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Why Pray? Because We Need the Filling of the Holy Spirit

A lame man had been laying at the gate Beautiful for many years before Peter reach out to him and said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6b).

For this act of love, this miracle healing, Peter and John were threatened severely. They would have been beaten and kept jailed had the miracle been deniable, but there were many witnesses.

And being let go, they went to their own [companions] and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You [are] God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’ For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:23-31 NKJV).

This is an example of God’s Holy Spirit filling His people in response to their prayers. Their request was answered with great power as the place was shaken and being filled they spoke the Word of God with boldness.

Unlike the baptism of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13) which is a one-time event wherein a believer is placed into the Body of Christ upon conversion, the filling of the Spirit may and should happen many times.

In fact, God commands us to be filled with the Spirit. As it is written, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18 NKJV).

The verb rendered “Be Filled” is a present passive imperative. It is passive as the Holy Spirit is the One who fills us, but it is an imperative as we are to engage His filling. We are commanded to do those things that accompany His filling like praying, singing, making melody in our hearts, etc. (Ephesians 5:19-20).

The comparison in Ephesians 5:18 is very appropriate to illustrate what this filling is like. As wine controls a person’s mind through inebriation; the Holy Spirit, in a good way is to control the believer’s mind and subsequent actions. In the case of Peter, John, and the people, they spoke the Word with boldness.

Loved ones, sincere prayer is the spark that ignites the furnace of passion. God is delighted when we pray, and He fills us with His Spirit to do those things we desire to do.

Are you bored? Is life becoming mundane? When is the last time you prayed for Holy-Spirit power to accomplish something for Christ?

The apostles had been threatened by the authorities, but they did not quit. No, they prayed in the name of Christ, they resolved by faith to press on no matter what the consequences, and God filled their hearts with boldness.

The place was shaken by the manifest presence of God. Wow, let us be shaken by His power even today! As the song says:

God, whose purpose is to kindle, now ignite us with your fire. While the earth awaits your burning, with your passion us inspire. Overcome our sinful calmness, stir us with your saving name. Baptize with your fiery Spirit, crown our lives with tongues of flame.”

God, who still as sword delivers rather than a placid peace, with your sharpened sword disturb us, from complacency release! Save us now from satisfaction, when we privately are free, yet are undisturbed in spirit by our neighbor’s misery.

God, who in your holy Gospel, wills that all should truly live, Make us sense our share of failure, our tranquility forgive. Teach us courage as we struggle in all liberating strife. Lift the smallness of our vision By Your own abundant life.

Oh, God we are but dust, but You are mighty. Fill us this day for the work you have prepared for us. May the earth be shaken around us, let sinners see your saving power in us, and may You be glorified, amen.

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1 Words: based on Luke 12:49, D. Elton Trueblood, The Incendiary Fellowship, 1967, alt.