Power. The power of the Holy Spirit. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. These are three completely different issues. Power, ability, or authority, is wielded daily in every arena of life. The Holy Spirit’s power is also, for He’s at work everywhere. But the Spirit’s power operates and manifests in vastly different ways than mere “power” as exercised in our society.
“Filled” is the word which describes the one kind of person the Holy Spirit is most able to lead, to use, and to make effective in this needy world. We need more than “power.” We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Paul’s encounter with evil powers in Cyprus (Acts 13) turned to a victory for God’s kingdom, and the pivotal reason was Paul’s present fullness. He was “living full” of the Holy Spirit.
Approaching the New Year, mark well the difference between having had an experience in the Holy Spirit and living in the fullness of His power.
