What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Is it the same as being baptized in the Spirit? Are all believers filled with the Spirit in the same way?
These questions and more have been asked for many years. Unfortunately, many have drawn different conclusions based on Scripture. Nevertheless, seeking answers in the Word and drawing conclusions like a Berean is important.
What is being filled in the Spirit? Several Bible passages reference this state. Therefore, careful attention will be paid to these passages with the hope of truth being proclaimed.
The Example of Stephen
The book of Acts is undoubtedly one of the best places to look when studying the infilling Spirit. In Acts 6, the disciples were met with a problem. Areas of ministry were being neglected but not through a lack of concern.
Instead, there was too much work, and the disciples needed help. They realized their ministry of the Word and prayer was their ultimate calling. Therefore, they devised a plan and sought assistance.
Scripture says, “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3).
Those called to assist the disciples were to be men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost, and full of wisdom. It is evident that the disciples were not seeking the average Christian. They were not interested in just any believer. This is important.
Some might think that all believers are filled with the Holy Spirit. While believers have the Holy Spirit, biblical language speaks of something other than simply being a believer when it uses the term “filled with the Spirit.”
This can be known because the men of Acts 6:3 were to be full of wisdom. Not all Christians are full of wisdom.
The Saints at Corinth were deemed carnal by Paul, not wise. Thus, being full of wisdom would speak of an exemplary life that stands out and is, therefore, not the norm.
Since the disciples spoke of being full of the Spirit and wisdom in the same breath, it must be concluded that it is not a state for every Christian.
Shortly after, the Bible says, “And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 6:5).
Here one can see the same structure, but instead of wisdom, it is faith. Stephen was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Clearly, the Bible teaches that Christians have different amounts of faith.
Paul has said, “…God has dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). Since God measures out faith, Christians likely have more or less of the Spirit’s manifestation.
The Accounts of the Disciples
The remaining accounts in the book of Acts are also telling. When the disciples were in the upper room tarrying, they were eventually overwhelmed by the Spirit.
Scripture says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
While the spiritual gifts are not the focus of this article, it should be known that in their seeking, they were filled with the Spirit.
Later Peter is speaking before the council, and the Spirit assists him mightily in doing so. Scripture says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them…” (Acts 4:8).
The Holy Spirit inspired the words of Peter and influenced Peter unto godliness. As a result, the same basic Greek word is translated filled when the Bible says, “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 5:3).
Satan filled and thus influenced the heart of Ananias to lie to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it must be concluded that the Spirit’s filling is an influencing work.
Finally, the Bible states, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 5:31).
Here it is clear that the Bible is not saying the people got saved. Instead, they were likely already partakers of the Spirit’s outpouring. Thus, based on this text and Acts 4:8, the Christian can be filled with the Holy Spirit on different occasions.
The Prayer of Paul
But it is also essential to develop one’s theology based upon the clear teaching of the epistles. As a result, it is necessary to consider Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians.
He said, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19). Here it is foreseeable that Paul prayed for something not already occurring in at least some of their lives. He desired for the people to be filled with the fullness of God.
Therefore, the Christian must pray to be filled with the Spirit as Paul did, for even Paul started his payer by saying, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ep. 3:14-16).
The Command of Paul
Later Paul would speak directly about his desire for the people of Ephesus to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He said, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ep. 5:18).
The contrast and comparison are apparent. Alcohol has a controlling element within it. When someone is drunk, he is deemed to be under the influence of alcohol. Instead of being under the influence of alcohol, Paul desired that the believers of Ephesus would be under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
The Connection of Christ
It is crucial to connect the words of Paul in Ephesians to his words in Colossians. These two letters were written about the same time, and there is much carryover.
To the Colossians, Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
The context of Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18 are virtually the same.
In both passages, Paul tells his readers to teach and admonish one another in Psalms, hymns, etc. He gives the same command. The only difference is he tells the people of Ephesus to be filled with the Spirit, but then he tells the people of Colossae to be filled with the Word of Christ.
Therefore to be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with the Word of Christ. Paul was saying that believers must be filled with the Word of God. This does not mean head knowledge.
But instead, Paul had in mind a filling of the Word of God that brings about a radical transformation in the believer’s life.
The Holy Spirit is the author of the Word. Therefore, to be filled with the Spirit’s thoughts, desires, and passions and then to put them into action is to be filled with the Spirit.
The Walk
To be filled with the Spirit can also be considered walking by the Spirit. It is to be under the Spirit’s control and for one’s actions and reactions to be Spirit-driven.
Scripture says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). So what does a Spirit-filled life look like?
Paul says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23). So a Spirit-filled life will bear much fruit.
Final Prayer
Father, I thank You for the work of Your Spirit in my life. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me to walk by Your Spirit. Strengthen me by Your Spirit in my inner man and cause me to be influenced by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.