Question: "How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?"

Answer: An important verse in understanding the filling of the
Holy Spirit is John 14:16 , where Jesus promised the Spirit
would indwell believers and that the indwelling would be
permanent. It is important to distinguish the indwelling from
the filling of the Spirit. The permanent indwelling of the Spirit
is not for a select few believers, but for all believers. There are
a number of references in Scripture that support this
conclusion. First, the Holy Spirit is a gift given to all believers
in Jesus without exception, and no conditions are placed upon
this gift except faith in Christ (John 7:37-39 ). Second, the Holy
Spirit is given at the moment of salvation ( Ephesians 1:13 ).
Galatians 3:2 emphasizes this same truth, saying that the
sealing and indwelling of the Spirit took place at the time of
believing. Third, the Holy Spirit indwells believers
permanently. The Holy Spirit is given to believers as a down
payment, or verification of their future glorification in Christ (2
Corinthians 1:22 ; Ephesians 4:30 ).

This is in contrast to the filling of the Spirit referred to in
Ephesians 5:18 . We should be so completely yielded to the
Holy Spirit that He can possess us fully and, in that sense, fill
us. Romans 8:9 and Ephesians 1:13-14 states that He dwells
within every believer, but He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30 ),
and His activity within us can be quenched (1 Thessalonians
5:19 ). When we allow this to happen, we do not experience
the fullness of the Spirit's working and His power in and
through us. To be filled with the Spirit implies freedom for
Him to occupy every part of our lives, guiding and controlling
us. Then His power can be exerted through us so that what
we do is fruitful to God. The filling of the Spirit does not apply
to outward acts alone; it also applies to the innermost
thoughts and motives of our actions. Psalm 19:14 says, "May
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Sin is what hinders the filling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience
to God is how the filling of the Spirit is maintained. Ephesians
5:18 commands that we be filled with the Spirit; however, it is
not praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit that accomplishes
the filling. Only our obedience to God's commands allows the
Spirit freedom to work within us. Because we are still infected
with sin, it is impossible to be filled with the Spirit all of the
time. When we sin, we should immediately confess it to God
and renew our commitment to being Spirit-filled and Spirit-
led.