When a person believes in and accepts Christ as Lord and Saviour s/he is instantly born-again in their spirit. The scripture says the born-again believer is ‘sealed’ with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. The word sealed comes from the Greek word SPHRAGIZO, pronounced sfrä-gē'-zō (Strong's G4972). It means to be authenticated or to be marked. This authentication or marking takes place upon the born-again believer’s spirit.
“In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)
Here the scripture establishes the process of being born again. It says believers:
1. Hear the Word of truth;
2. Trust in Christ after hearing the Word of Truth;
3. Believe Christ; and
4. Are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Being sealed with the Holy Spirit is not a physical visible mark but is a mark that is recognizable with spiritual eyes. Compare the sight of the men in Luke 24:31. Now let us see what the scripture says about being filled with the Holy Spirit.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)
The word ‘filled’ comes from the Greek word PIMPLEMI, pronounced pē'm-plā-mē (Strong's G4130). It refers to being completed, fulfilled or filled up. When the believers in the book of Acts were filled with the Holy Spirit, He gave them utterance and they spoke in other languages as evidence to the people around them. When believers are filled with the Holy Spirit they become (Hebrew 6:4) partakers of the Holy Spirit.
A ‘partaker’ of the Holy Spirit is a person who has become a colleague with the Holy Spirit and shares in His divine nature. The word partaker comes from the Greek word METOCHOS, pronounced me'-to-khos (Strong's G3353). Partakers are empowered when they are filled with the divine nature. This is an indwelling.
"Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?" (Isaiah 63:11) "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Partakers share the office, work and dignity of the Holy Spirit. All born-again believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit but not all are partakers of the Holy Spirit. We should all desire to be partakers of the Holy Spirit and ask God to fill us with Him.
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)
It is when we are filled that we gain real power and manifest the evidence of that power!
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