The Spirit-Filled Life

The Holy Spirit makes the life of a Christian fulfilling and beautiful because a Spirit-filled existence fulfills Christ's ideal for us:

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
—John 10:10.

Before leaving the world, Jesus instructed His followers,

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the GIFT my Father promised, . . . For John BAPTIZED WITH WATER, but in a few days you will be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
—Acts 1:4, 5.

The word baptize means to immerse. Christians are to confess their faith in Christ by being immersed in the waters of baptism. They are also to be immersed, or baptized, in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus informed Nicodemus:

“No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of [both] WATER and THE SPIRIT.”
—John 3:5.

Over and over Scripture indicates that the Christian is to be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 4:31; 6:3, 6:5; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9, 13:52; 19:6). While describing the Spirit-filled Christian life, Paul offered this prayer for every believer:

“I pray that out of his glorious riches HE MAY STRENGTHEN YOU WITH POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN YOUR INNER BEING, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. . . . Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US.”
—Ephesians 3:16, 17, 20.