What Does it Mean to be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
A brother from Kenya asked a deeply practical – but intensely theological question: “How does a person become filled with the Holy Spirit?” Let’s try to understand what being filled with the Spirit means, and let’s examine Scripture to discover how to obtain it. We will tackle this challenging question because You Asked for It. Let’s get started.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Throughout the Scriptures, God developed the concept of the doctrine of the Trinity. We grasp that the Lord our God maintains unity in one being (Deuteronomy 6:4). Humans understand God through His three personages – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves throughout the process of creation (Genesis 1:2). Through guidance and presence in the Old Testament (Psalm 104:30, 2 Samuel 23:2), the Spirit shows personality and purpose. In the New Testament, the Spirit appears from the conception of Jesus on (Matthew 1:18).
Jesus told His disciples that after He left the world, God would send another comforter. The presence of the Spirit fills and guides the disciples (John 14:26, John 16:13-15) after Jesus’ resurrection. As Peter preached the first gospel sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the gift of the Spirit living inside the believer promised strength and encouragement for the repentant and forgiven followers of Jesus (Acts 2:38).
When we speak of being filled with the Spirit, if we are asking, “How can I know if the Holy Spirit is living inside me?” the answer is “Yes.” We know this because the presence of the Holy Spirit is a promise God made to us. He is present inside us from the moment we are forgiven of our sins. The Holy Spirit dwells inside us, making us God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Spirit in our lives is God’s guarantee of even greater things to come (Ephesians 1:13).
The Difference Between “Filled” and “Fruit”
Let’s dig a little deeper into this idea of filling. After His resurrection, Jesus told the disciples to wait in a room in Jerusalem.
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4 NIV).
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV).
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:4 NIV).
The promise to the disciples is that power would come with the gift of the Spirit from the Father. The power needed for the disciples was the power to begin the movement of the Christian church. They would be witnesses, messengers of the Gospel, to all Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Overwhelmed with the presence of the Spirit, the disciples began to speak in other languages. This power was a sign, giving proof that God was working. The expression of the power was miraculous and probably limited to that particular occasion.
Power Today
When I become a Christian, I receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). What is the power today? First the Spirit helps us understand sin and convicts or convinces us of sin’s presence in our lives (John 16:7-8). In addition, the Spirit leads and guides us daily (Ephesians 1:17-20). The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. Even when we don’t know how to pray as we should, the Spirit utters communication (Romans 8:26-28).
Proof Today
If miracles were the proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the first century, what is today’s proof? One filled with the Spirit shows certain characteristics. Rather than the ability to perform miracles, the proof lies in the miraculous change in the character of lives. Paul calls these changes “fruit” (Galatians 5:22-23). The changes in my heart will be evident by the changes in my behavior (1 John 3:10).
God’s people represent vessels, glasses yearning for filling with God’s Spirit. God pours His Spirit in us. We “put to death” our old selves and Christ lives in larger areas of our lives. Each day we allow Him to have more control. Our faith deepens and strengthens our decisions to better reflect His character. Filled with His Spirit, our own will demands less.
Hope this helps.