One of the most common phrases we use in our Christian lives is probably, “filled with the Holy Spirit” or “fullness of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus commanded His disciples to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So it was important to the Christians of the early church for everyone to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Consequently, having a correct understanding of “the fullness of the Holy Spirit” is essential to having a complete faith.

To be “filled with the Holy Spirit,” our hearts must completely be submitted to Him. Man can actually limit the Holy Spirit. If just one small part of our heart is not being offered to the Holy Spirit, He cannot fully reign over us. The Fullness of the Holy Spirit is when He can fully reign in our hearts.

People accomplish things through actions. To put anything into action, three steps must happen. Initially, there must be the thoughts to do the action. These thoughts are powerful because enough of them settling in our hearts will definitely convince us to do the action. For example, enough thoughts about praying will convict the heart to pray. The thoughts will convince the heart to choose. When the heart has decided, the actions then follow automatically. In this way, thoughts, hearts, and actions are connected. Paul made a commitment before God to testify of the good news of God’s grace everywhere he went. He clearly knew that prison and hardships were awaiting him. But that did not stop him. He still took actions according to his decisions before God. If it were someone else who heard the Holy Spirit telling him that prison and hardships were facing him, then he would have gladly thought, ‘Since the Holy Spirit has warned me, it must mean that I don’t have to go to Jerusalem! The Holy Spirit warned me to spare my life!’ However, Paul did not change the decision he had made before God. Paul revealed his true heart to the Holy Spirit when he spoke to the church of Ephesus. He was ready not only to suffer for the Gospel but also to die for Lord. Just like Paul, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit so our thoughts, heart, and actions can totally submit to God’s will. This is the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

A crazy person is someone who cannot seem to align his thoughts, heart and actions. He seems out of focus with life and reality. All three elements (thoughts, heart, and actions) are divided and independent, so it is very hard to predict his actions. Even if he were predictable, he cannot be reliable. It is difficult to develop a concrete relationship with such people.

Holy Spirit-filled Christians are those whose thoughts, hearts, and actions are ruled by the Holy Spirit. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” ultimately means that the Holy Spirit should rule all your thoughts, hearts, and actions. A person can think, I should be doing this. But his heart might be deciding, but I don’t want to. Forget it. Eventually this person would be immobile in his spiritual walk before God. This tension and struggle can lead to much confusion and chaos in his spiritual life.

In my ministry, I notice many Holy Spirit-filled Christians serving God joyfully in the church. Their thoughts, hearts, and actions are all in harmony with the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, when they fall into temptation, they become divided from within. Eventually, they will become ineffective for God’s kingdom. The fullness of the Holy Spirit can be maintained when these three elements are completely ruled by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit cannot be cheated. God is not mocked! People who are filled with the Holy Spirit do not overstep Him. They submit all of their thoughts, hearts, and actions to the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned that personal moral sins might be forgiven, but sins against the Holy Spirit are different in nature. If a man decides to become a loyal deacon, he needs to become a faithful deacon in words, heart and actions.

When your thoughts, heart, and actions are aligned. It is like focusing on an image before taking a picture. Some people speak in tongues, but their thoughts, hearts, and actions are divided. No matter how much you speak in tongues, no matter what you feel, your whole being must be aligned with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must rule over you.

The Holy Spirit tested Paul several times, but Paul was always focused before God. Paul said to the elders in Ephesus, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”