It is inevitable that whatever we give ourselves to, with that we will be filled. You have heard the re mark, "He is certainly full of him self." This means that self is in the place of power and rule. The Holy Spirit, in the same fashion, will control the life of the individual who submits himself to this won derful Person. The fact is that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer utterly apart from any emotional reaction. It is His presence that gives us victory in our Christian experience. If you yield to Him who lives within you, then you will be filled with the Holy Spirit. There is no other way. As the Spirit has unhindered sway in your heart and mine, we walk by simple faith under His control. Thus, the conditions of the Spirit- filled life are the confession and forsaking of known sin, yielding the heart to the Spirit's control, and walking by simple faith in His ful ness of blessing. SPIRIT-FASHIONED CHARACTER There are some very definite measures by which one can deter mine the indicators of a Spirit-filled life. One of the first things is that it causes you to live in a contented fellowship with others, enjoying the victory the Lord has promised. It is speaking not to yourself but to one another. This means Chris tian conversion and happy fellow ship among the believers. The Spirit makes melody in our hearts. Someone has well said, "The soul of music is the music of the soul." This is most delightful to the Lord. The heart becomes a kind of an artesian well, bubbling up in song and praise. Believers have different tastes and delights than those of the
world because they have Christ and are filled with the Spirit. Some years ago a minister told about a young woman who was a soloist for one of the popular bands of her day. Her songs were the empty melodies of the world. When she became a Christian her friends noticed the difference. She ex plained, "I have not even thought of the other songs since I was con verted to Christ. The Lord and His music have taken their place." This is exactly what happens to the Spirit-filled believer. Almost un consciously a new thing takes the place of the old. Another outcome of being filled with the Holy Spirit is that one will always give thanks for all things. When the Holy Spirit fills us praise comes out. In such a life of filling the believer will be able to thank Cod for everything that happens in life. He knows the Lord will nev er make a mistake. This includes sorrow, sickness, trouble, as well as happiness. This is a revelation of victory over the circumstances of life. It is true of the Spirit-filled believer who is lifted above the changing events of passing days. Anyone, across the centuries of human times, who has ever been really used of God has been Spir it-filled. It is not a luxury but rath er a necessity. It is not something selected for only a few. It is pro vided for all of God's children.
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