Holy Spirit, filling with

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be energised and controlled by the third person of the Godhead in such a way that under the acknowledged lordship of Jesus Christ the full presence and power of God are experienced. Spirit-filling leads to renewal, obedience, boldness in testimony and an arresting quality in believers' lives.

People filled with the Holy Spirit before the ministry of Jesus Christ

In the OT

Exodus 31:3 Bezalel filled with the Spirit for artwork on the tabernacle; Deuteronomy 34:9 Joshua filled with the Spirit to succeed Moses

In the events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:15 John the Baptist filled with the Spirit from birth; Luke 1:41 Elizabeth filled with the Spirit and speaks words of praise; Luke 1:67 Zechariah prophesies about the life of John and God's salvation

Jesus Christ is full of the Holy Spirit

Luke 4:1 See also Luke 10:21; John 3:34; Acts 10:38

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

NT terminology

Acts 1:5, Acts 2:4, Acts 10:47 While these terms are virtually synonymous when used of initial experiences of the Spirit, “filled” is also used to designate subsequent experiences and renewings of the same divine power, while the other terms are not.

For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”

``Be filled with the Spirit'': an apostolic command

Ephesians 5:18 The present tense of the verb implies the need to be regularly filled and re-filled with the Spirit.

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

``Filled with the Spirit'': a conscious experience of God's power

Acts 2:4 See also Acts 4:31, Acts 9:17

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

``Full of the Spirit'': a consistent quality of Christian character

Acts 6:3–5 See also Acts 11:24, Acts 13:52

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

``Filled with the Spirit'': the inspiration to speak words of witness, challenge or rebuke

Acts 4:8 Peter testifying before the Sanhedrin; Acts 7:55 Stephen testifying to the Sanhedrin, seeing the glory of God; Acts 13:9 Paul rebuking Elymas

Characteristics of the Spirit-filled life

The Spirit of Christ should rule believers' lives

Romans 8:4–6 See also Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:25

so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,

The Spirit produces fruit of Christlike character

Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22–23

The Spirit brings liberty

Romans 7:6 See also 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1

But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Being filled with the Spirit often leads to words of praise

Acts 2:4 See also Acts 4:31, Acts 10:44–46, Acts 19:6; Ephesians 5:18–20

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Characteristics linked with the fulness of the Spirit

Skill: Exodus 31:3, Exodus 35:31; Deuteronomy 34:9; Acts 6:3; Luke 10:21; Acts 13:52; Acts 6:5, Acts 11:24