Are you hollow and running on empty or are you seeking to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit? Sometimes, hollow people pretend everything is okay; sometimes they kid themselves and others that they are something, when really they are not. Like the very large man who stepped on some public weighing scales, not realising they were out of order. He put his coin into the machine and watched the dial spin round to 32 kilos (5 stones) and stop. The next person in the queue smiled and said, “You must be hollow!” Some people are like that; they pretend they are okay, and in appearances everything seems fine on the outside, but on the inside they’re hollow, spiritually; they’re running on empty!

So let me ask you this: Do you suppose God wants us to be hollow (like a glove) or filled with His Spirit? And do you suppose God wants us to be partially filled or fully filled to overflowing? And does God want us to be filled just one time, at conversion, or does He want us to go on being filled, topped up if you like? You know if you want to receive more of the Holy Spirit, just keep going back and asking the Father for more. Jesus encouraged us to do this; He said: “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11v11-13) – God intended for the Holy Spirit to be extremely active in believer’s lives, communicating His will and purposes to us, so that we might live lives that honour and glorify God. But God is a gentleman; he won’t force His presence on us. He wants to be invited and welcomed into our daily lives.

R. Ian Seymour