Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
On this matter of being filled with the Holy Ghost, we must believe it’s God’s will that every saved person be filled with the Holy Ghost (Eph 5:17,18). For the early church, the fullness of the Spirit was normal. It was expected and anticipated. It was the only way to live for God. In these days, it’s a legend and a lost doctrine. Be not ignorant, like the disciples in Ephesus, saying “We have not so much heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” (Acts 19:2).
Mary, when she conceived the Christ child, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:35). Elizabeth, when the babe leaped in her womb, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:41). Zacharias, when his tongue was loosed and he praised God, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:67). John the Baptist, from his mother’s womb, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:15). Simeon, who he took Jesus up in his arms, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 2:25). The disciples, while waiting in the upper room, were filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4). Peter, as he stood to preach, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 4:8). The disciples, when their prayer shook the place where they were assembled, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 4:31). Those seven men of honest report, chosen to serve God’s people, were filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:3). Stephen, as he saw the glory of God, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 7:55). The believers in Samaria, who with one accord gave heed, had great joy, and were baptized, were filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:17). Phillip, who preached Jesus to the Ethiopian, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:29,39). Ananias, who was sent to Saul by a vision, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:17). Paul, who asked, “Lord what will thou have me to do?”, was filled with Holy Ghost (Acts 9:17). Cornelius, who’s prayers and alms were remembered of God, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:44). Barnabas, who won much people unto the Lord, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 11:24). Paul, on the isle of Paphos, was again filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:9). Paul and Barnabas, expelled from Antioch, were filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:52) Apollos, who helped believers much, was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 18:26). Certain disciples in Ephesus, who had only received John’s baptism, were filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 19:6). And last but most definitely not the least, Jesus the Savior, was filled with the sweet Holy Spirit of God (Luke 4:1).
There’s no question that all these people of God had this one thing in common: they hungered and thirsted after the righteousness of God. Can we say what the Psalmist said? “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…” (Psalm 42:1,2) What is it going to take for the inner man, the soul, to thirst and yearn for God? O Lord, revive us again.
Other verses:
John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?