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Be Filled With the Spirit

Not by might nor by power. Everything that matters is accomplished by the Ruach.

Born of the Ruach, Led by the Ruach, Strengthened by the Ruach

We are living in times of extraordinary testing, tension, warfare, uncertainty, and spiritual pressure. The question is not simply whether we believe in Elohim. The question is: Are we filled with His Spirit?

Zechariah 4:6 gives us the foundation:

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says YHWH of hosts.

לֹא בְחַיִל וְלֹא בְכֹחַ כִּי אִם־בְּרוּחִי אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת

Lo vechayil, velo vechoach, ki im beRuchi, amar YHWH Tzeva’ot.

Zechariah 4:6

There are things that human strength cannot accomplish. Intelligence cannot accomplish them. Money cannot accomplish them. Military strength cannot accomplish them. Charisma cannot accomplish them.

Only the Ruach can.

Think about a football match. Sometimes a coach puts a player onto the field who is not yet the strongest player on the team. Why? Because the coach sees what that player can become. The player is being trained under pressure.

Sometimes Elohim allows us onto a field that seems beyond our ability because He is developing us.

The test is part of the training.

The pressure is revealing whether we are drawing strength from ourselves or from the Ruach.

Be Continually Filled

Paul writes:

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

וְאַל־תִּשְׁתַּכְּרוּ מִיַּיִן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ פְּרִיצוּת, אֶלָּא הִמָּלְאוּ בָּרוּחַ

Ephesians 5:18

The Greek expression carries the idea of continually being filled.

This is not merely something that happened twenty years ago when you first encountered Elohim.

We need the Ruach today. And tomorrow. And in the next battle.

Ephesians 5:19–21 shows what that filling produces: worship, thanksgiving, spiritual songs, humility, and right relationships.

A Spirit-filled person is not merely someone who has dramatic experiences.

A Spirit-filled person increasingly produces Spirit-filled fruit.

Capacity Is Not Power

Think about water moving through a hose. You can have an enormous hose, but without water flowing through it, that hose accomplishes absolutely nothing.

Electricity works similarly. Voltage is like pressure. Current is like flow. Resistance limits the flow. The wire provides the capacity to carry it.

A massive electrical cable without a source of power is just expensive metal.

Spiritually, the principle is simple. Capacity is not the same as power:

But without connection to the Source, there is no spiritual power. Yeshua demonstrated something different.

“Someone touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

מִישֶׁהוּ נָגַע בִּי, כִּי הִרְגַּשְׁתִּי שֶׁכֹּחַ יָצָא מִמֶּנִּי

Luke 8:46

The Greek word is δύναμις, dunamis, meaning power, might, strength, or miraculous ability.

Yeshua was not operating from human capacity alone. The power of the Kingdom was flowing.

We need that flow again.

The Spirit Resting Upon Us

Isaiah prophesied concerning Messiah:

“The Spirit of YHWH shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YHWH.”

וְנָחָה עָלָיו רוּחַ יְהוָה

רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה

רוּחַ עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה

רוּחַ דַּעַת וְיִרְאַת יְהוָה

Isaiah 11:2

Here we see Ruach YHWH, רוּחַ יְהוָה, the Spirit of YHWH:

We need more than information. We need wisdom. We need discernment. We need counsel from heaven. We need strength from the Ruach.

A Heart That Hears

Solomon understood this. When Elohim offered him what he desired, Solomon asked:

“Give therefore Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”

וְנָתַתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ לֵב שֹׁמֵעַ לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת־עַמְּךָ לְהָבִין בֵּין־טוֹב לְרָע

1 Kings 3:9

The extraordinary phrase is לֵב שֹׁמֵעַ, lev shomea, literally a listening heart, a heart that hears.

One of the greatest needs of this generation is not another opinion. We have millions of those. We need people who can hear Elohim.

Filled for the Work

Exodus tells us about Bezalel:

“And I have filled him with the Spirit of Elohim, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”

וָאֲמַלֵּא אֹתוֹ רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בְּחָכְמָה וּבִתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָה

Va’amale oto Ruach Elohim, bechokhmah uvitvunah uveda’at, uvechol melakhah.

Exodus 31:3

Notice this carefully. Bezalel was filled with the Ruach not only to prophesy or worship but to work.

The Ruach empowered craftsmanship, creativity, skill, excellence, and execution.

Whatever assignment Elohim has given you, you need the Ruach for the work.

Learn to Recognize His Voice

Paul writes:

“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance.”

יֵשׁ בָּעוֹלָם מִינִים רַבִּים כָּל־כָּךְ שֶׁל קוֹלוֹת, וְאֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶם חֲסַר מַשְׁמָעוּת

1 Corinthians 14:10

There are many voices. Political voices. Cultural voices. Voices of fear. Voices of ambition. Voices from social media. Voices from our own emotions.

But above them all we must learn the voice of the Ruach.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the counsel of YHWH will stand.”

רַבּוֹת מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּלֶב־אִישׁ וַעֲצַת יְהוָה הִיא תָקוּם

Rabot machashavot belev ish, va’atzat YHWH hi takum.

Proverbs 19:21

We have plans. Elohim has counsel. His counsel stands.

The Ruach Within Us

Yeshua promised:

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth.”

וַאֲנִי אֲבַקֵּשׁ מֵהָאָב וְהוּא יִתֵּן לָכֶם מְנַחֵם אַחֵר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה עִמָּכֶם לְעוֹלָם, אֶת רוּחַ הָאֱמֶת

John 14:16–17

Then Yeshua says:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.”

אֲבָל הַמְנַחֵם, רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, אֲשֶׁר הָאָב יִשְׁלַח בִּשְׁמִי, הוּא יְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם הַכֹּל

John 14:26

The Ruach is not merely around us. He desires to dwell within us.

Born From Above

Yeshua told Nicodemus:

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of Elohim.”

אִם לֹא יִוָּלֵד אִישׁ מִן הַמַּיִם וְהָרוּחַ, לֹא יוּכַל לָבוֹא אֶל מַלְכוּת אֱלֹהִים

John 3:5

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

הַנּוֹלָד מִן הַבָּשָׂר בָּשָׂר הוּא, וְהַנּוֹלָד מִן הָרוּחַ רוּחַ הוּא

John 3:6

The Greek expression γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν, gennēthēnai anōthen, can carry both the sense of “born again” and “born from above.”

Nicodemus already had religion. He already knew Scripture. He already had reputation and discipline.

But Yeshua told him that something supernatural had to happen. Religion was insufficient. He needed life from above.

Yeshua continues:

“The wind blows where it wishes… so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:8

I am born of the Ruach. I am not meant to remain trapped in the limitations of the flesh. I want to be carried by the wind of Elohim.

Do Not Quench the Spirit

Paul gives us an extraordinarily practical description of Spirit-filled living:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks… Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

שִׂמְחוּ תָּמִיד. הִתְפַּלְּלוּ בְּלִי הֶרֶף. הוֹדוּ עַל כָּל דָּבָר… אֶת הָרוּחַ אַל תְּכַבּוּ. נְבוּאוֹת אַל תִּבְזוּ. בַּחֲנוּ אֶת הַכֹּל וְהַחֲזִיקוּ בַּטּוֹב. הִתְרַחֲקוּ מִכָּל צּוּרָה שֶׁל רָע.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–22

Keep the spiritual fuel flowing. Do not keep driving while starving the engine.

Born of Incorruptible Seed

Peter writes:

“Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of Elohim which lives and abides forever.”

כְּמִי שֶׁנּוֹלַדְתֶּם מֵחָדָשׁ לֹא מִזֶּרַע נִשְׁחָת אֶלָּא מִזֶּרַע בִּלְתִּי נִשְׁחָת, בִּדְבַר אֱלֹהִים הַחַי וְהַקַּיָּם לְעוֹלָם

1 Peter 1:23

זֶרַע בִּלְתִּי נִשְׁחָת, zera bilti nishchat: an incorruptible, imperishable seed.

What Elohim plants within us is designed to grow.

So we should ask ourselves: Am I growing? Or am I stagnating?

Paul says:

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”

בִּדְקוּ אֶת עַצְמְכֶם אִם עוֹמְדִים אַתֶּם בָּאֱמוּנָה; נַסּוּ אֶת עַצְמְכֶם

2 Corinthians 13:5

Measure yourself. Not against somebody else. Measure yourself against where the Ruach is calling you.

Immaturity Reveals Itself

Hebrews says:

“Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again.”

כִּי לְפִי מֶשֶׁךְ הַזְּמַן הֱיִיתֶם צְרִיכִים לִהְיוֹת מוֹרִים, אַךְ שׁוּב אַתֶּם זְקוּקִים לְמִי שֶׁיְּלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם

Hebrews 5:12

Spiritual maturity becomes especially visible in relationships.

James asks:

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?”

מֵאַיִן הַמִּלְחָמוֹת וְהַמְּרִיבוֹת בֵּינֵיכֶם? הֲלֹא מִן הַתַּאֲווֹת הַנִּלְחָמוֹת בְּאֵיבְרֵיכֶם?

James 4:1

Paul tells the Corinthians:

“I could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Messiah… for where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal?”

וַאֲנִי, אַחַי, לֹא יָכֹלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם כְּאֶל רוּחָנִיִּים, אֶלָּא כְּאֶל בְּשָׂרִיִּים, כְּאֶל תִּינוֹקוֹת בַּמָּשִׁיחַ… כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵשׁ בֵּינֵיכֶם קִנְאָה וּמְרִיבָה, הֲלֹא בְּשָׂרִיִּים אַתֶּם?

1 Corinthians 3:1–3

Conflict can expose what is still immature within us.

Have We Become Hard of Hearing?

Hebrews gives a sobering warning:

“We have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”

עַל זֶה יֵשׁ לָנוּ דְּבָרִים רַבִּים לוֹמַר וְקָשֶׁה לְבָאֲרָם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂיתֶם כִּבְדֵי שְׁמִיעָה

Hebrews 5:11

Have we become hard of hearing? Can we still recognize the whisper of the Ruach?

Or have distraction, offense, familiarity, compromise, and constant noise made our spiritual ears dull?

We need again the lev shomea, the listening heart.

Rivers of Living Water

Yeshua declared:

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

הַמַּאֲמִין בִּי, כְּדִבְרֵי הַכָּתוּב, נַהֲרוֹת שֶׁל מַיִם חַיִּים יִזְרְמוּ מִקִּרְבּוֹ

John 7:38

John explains that He spoke this concerning the Spirit.

John 7:39

We were never designed merely to receive. We were designed to overflow.

Isaiah says:

“YHWH will guide you continually, satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

וְנָחֲךָ יְהוָה תָּמִיד וְהִשְׂבִּיעַ בְּצַחְצָחוֹת נַפְשֶׁךָ וְעַצְמֹתֶיךָ יַחֲלִיץ וְהָיִיתָ כְּגַן רָוֶה וּכְמוֹצָא מַיִם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יְכַזְּבוּ מֵימָיו

Isaiah 58:11

You may be surrounded by drought and still carry a spring.

Walk in the Ruach

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

הִתְהַלְּכוּ בָּרוּחַ וְלֹא תְמַלְּאוּ אֶת תַּאֲווֹת הַבָּשָׂר

Galatians 5:16

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.”

Galatians 5:17

There is a battle. But you do not have to fight it only in your own strength. The King will strengthen you by His Ruach.

The command is not merely to have an experience with the Spirit. It is to walk in the Spirit. Every day. Every decision. Every conversation. Every temptation.

Discipline the Body

Paul says:

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.”

אֶלָּא אֲנִי מְדַכֵּא אֶת גּוּפִי וּמְשַׁעְבֵּד אוֹתוֹ

1 Corinthians 9:27

The point is not self-harm. It is self-government.

Your body cannot be your king. Your appetite cannot be your king. Your emotions cannot be your king.

Messiah is King.

David writes:

“I humbled my soul with fasting.”

וָאֲעַנֶּה בַצּוֹם נַפְשִׁי

Va’aneh batzom nafshi.

Psalm 35:13

Fasting is one way we tell the flesh: you are not in charge. The Ruach leads.

Strengthened in the Hidden Place

Luke describes John:

“And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.”

וְהַיֶּלֶד גָּדַל וְהִתְחַזֵּק בָּרוּחַ, וַיְהִי בַּמִּדְבָּרוֹת עַד יוֹם הֵרָאוֹתוֹ אֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל

Luke 1:80

John’s hidden years were not wasted years. The wilderness was preparation. Separation. Formation. Strengthening.

There are seasons when Elohim pulls us away from noise because He is preparing us for what comes next.

Find that quiet place. Find that quiet time. Let the King make you strong in spirit.

Do Not Grieve the Ruach

Paul gives one final warning:

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of Elohim.”

אַל־תַּעֲצִיבוּ אֶת רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁל אֱלֹהִים

Al ta’atzivu et Ruach HaKodesh shel Elohim.

Ephesians 4:30

The Hebrew verb לְהַעֲצִיב, leha’atziv, means to grieve, sadden, or cause sorrow.

The Ruach is not merely a force. He can be grieved.

So we must ask:

Be Filled

This is the call.

Be born of the Ruach. Walk in the Ruach. Listen to the Ruach. Do not quench the Ruach. Do not grieve the Ruach.

Allow rivers of living water to flow. Discipline the flesh. Develop a heart that hears. Seek the quiet place. Let Elohim strengthen you in the hidden years.

We do not need merely bigger ministries, bigger platforms, bigger buildings, or bigger capacity.

A giant hose without water remains empty. A giant cable without power remains dead.

We need the Source. We need the presence. We need the Ruach HaKodesh.

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.”

לֹא בְחַיִל וְלֹא בְכֹחַ כִּי אִם־בְּרוּחִי

Let us grow. Let us become strong. Let us deny ourselves. Let us refuse spiritual stagnation.

Let us become sensitive again to the voice of Elohim.

And let us be continually, completely, powerfully filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.

Continue in this series with More Than Superheroes and I Will Lean Upon the Firm Rock, or browse everything on our Resources page. You can read Zechariah 4 in full at Sefaria.