If the Spirit lives in us, why would Paul command us to be filled with the Spirit?

We are promised that the Holy Spirit is gift to all believers (Acts 2:38-39)—He lives in us (John 14:16-17). Why then are we commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) as though it is our responsibility? And how do we go about it?


Paul is very clear about this when he tells us to surrender our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) and to put off the old self and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24), and when Jesus said we must abide (live, remain) in Him, our true vine (John 15:5). The Holy Spirit surely lives in us from the moment we are born again, but He cannot fill us until we begin to live a life of surrender and submission to our Lord, intentionally turning from our old, sin-filled lifestyles and determine to live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). How can our true vine fill us with His life if we have unconfessed sin or are full of self?


How can we be Spirit-filled if grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) or quench His presence within us (1 Thessalonians 5:19)? He is grieved with we sin by doing what we know we should not do, when we ignore is gentle conviction of sin and fail to confess and be forgiven (1 John 1:9). He is quenched when we fail to do what we know we should do (James 4:17), when we ignore His leading (Romans 8:14).


How can we be sure we are emptied of sin and self and our old ways so that the Spirit can fill us each day? Jesus said we should spend time alone with God every day (Matthew 6:6), and in that time, we should surrender (Matthew 6:10) and confess our sins (Matthew 6:12). We do this not by spending a lot of time every day, but by praying with intention and purpose for at least a brief time each day, laying our hearts open before the Lord (Psalm 139:23-24). If He shows us anything we must deal with, we simply confess or let go and ask for a fresh filling of His Spirit. He desires to give us the Spirit more than anything else (Luke 11:13)!