BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST

Let me begin by saying this is not about Christians speaking in tongues, so if that is what piqued your interest when you read the title, I want to save you from "wasting your time" by reading this.  My blog posts are only one page long, and the topic of speaking in tongues would require many, many posts.  Rather, my intent here is to look at what God's Word says about the purpose of one being filled by the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit (both words, "ghost" and "spirit," are translated from the Hebrew רוּחַ (ruwach), and the Greek πνεῦμα (pneuma), meaning "wind, breath, mind, or spirit.").  When the word "Holy" is attached, it always refers to God, that is, to the third Person of the Trinity(Acts 5:3-4).

In Exodus 28:1-43, God "filled" the craftsmen for the purpose of preparing the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons, who would serve as Israel's first "priests unto the Lord."  In Exodus 31:1-11, we are told the name of the person who was apparently in charge of those craftsmen, was Bezaleel.  In this passage, we learn that the craftsmen were also responsible for the Tabernacle and its contents, as well.  A more detailed description of the work of Bezaleel's "team" is recorded in Exodus 35:1 - 39:43.

In the New Testament, when a person was filled with the Spirit, he or she was given the wisdom and ability to speak for God (Lk. 1:15-17, 39-45, 67-80; Acts 2:1-43; 4:8-12, 31; 9:17-20; 13:9-12; 13:52 - 14:1).  The Apostle Paul encourages believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which will result in:  "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" (Eph. 5:17-21).

Paul also wrote that when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, he or she will produce spiritual fruit; that is, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal. 5:22-23).  In the Scripture, "fruit" always refers to "that which reproduces whatever is bearing it."  If we, as born again believers, bear the fruit of the Spirit, "our source" will appeal to those around us.  Have you ever had someone come up to you and say something like, "I have been watching you, and I want what you have!"?  Knowing that what he or she sees is the outworking of the Spirit, we are quick to testify as to our "Source." 

Being filled with the Spirit always opens the door for our testimony!