Fill ‘Er Up?

Given May 21, 2011

Some of you are old enough to remember when the place where you bought gasoline was called a service station.  You got service there.  They would pump your gas, clean your windshield, and check your oil if you wanted them to.  The friendly attendant would come out when you pulled up to the pumps and ask, “Fill’er up sir?”  And you’d say, “Sure” or “No, just $5.00 worth please.”  Oh the days.

The Bible says, “..be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18), so we as Christ followers are supposed to be filled with the Spirit.   And if something is filled, there’s no room for anything else, right?  So think of your yesterday.  What things did you fill yourself with?  Did you watch TV, listen to music, read something, talk to someone, go to a sporting event, browse the Internet, participate in a hobby, go to the movies, read the Bible, pray, listen to Christian music or preaching, think about something?  There are many things we can fill ourselves with; some good, some bad, and others neutral.  The apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”  We are all in a battle with our own desires which want to fill us up and leave no room for the Holy Spirit.  We need to be conscience of what we allow into our beings and be sure that we don’t purposely let anything bad in.  And things don’t have to be bad to take the place of the Spirit.

We have an enemy who disguises himself as an angel of light, (2 Corinthians 11:14), and is looking for someone he can trick.  He’s like that service station attendant who comes out in a white uniform, all friendly and offers to help you by saying, “Fill ‘er up?”  But what he has to fill you up with is deadly!  Don’t be fooled!  When you turn on the TV, sit down at the computer, open a magazine, talk to someone, or sit in the bleachers at a ballgame, he’s right there saying, “Fill ‘er up?”  “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8).  Let’s pay more attention to what we allow to fill us.  I’d appreciate your comments.  Be blessed!