and not be in control of them.
How is one filled with the Spirit, then? As I explained in an earlier post in this thread, by submission to him, by a conscious, consistent and persistent living in surrender to the will and way of the Spirit, by "walking by the Spirit."
Will such a person, proceeding through each day as "living sacrifice" to God, necessarily feel the filling of the Spirit? Should they expect to experience wild moments of emotional hysteria, tongues-speaking, miraculous healing, supernatural "signs and wonders"? Are these things always attendant upon being filled with the Spirit? No. Instead, the description the word of God lays out of the common experience of the Spirit is far more subtle and mundane. The person being led of the Spirit will encounter his conviction, illumination, strengthening, comfort, and sanctifying, transforming work. (
John 14:26; John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; Ephesians 3:16; Romans 8:13; Philippians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
Those I've encountered who are seeking the filling of the Spirit, are often really seeking the wild experiences they believe are the result of being so filled. They are searching for sensual validation of the Spirit's presence in their life. God "being real" in their life requires a sensory, fleshly interaction with Him. It isn't enough that they become more holy in their desires, thinking and living; it isn't enough that they know God through the process of His sanctification of them in their daily experience; it isn't enough that they have the word of God, His love letter to them, teaching, directing, and revealing Himself to them; they want more than to walk by faith and experience the subtle growth of a branch in the Vine; they want a supernatural show, divine stimulation, excitement - they want
signs, the more, and wilder, the better.
Matthew 12:38-39
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign...
It is certain, in my view, that the hungry pursuit of miraculous signs through the filling of the Spirit, is a carnal, fleshly motive for seeking such filling and will, therefore, never meet with the real thing. The Spirit cannot be met in a deep, powerful way through the sensual, but in and through the realm of the spiritual - the immaterial realm of the mind, heart and spirit.
Galatians 5:16-17
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
John 4:23-24
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
