There are many reasons, which we do not have time to explore. But rather than dwell on the negative, let’s finish by exploring how you can be filled with the Holy Spirit.
First, you must be a vessel that is clean. A pure heart is the only candidate for the infilling of the Spirit. Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Sin grieves the Spirit as recorded in Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Second, yield or submit yourself to the Holy Spirit. This means to place yourself totally and unreservedly into the Holy Spirit’s control. This is a voluntary and complete surrender. You already belong to God, but there must be an active and deliberate act of submission.
“And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God . . . Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? . . . I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” (Romans 6:13, 16, 19)
