Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 1:57-80 "FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT"
Day 24 – Luke 1
Text: Luke 1:57-80
“FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT”
Zacharias had nine months to dwell on what the angel Gabriel had spoken to him. One does not easily forget an encounter with an angel, especially when that powerful angel had the authority and power to render a person mute!
He may have been physically unable to speak, but that does not mean that his brain was addled! Zacharias was determined to do right this time round, and the moment he declared that he wanted his son’s name to be called “John”, he was able to speak.
Everyone was understandably astonished! Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and he began to praise God and to prophesy (Luke 1:64, 67). Once again, we come across this phrase that Luke had used on three previous occasions. What does it mean to be “filled with the Holy Spirit” ?
WHAT BEING “FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” DOES NOT MEAN
It is not uncommon to hear of people claiming that they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Attached to their claims of being filled with the Holy Spirit are reported experiences of “falling down”, “holy laughter” , “repetition of unintelligible sounds purported to be angelic language”.
As we study the mention of the phrase, “filled with the Holy Spirit” in Luke 1, we must make the following observations:-
1. The reference to the Holy Spirit is to point out the significant involvement of the Spirit of God!
2. The Holy Spirit’s involvement also means that His power is involved in the special protection of the person mentioned. The references to the Holy Spirit filling Baby John in his mother’s womb would point to the fact that He would especially look after the baby and the mother; more so when the expecting mother, Elizabeth was chronologically of an advanced age.
3. The Holy Spirit’s coming upon Mary would result in the miraculous conception of the Baby Jesus. He would be born sinless. He would be specially kept from the ravages of sin.
4. The Holy Spirit’s filling of Elizabeth resulted in her offering special praise and thanksgiving to the Lord (Luke 1:41).
5. Zacharias’ experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit was also carefully recorded. His faith was at an all-time high. His words of praise and thanksgiving are a marked contrast to the words he had uttered nine months ago to the angel Gabriel. His being filled with the Spirit of God enabled him to “prophesy” as the Old Testament prophets did.
The “filling of the Holy Spirit” is a much-desired thing. However, it is vital that we allow the Scriptures to teach us what the true “filling of the Holy Spirit” really means! It is a wholesome, and wonderful experience where the Spirit of God enlivens and enlightens the individual. The Spirit-filled believer is able to understand and appreciate deep spiritual truths that would otherwise have been impossible.
The mind is enlightened. The heart offers special praise to God. The words that are spoken may be verified from the Scriptures!
DESIRING TO BE SPIRIT-FILLED
Every believer should desire to be Spirit-filled! Is it possible to be truly filled with the Holy Spirit as Zacharias was? Let us take a quick look at how we too may be filled with the Spirit of God.
1. Let us rejoice in the fact that the Holy Spirit indwells every true believer. In his letter to the Ephesian Church, the Apostle Paul mentioned that God has given the Holy Spirit to all who have come to trust the Lord Jesus as Saviour (Cf. Eph. 1:13-14 Also check up Acts 2:38-39)
2. The filling of the Holy Spirit has to do with how we live, and how we relate to the Lord.
a) Zacharias (and Elizabeth) were described as “righteous before God, walking in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6).
b) However, Zacharias had not overcome the problem of unbelief. His doubts concerning the word of the angel resulted in his not being filled with the Holy Spirit; instead he was disciplined and chastised by the Lord – he was struck dumb. The obstacles caused by sin must be removed first, before we can speak of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
c) When his faith was fully restored, he was “filled with the Holy Spirit”. The filling of the Holy Spirit is usually “episodic”. It is a single experience. Life goes back to “normal” soon after. Hopefully, the individual would remember the significance of that blessed experience and from then onwards desire to live very consciously of the Presence and Power of the Lord!
Let us seek to live righteously before the Lord. Let us seek to develop our faith in Him. Let us seek to remove doubts from our hearts. When we seek to live for the Lord thus, we too can experience the filling of the Holy Spirit. It will be a wholesome experience, and our hearts will be filled with a special sense of joy! May you know the joy of the Holy Spirit in your life. Remember though, we return to “normalcy” soon after. We must ever seek to be “righteous before God… blameless”.