Filled with the Spirit: A Biblical Examination
One of the keys to proper understanding, interpretation and application of the Bible is to see how specific terms are consistently used. With this in mind, we shall examine how the term “filled with the Spirit” is used consistently in Scriptures. Here are a number of passages:
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4 ESV)
We see here that the term “filled with the Holy Spirit” is associated with a manifestation of the Spirit (or “spiritual gift”). Being “filled with the Spirit” here was a divine inspiration to speak in tongues.
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 ESV)
Again, we see that the term “filled with the Holy Spirit” was a divine inspiration that produced boldness in preaching the Gospel.
But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.”
Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. (Acts 13:9-11 ESV)
Here, Paul being “filled with the Spirit” spoke judgement by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-21 ESV)
Here is a clear instruction to be “filled with the Spirit”, and it tells us the fruit of doing that. This passage simply says when we are filled with the Spirit, we will be inspired by the Lord to do the things listed above.
Divine Inspiration to Say or to Do
From all the passages in which this term is used, there is one thing that is clear: to be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be inspired by Him to do something. Being filled with the Spirit is clearly used in Scriptures to describe an inspiration or a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
It is not used anywhere to describe a 2nd or 3rd work of grace. Each time the term is used, it refers to the Holy Spirit inspiring and empowering a person to say or do something.
The Promise of the Spirit
In the sequel to this article, I will present what the Bible says clearly is the promise of the Spirit. Are we going to stick with the tradition of Azusa, or with what the Bible clearly teaches?
Here’s the link: The Promise of the Spirit.
