The filling of the Holy Spirit is a special act of God’s Spirit in the spiritual life of a believer. It is related to Christian experience and power. The Bible says thatthe filling of the Holy Spirit is a repeated experience and the phrase, filling of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in seventeen places in the Bible. A study of these passages will enlighten us to know more about the filling of the Spirit and help us be filled with the Holy Spirit.
1. Biblical Teaching on Filling of the Holy Spirit
The filling of the Holy Spirit is described in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. The word ‘filling’ occurs in two places in the Old Testament, four places in the Gospels, ten places in the Acts of the Apostles and in one place in the Epistles.
a. Empowerment for service
The Bible records that God empowered many people for ministry by filling them with the Holy Spirit.
Bezaleel: God filled Bezaleel with the Holy Spirit to build the tabernacle skillfully and wisely (Ex. 31:2-5; 35:31-33).
John the Baptist: God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. The Bible says that he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15).
Elizabeth: The mother of John was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ when Mary visited her (Luke 1:41) and prophesied about Jesus, the Child in Mary’s womb (Luke 1:42-45).
Zecharias: The father of John the Baptist was also filled (Luke 1:67) and prophesied about Jesus Christ (Luke 1:68-79).
Jesus Christ: The Bible says that Jesus Christ was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Luke 4:1) when He started His ministry.
b. Power for the Ministry
The first century Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit again and again.
In the Acts of apostles, Luke records ten times that the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and revival followed each time they preached. So before Pentecost, people were filled with the Holy Spirit for a special task and after Pentecost, people were filled with the Holy Spirit and carried out mighty things for the Lord. They had power for service. Due to their ministry, many people were added to the Church.
i. 120 disciples: 120 disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. Three thousand were added to the Church when Peter preached the Gospel in the power of the Spirit (Acts 2:4, 41).
ii. Peter. When Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, Peter was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ and spoke to them boldly (Acts 4:8). When Peter was filled, he received boldness and they understood that Peter had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
iii. Believers: The believers went through suffering for the sake of the Lord and prayed, and ‘the place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).
iv. Leaders of the early Church: The seven leaders, chosen to resolve the crisis in the early Church, had a special quality they were ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 6:3, 5). lamabas was described to be ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 11:24) and Stephen was ‘full of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 7:55) before his martyrdom. As a result of this quality of being ‘full of the Spirit, the ‘word of God spread and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly (Acts 6:7); many believed (Acts 14:1) and Saul was saved (Acts 7:58).
v. Paul: Paul was reported to be filled twice. Once after the prayer of Ananias (Acts 9:17) and then in Paphos when he was challenged by the sorcerer (Acts 13:9). The master of the sorcerer believed (Acts 13:12).
vi. Disciples at Iconium: They were filled with the Holy Spirit when Paul and Barnabas arrived (Acts 13:52). Many believed in the Lord (Acts 14:1).
The study of these incidents recorded in Acts where the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, gives the following information on filling of the Holy Spirit.
The apostles, the leaders of the Church, the members of the Church and even new converts (Acts 9:17) were filled with the Holy Spirit.
One can be filled with the Holy Spirit again and again. Peter, the disciples, and Paul were reported to be filled repeatedly.
Only in Acts 2:4, were the disciples filled with the Holy Spiritand it was accompanied by signs. Pentecost is a unique day in the history of the Church. So signs should not be taken as a criteria for filling of the Holy Spirit.
Filling of the Holy Spirit in the early Church was always accompanied by many people coming to the Lord or the believers getting strengthened. So if these results are absent in any experience of filling of the Holy Spirit, then the claim must be examined carefully.
All believers must have the quality of ‘full of the Spirit like Stephen, Barnabas and other disciples to be effective in their ministry.
All believers can be filled with the Holy Spirit for power in the ministry and it is a continuous, and day to day experience.
c. Command to be Filled with the Holy Spirit
The Bible gives only one command about the Holy Spirit. It is the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit. ‘And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). The study of this verse reveals that:
i. The filling is a command to be obeyed: The verb in this verse plerousthe is in
the imperative mood. So it is a command. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not optional but obligatory for all Christians. If we are not filled then we disobey His command.
ii. The Lord fills believers when they yield: The verb in this verse ‘be filled’ is in the passive voice. So filling is something done to us and not something we can do for ourselves. Our requirement is to empty ourselves and wait in faith. God fills us. It is not an attainment but an ‘obtainment’ obtained by simple faith.
iii. The believer must be filled again and again: The word ‘be filled is in the
present continuous tense. In Greek, the word used can be translated as ‘being filled. So this command is not a once for all experience, but it is a continuous experience. A believer must be filled again and again with the Holy Spirit and it should be a daily and moment by moment experience.
2. Why should Christians be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
Many Christians know that they need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But they are not filled. This is because of the following two reasons:
a. Lack of knowledge
The Bible commands that all believers must be filled with the Holy Spirit again and again. Due to lack of knowledge many do not enjoy the Spirit filled life. They must know that, their lives will be transformed and there will be revival in their ministry, if they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Certain believers are misguided or have misunderstood the teaching of the Scriptures on Spirit-filled life. They look for the filling of the Holy Spirit in experiences rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to take control of their lives.
b. Lack of faith
There are many believers who are not filled. This is because they do not trust the Lord to fill them. The Bible says that, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). Many people do not trust in God or have faith in God because they do not believe the promises given in the Bible. Some people do not go to God in faith and surrender their lives for a Spirit controlled life. They fear that the Lord will make impossible demands of them. They think that their own plans will be upset and they will have to pay the price. They do not know that the filling of the Spirit is a privilege and a blessing for the ministry, and it is a life of rest in the Lord with no worry for the future.
3. How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
Bible indirectly suggests the following steps for a Spirit filled life.
a. Confess every sin that the Lord brings to your mind
You must confess to God all the sins that you have committed and plead to God for forgiveness. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:9). If you have wronged anyone or taken anything unlawfully from others, set them right. This is because God will not fill an unclean vessel.
b. Develop a deep desire and seek for the filling of the Holy Spirit
The Bible says, “If any man thirsts let him come to Me and drink… He who believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living waters” (John 7:37, 38). Some believers do not desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They are satisfied with what they have. They forget that after their new birth, there are fruitful and rich experiences in Christ (Eph. 4:13; Rev. 3:17). You need to ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness’ (Matt. 5:6). If you want rest and a victorious Christian life, thirst for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
e. Surrender your life completely to the Lord
You must be willing to surrender your life to Christ as per the command of God in Romans 12:1, 2 to give your bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord. The filling of the Holy Spirit is the influence or control of the Holy Spirit over you. It can happen only when you surrender your life completely. The Lord wants to take control of your life. You would have heard of ‘filled with sorrow’ or ‘filled with fear. It means that sorrow or fear controls everything you think or do. So being filled with something means being under its control. In the same manner you must yield one hundred percent to the Lord so that you will come under the control of the Holy Spirit.
If you do not yield everything, then the Lord will not fill you. So present yourself by saying, ‘Lord, I surrender myself as I am. I am willing to pay the price or cost whatever the cost may be. Lord, fill me with the Spirit of promise.” Then the Lord will fill you..
d. Believe that the Lord has filled you
You have confessed your sins and you have yielded your lives to the Lord with the desire to be filled. Then claim the promise of the Lord in faith and thank him for filling you with the Holy Spirit. Many believers pray, “Lord, fill me with Your Spirit.” But they are not filled. It is because they never lay hold by faith that which they ask for.
Mere asking for food will not satisfy your hunger or looking at food will not meet your need. You must eat the food in faith. In the same manner, fullness of the Spirit must be grasped by an act of faith. Remember that the command for you is that you must be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Also know that the Bible promises that the Lord will hear if we ask anything according to His will in faith (1 John 5:14, 15). So claim the promise in 1 John 5:14, 15 and thank Him for filling you. You will have an abundant Spirit filled life. Never depend on feelings or look for the experience of others. Trust in the Lord and involve in ministry. You will see power in your ministry.
