This is the second day of our special season of prayer and fasting and my biggest advice for you today is on how to get the best out of this fasting season.

The best way is to keep in your mind the focus of what we discuss each morning and pray about it all day long every opportunity you get. Separate yourself to an atmosphere of consecration.

As I write you the second of my letters coined from the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the different churches, I want to bring your mind back to a few points I made in yesterday’s letter.


John 7:37-39

New King James Version

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

There is a cultural context to what was going on here.
This feast was a special feast different from the Passover and Pentecost; it was declared in

Leviticus 23:36

King James Version

36 “Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.”
‬‬
The eighth day of this feast was called “the last day of the feast”. The feast has some practices where sacrifices were made each day of the feast. On the last day, they had the ceremony of drawing and pouring water, attended with the usual rejoicings that happened on other days;
But marked with greater joy.

The priest would take water from the river, and when they came to the water gate, they would blow their trumpets and shout. Then they would pour it upon the altar while singing and rejoicing. Then the words of Isaiah 12:3 were sung,

Isaiah 12:3

New King James Version

3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.

It was so ecstatic that it used to be said, “Whoever had not witnessed it had never seen rejoicing at all”. This feast was figurative for salvation which was to come and their joy because of this salvation.

Now Imagine Jesus crying out: “If you are thirsty come to me and drink.“ In other words, I’ve got what you are drawing from the well.

This is the same thing Jesus said to the woman at the well, that if you know who is speaking to you, you would ask and he would give you living water.

John 4:13-14

New King James Version

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

You would never thirst.
I want you to realize that what was a desire for them, you have it now and in abundance. At salvation, you received the Holy Spirit but not only did you receive the Holy Spirit, you can be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible describes a position called being filled.
So you can have the Spirit but you can be full of the Spirit. It describes a time of total and complete influence of the spirit.

A few texts that talk about this are:

Luke 1:41-45

New King James Version

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
‭‭
Acts 4:8 NKJV
[8] “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:”
‭‭
Acts 6:3

New King James Version

3 “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;”
‭‭
Acts 7:55

New King James Version

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

Acts 9:17

New King James Version

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Ephesians 5:18-19

New King James Version

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

In this final passage, the Apostle Paul gave it as an instruction. There is what to do to be filled. Being filled is your initiative. You can’t be full by doing nothing.

He tells you how in the next verse, verse 19, “speaking” if you would be filled with the Spirit you would speak. This means that being filled is not about being quiet. Throughout the Bible, the infilling is always marked by speaking. You are filled by speaking and when you are filled you speak.

The word to be filled is from the word pleres which means to abound. To “let be fully occupied.” Something that comes out. It’s an outflow to give expression to the indwelling of the Spirit. You don’t give expression by doing nothing. You give expression by action. That’s how you are filled.

Speaking in psalms hymns and spiritual songs. The word meaning “to be full” in Greek is the word “Pleroo” and it means “to be being filled.” Meaning to remain consistently filled.
The way that will happen is to stir what is already in you to a point of overflow and everything possible happens.

What are some things that happen when you are filled?
People who are filled with the spirit express utterance gifts: Teaching, Prophecy, Tongues
Peter spoke powerfully before the elders. That was a sign that he was filled.

We know them by wisdom. We know them by miracles. These are the reports of a man filled with the Spirit. We know them by sights and revelatory gifts

A man filled with the Spirit would see visions and be expressive in revelatory gifts.
A filled man is aligned with God. He hears God clearly, and knows what to do, when to do it, and how.

So today, stir it up till you are filled and you can do so by spending ample time praying, praying throughout today. That’s how to be “being” filled, that is continually filled with the Spirit. Draw from the well spring within, God has already given you the rivers so now you must stir it. Bring yourself under the influence of God’s Spirit on your inside and see endless possibilities in God.

Make a point today to see what can become of you when filled with the Spirit!

Prayer Point:

As I pray, I am filled with the Holy Ghost, I remain filled throughout today. I bring myself under the influence of the Holy Spirit and it is evident like never before!

Prayerfully,
Pastor Michael Ipaye