How To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit According to Tozer
As Christians, we believe that the Holy Spirit is essential in our walk with God. The Holy Spirit is a powerful force that enables us to experience God’s presence, power, and guidance. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our guide, and our teacher, and we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to experience all that God has for us.
Throughout the years, many great Christian thinkers, writers, and pastors have written and spoken about the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit. One of these greats is A.W. Tozer, a pastor, teacher, and author who left behind an incredible legacy of wisdom and inspiration. In this article, we will take a look at some of Tozer’s teachings on being filled with the Holy Spirit and provide some practical steps for those who desire to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
What Does It Mean To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit?
Before we delve into Tozer’s teachings on being filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to understand what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that when we become believers, we receive the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). However, being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event but an ongoing process.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit means surrendering ourselves to God so that He can fill us with His Spirit, empowering us to live a life that honors Him. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means acknowledging our weaknesses, inadequacies, and sinfulness and trusting God to fill us with His grace, power, and love. Being filled with the Holy Spirit also means experiencing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Tozer’s Teachings on Being Filled With The Holy Spirit
A.W. Tozer, in his book “The Pursuit of God,” wrote extensively about the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit. According to Tozer, being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a luxury but a necessity for every believer who desires to live a fruitful and meaningful life. Here are some of Tozer’s teachings on being filled with the Holy Spirit:
1. Surrender
Tozer believed that surrender was the key to being filled with the Holy Spirit. Surrendering to God means acknowledging our total dependence on Him and submitting ourselves to His will. Surrendering to God also means laying down our own desires, ambitions, and plans and trusting God to guide us. When we surrender to God, we create space for Him to fill us with His Spirit.
2. Desire
Tozer also emphasized the importance of having a strong desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Tozer believed that God fills those who hunger for Him and earnestly seek Him. According to Tozer, our desire for God should be so strong that it consumes us, driving us to seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
3. Obedience
Tozer also taught that obedience was crucial in being filled with the Holy Spirit. Tozer believed that obedience was a sign of our love for God and our trust in Him. When we obey God’s commands and follow His will, we demonstrate our submission to His authority. According to Tozer, when we obediently seek after God, He rewards us with His presence and power.
4. Faith
Tozer also emphasized the importance of faith in being filled with the Holy Spirit. Tozer believed that without faith, it is impossible to please God, and without faith, we cannot experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Tozer encouraged believers to take God at His Word and trust in His promises. When we exercise faith, we open ourselves up to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Practical Steps to Being Filled With The Holy Spirit
Based on Tozer’s teachings, here are some practical steps that we can take to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
1. Surrender
We need to surrender ourselves to God and invite Him to fill us with His Spirit. Surrender involves confessing our sins and weaknesses and asking God to fill us with His grace and power. We need to let go of our own desires, ambitions, and plans and trust God to guide us.
2. Desire
We need to have a strong desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to hunger for God and earnestly seek Him. We need to spend time in prayer, worship, and the study of His Word, allowing Him to work in our hearts and transform us.
3. Obedience
We need to obey God’s commands and follow His will. We need to submit ourselves to His authority and trust in His plan for our lives. We need to trust that God’s ways are higher than our ways and that He knows what is best for us.
4. Faith
We need to exercise faith and trust in God’s promises. We need to believe that God is faithful and that He will do what He has promised. We need to take God at His Word and rely on Him to fulfill His promises in our lives.
FAQs
Q: Can anyone be filled with the Holy Spirit?
A: Yes, anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a gift that is given to all believers (Acts 2:38).
Q: How do I know if I am filled with the Holy Spirit?
A: Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a subjective experience, and it may manifest differently in different people. However, some signs of being filled with the Holy Spirit include a deep sense of peace, joy, and love, a desire to serve others, and a willingness to obey God’s commands.
Q: Do I need to speak in tongues to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
A: Speaking in tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10), but it is not a requirement for being filled with the Holy Spirit. Some believers may speak in tongues when they are filled with the Holy Spirit, while others may not. The important thing is to be open to the working of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Q: Can I lose the Holy Spirit once I am filled?
A: No, once you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you cannot lose the Holy Spirit. However, it is possible to grieve the Holy Spirit and hinder His working in your life through sin and disobedience (Ephesians 4:30). It is important to repent and seek God’s forgiveness when we sin so that we can continue to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
In conclusion, being filled with the Holy Spirit is essential in our walk with God. As Tozer taught, being filled with the Holy Spirit requires surrender, desire, obedience, and faith. By taking practical steps to invite the Holy Spirit to fill us, we can experience the fullness of God’s presence, power, and guidance in our lives.